My heater core appears to be leaking as I can smell it and have fogging on windows when I turn it on, also if I run heat I have coolant loss. Here's the weird part, when I run my a/c I get a dry ice like mist out of vents does this mean the evaporator is shot? or is it just putting out the water from the heater core in the form of condensation, a/c runs cold otherwise. I also get heavy dripping from the condensor area/drain when a/c runs. As I have to do the heater core is it worth doing the evaporator while I am in there even if it is not neccessary.

 

its your heater core and if it was me...I could have the A/C evac. and then change the evap core to some of them are known to fail

 

Tough call. I'm dealing with a squeaky compressor when the compressor clutch is engaged. The shop said price for most compressor installs could be ~ $1000. This includes new engine compartment parts & labor but not evep or dash r&r.

I cut the heater core lines & left the evap since it isn't leaking & blows cold. I have no way to knot that I made a good decision. I wish I'd heard the bearing & dealt with that before the core.

AC repair prices make buying vac pump & gauges more enticing.

 

turning the dial on the dash for heat or cold doesn't change the amount of coolant thru the heater core..not at all..not even with the A/C on..
so rethink your question..
now if its leaking..its leaking all the time!!. replace it..while you in there change evaporator core..they're know to have problems.

for your fog..i get this all the time. cool mornings and turn on the AC..?My guess this is normal. cold air and high humidity

-dkenny

 

Personally, after you pull the dash the 1st time, the 2nd will be easy. You don't need to completely remove the dash to remove the box with the core and evaporator.

You can do the core without the evap if you are willing to cut the in & out tubes of the heater core. IF anything else needs to be done on the AC, I would do everything.

You get into money quickly once you open the AC. If you need to open, do the whole thing. If you do the evap, do the core.

You need only tip the dash back and move the passenger side back enough to access the core. Only minimal parts need to be removed. The Dr side under dash electrical connections can likely be left alone. This is much easier than pulling the entire dash.

You can even install a new LMC dash replacement while keeping the dash installed.Just tip the dash back. Perhaps support the dash with a 2x4 cut to the proper length & wedged between the dash & floor.

The key is how long will your AC be leak free?

 

thanks for the replies. the a/c runs well and has for the last 2 years since I replaced the condensor (other than the misting, which it didn't do before the heater core went). I'll start with the heater core....75 bucks from napa. like junkman says the second time will be easy!