Heater Core

[Dean]

I've Been told that my heater core is leaking.
I've tried a search with little success.
Is it located just under my dash, and will I have to pull the whole dash out?
Easy to fix or quite a difficult task?

 

[olly]

under your dash behind you're center console. you will need to take it off to get to it deano

 

[tenji]

wat olly said...

you can just get a newer lancer heater core and fit it like i did in my old evo one.

ask george as i got mine from imllachs for like 17 bucks. few years ago

 

[EVO-00X]

OK Deano you have 2 choices...

1. Use Loctite Radiator stop leak & Loctite Radiator flush. Costs about $20 all up at your local parts store. Run the flush through first, then the leak repair. Drive the 100km or so it says and keep an eye out under your carpet to see if the water leak has disappeared. Then completely drop out all the water again with new water to flush it twice. People might bag this kind of fix but it does work if its a small leak and as long as you flush it out afterwards its fine. The Loctite stuff is not as crazy as the other brands and works well. I used it in the Nimbus when I got it and it worked a treat!

2. Get a spare heater core first, check it for leaks second, then remove your entire dashboard. Thern undo the 2 heater hoses from the engine bay going into the firewall. Then go back inside the car (when dash removed) and undo the 12mm nuts holding the heater boxes in place. You need to remove the first oine out fully (one closest to the driver) so you can access and remove the middle box (the heater core unit). Then replace it.

 

[ENGINR]

Or just remove it completely and wear a jacket when you get cold driving! (like me!!) :thumbsup:

 

[Liberoz]

Hahhahaha at Enginr air con removal I understand the aircon core, but I thought you had to have a heater for frt window or some way to demist the frt window
(I know yours is a street / track car though)

 

[Dean]

haha.
thanks for the write up Rob.
Might be a good excuse to upgrade to Evo Climate control since i've got the whole dash apart too

 

[DOUGMO]

dash out is easy job

 

[nk]

message sikwpn.. he had a few spares last time i checked.

 

[rock_it]

Off memory the FTO looked like the same.. I have a spare FTO one..... But not 100% if the same.. My heater core was taken out, without removing the dash too by the way..

 

[Dean]

Off memory the FTO looked like the same.. I have a spare FTO one..... But not 100% if the same.. My heater core was taken out, without removing the dash too by the way..

how did you do that?

 

[DOUGMO]

get a ce one as they are newer. fit just the same.

 

[EVO-00X]

I compared the Nimbus core to a CC Lancer one and its different. The good thing about the Nimbus ones are that they have alloy piping, not crappy plastic pipes but its a shame they're not the same anyway. I also checked a Proton M21 (coupe) heater core unit, and it was different yet again and a different size and shape to CC Lancer core.

If the guys above are correct, go a CE heater core. Do they still have plastic heater pipes from the core going through the firewall? what a fid up idea that was from Mitsubishi as I've known plenty to die on guys cars over the years

 

[DOUGMO]

yep, they still have the plastic ends but they are newer so not yet as brittle

 

[rock_it]

how did you do that?

My mechanic did it.. Got the replacement in too... Took him a little while, but not as long as it would take to pull a dash.. My wallet thanked him for that.....

 

[DOUGMO]

you can pull the whole dash out in about 45mins absolute max,and thats being generous. i think you would end up paying more for the mucking about if he left the dash in

 

[rock_it]

Took him bugger all time from what I remember.. But yeah didn't think taking a dash out would be that quick.. I did one in my Commodore, and although it was quick to get it out, it took me ages to get her back in.. And it was just a little off.... But yeah, I want to play around with my dash, so I can see what other ones will fit in.. Trying to make the CC a little more modern..

 

[ENGINR]

Hahhahaha at Enginr air con removal I understand the aircon core, but I thought you had to have a heater for frt window or some way to demist the frt window
(I know yours is a street / track car though)

A trick is to put dish-washing liquid on the inside of the front windscreen to stop it fogging up.

 

[EVO-00X]

You can pull a dash out in 10-15 minutes easy

I doubt that dude replaced the core without taking the dash out as the heater unit needs to be removed to get to it. Physically, the dash is in the way and you cant remove it.

 

[rock_it]

You can pull a dash out in 10-15 minutes easy

I doubt that dude replaced the core without taking the dash out as the heater unit needs to be removed to get to it. Physically, the dash is in the way and you cant remove it.

Can only go by what I was told...

He also got my back passenger door open, that had the handle on, but was not attached to the locking/un locking mechanism.. And it had the child lock on..

He did it without breaking the trim or causing any damage..