16 replies to this topic

[Subaru_Bloke]

Hey guys, my heater core appears to have something terminal with it (been smelling coolant for a while, but hoping it wasn't stuffed) I'm getting steam and condensation on my windscreen and the smell is there all the time. What I'm wondering is, is how involved is removing it, can it be fixed? And anyone else had this problem?

Thanks.

Brad.

[Adam]

Dash out job mate.

Buy a brand new core for a couple of hundred bucks. It's the kind of job you don't want to do too often

[Subaru_Bloke]

Damn it! I was hoping that wasn't the case. Thanks adam

[BG11XV]

do u actually use it that often ???

 

mine leaked and i havnt used it before it happened and ever since it leaked i re routed the hoses to bypass the core all together . u can get a u shaped hose to do it like i did or if u cant find one go to pirtek and get a 3/8 barbed hose joiner and connect the inlet and outlet hoses together make sure there are no kinks and some new clamps and forget about it the coolant will just keep flowing as if it wasnt toutched at all 

 

just make sure u bleed the rad again after 

[Subaru_Bloke]

Yeah mate, I use it when it's cold for sure haha... Good idea otherwise though, but I hope you're not planning a trip to the snow this season

[BG11XV]

na never go to the snow and the coldest it gets here in -4 so meh lol shoes and jumper and im all good haha 

maybe just bypass till u can fix it dude i dont want a leak in cooling thats for sure it will give u more hassles

[Beckers]

I had a dash out on the weekend, not that much fun.

Take is easy, make sure disconnect all the wires, bolts & clips.

Good luck bro.

[Subaru_Bloke]

Just read a write up on removal. It stated that the entire car is built around the heater box. After looking through, I believe this is certain... Is there really no way to replace it without removing the entire dash assembly?

 

Thinking i'll wire up an inverter, fit a 240v heater and be done with it 

[BG11XV]

haha dude thats exactly what i did u can actually buy 12v inverter headters from rays or bcf and there awsome and defrost aswell can be mounted anywhere also 

 

there is definatly no way in without the dash being removed 

[Subaru_Bloke]

Ok, next thing is, where do I get one?? (Besides subaru)

[BG11XV]

heater core or aux heater?

[duncanm]

I've got one out of a '99 Outback you can have for beer money + shipping.. was working fine when I pulled it.

 

But given the time required to pull the dash - you may want to cost a new one first.

 

I wonder if you can run some of the Subaru 'coolant conditioner' (Radweld, from what I read) through it to see if that does the job? (just the heater core mind you.. not the engine.)

[Adam]

I got mine from a radiator place. I had my dash out in about 2 hours. Core out an another 1 hour.

re install took a bit longer because I tidied up some wiring

it's a big job but I don't think it's the worst joh I've done
Also for my model there were 3 styles of heater core so I removed it first to get the right part

[Subaru_Bloke]

Not a bad idea adam, I think i'll do the same. I've got to find out why my obd port doesn't work and wire my fuel pump up to the ecu while i've got the dash out as well. Speaking of which, I can't find a pinout diagram for a v4 wrx type r ecu anywhere, who could I possibly ask for one?

[Subaru_Bloke]

Update: got the heater core from a radiator shop, it's brass and copper and the way the pipes connect (using original pipes) is a little different, but it's all together and works great... and no leaks. Thank everyone for their help

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

[BG11XV]

nice work dude !!

[Beckers]

Well done bro, I'm glad it worked out ok for you.