Weird Problem

[NISZILA]

Hey Guys,

Hopefully someone can help me out on this one. A couple of days ago I was driving to Fremantle when my GF said that something had dripped on her foot. At the next lights, I had a look, and it looked to be some light brown water. Just one drip. It happened again yesterday, also on her foot. (she wasn't too pleased )

Anyway, I'm not really sure what this is. It wasn't warm at all, so I assume its not from the engine anywhere. I suspect it may be from the drainage lines. Maybe they're blocked or something. I looked at the carpet today and noticed a small brown patch. Looks as though maybe 8 drips or so have occured. Any info you guys have would be great.

Cheers.

[Crumz]

Check your coolant... If you haven't been getting services done (or the past owner...) you could have a rusty heater core that's beginning to leak...

Get a pressure test done, should be able to get it done quickly and free at any workshop.

[NISZILA]

That could be it actually. The previous owner never changed the coolent the whole time he owned it I have changed the radiator, pump, top and bottom pipe and thermostat to try and save the cooling system. I also change the coolent every few months to try and get it flushed out properly and get everything flowing.

[madbung]

Yeah sounds like the heater cores gone alright, Ive had a few go on me over the years the puddle will get bigger as the core gets worse..

Should stink like warm coolant, replace core or disconnect and plug hoses as a temporary measure.

[Lucy in the Sky]

well in my brothers pulsar (very old pulsar) the water from the window wipers has a leak. and it drips on your foot.

could it be that?

[342Four]

+1 for heater core....

[NISZILA]

Sounding very much like the heater core then

I'm about to leave for Newman on the weekend for work, and I want to put her in for another service when I get back. Guess this is another thing on the list. Anyone know how much it costs to replace a heater core? Never had one go on me before. Just a ball park figure would be great.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Replacing a heater core is damn expensive, as the labour to get it in and out will cost a fortune. Either do it yourself, or do what I did and bypass the heater core and purge it of liquid. Means you'll have no heating though

[NISZILA]

I'm going to bypass it tonight. When winter comes along, I'll decide whether I want a heater or not

If I do, I'll be doing it myself. From reading the tutorials it looks annoying and time consuming, but not hard.

[inthisglass]

my heater has run out of gas and personally i dont think you'll miss a heater that much..

i had no heater all winter and it only takes about 5 minutes for your body heat to heat the car up anyway.

i'd be spending the money on something else.. coilovers perhaps?

just my 2cents worth

[Crumz]

my heater has run out of gas

Have your headlights run out of fluid yet?? That's another that'll get you...

Just remember if the cops see the bypassed heater they'll do you for it... "Must have hot air blowing on windscreen" for pits. Other option is to fit up an electric heater in the dash... Which probly ends up as much f**king around as replacing the heater core. Plus the heater core can act as a mini radiator, if you ever overheat, it could save your headgasket.

Probly sounds like I'm pro-heater, but personally, if it was me, I'd do the bypass.

[madbung]

Have your headlights run out of fluid yet?? That's another that'll get you...

Just remember if the cops see the bypassed heater they'll do you for it... "Must have hot air blowing on windscreen" for pits. Other option is to fit up an electric heater in the dash... Which probly ends up as much f**king around as replacing the heater core. Plus the heater core can act as a mini radiator, if you ever overheat, it could save your headgasket.

Probly sounds like I'm pro-heater, but personally, if it was me, I'd do the bypass.

Dunno about that, demister runs with the a/c.. cool air on the inside of the screen = demist...warm air = foggy.

Basically it is done by matching the internal screen temp with the outside screen temp.

So a demister can either be forced a/c or fresh outside air and should not make the car unroadworthy by bypassing the heater core.

Nothing to say your car must be warm and cosy for a roadworthy, just need a working demister, which unless he has removed the fan he'll still have.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Yeah, pretty sure you only need the fan, don't have to have the heater. If your going to do the bypass then make sure you purge the heater core of fluid first, else it will keep leaking for ages.

[mitchy_]

it can be removed with the dash still in place, you just need to break one of the tabs on the plastic casing...

it will still bolt back in fine however.

[gtrken]

Just to add my 2c..

You also may find it is aircon drain water which can leak back into the car via a blocked drain tube. If you run the heater/aircon on auto while driving, the aircon is on all the time.

Worth checking before you start ripping the car apart .....

Cheers

Ken

[gucio]

^^^ 1+ for the aircon drain pipe.

[Crumz]

Dunno about that, demister runs with the a/c.. cool air on the inside of the screen = demist...warm air = foggy.

Basically it is done by matching the internal screen temp with the outside screen temp.

So a demister can either be forced a/c or fresh outside air and should not make the car unroadworthy by bypassing the heater core.

Nothing to say your car must be warm and cosy for a roadworthy, just need a working demister, which unless he has removed the fan he'll still have.

Yeah, pretty sure you only need the fan, don't have to have the heater. If your going to do the bypass then make sure you purge the heater core of fluid first, else it will keep leaking for ages.

Go n ask the pits boys... For as long as I've been prepping cars for the pits, they've had to have heaters. I've had to fix many a coolant leak for that reason too.

Hey, they may have changed it (within the past 6 months), but I think you'll find I'm right.