Heater core replacement

[myold88]

Originally Posted by Comrando

You made me go pull the engine cover to discover there is no vacuum controlled coolant valve. Crumbolas. I added one of those to my '79 Buick. It came on the Riviera but not the Regal.

I guess the dampers are more effective these days.

So, yes, coolant circulates through the heater core all the time.

That's why I asked. In the past there always was a valve to shut the coolant off from the heater core.
The name Ranko Valve comes to mind. Along with the cores, these valves needed replacing all the time.

[Wizard1183]

Originally Posted by Ernest T

I just wonder why heater cores fail when radiators don't. They ought to both be built to at least the same standard. Matter of fact, a heater core ought to be built to a better standard since its so hard to get to.

I wouldn't think corrosion would be an issue with the antifreeze available today. Even if you don't change it, it should last more than 5 years from the factory.

No, they need to stop making shit so hard to get to. Engineers are dumber than rocks. I wish engineers who design these vehicles had to work on them. I bet anyone my life everything on the car would be DIY.

I bought a 2014 GMC Sierra. I've had 2 defective sparkplugs, and AC. Stopped blowing. I won't attempt anything with the AC but it's the LAST new vehicle I buy. I'll buy my gf/wife one but I'm going back to a 60s,70s,early 80s vehicle in about 5 yrs. I don't need air bags, I don't need sensors to tell me my seatbelt isn't on, or a sensor to run my vehicle. If something breaks, I can fix it.

The amount you spend on a vehicle these days, the vehicles should NOT break until 10 yrs. But that's not the case. You spend $40k and you're buying shit. The computers are giving out before the engines. So soon you'll dispose or change vehicles like cell phones. Ppl don't think about how once you own a new vehicle til cost too much to keep it running. I wouldn't be surprised if leasing a car will be the norm because as we all know, there's no such thing as durable computer. I rather spend $40k on a car I know is dependable and doesn't require a software flash to fix my car or have to spend 8+ hrs trying to fix something that should take 2...

[DeanCamaro]

Just a fyi

This is my car and i am doing the work on it along with matt helped a little along the way.

I put everything back together and have a couple of codes and a few things not working. The windows will not go up, and the door locks are inop, the turn signal clicking noise does not work whenever you have the turn signal on and the trunk doesnt work.

I got codes, U0151 (Lost communication with inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module)

U1530(K9 BCM Lin BUS 3 Lost Communication with Device 0 ( Passenger window motor))
U1530(K9 BCM Lin BUS 3 Lost Communication with Device 4 ( Driver window motor))

Also has high voltage codes, which sounds to me like a connector may be disconnected somewhere, which would explain high voltage codes and the BCM codes.

At this point, dash pad is going to come off again and im going to be checking to see if i have any pinched wires or any loose connectors.

[Rocky1974]

Originally Posted by Wizard1183

No, they need to stop making shit so hard to get to. Engineers are dumber than rocks. I wish engineers who design these vehicles had to work on them. I bet anyone my life everything on the car would be DIY.

I bought a 2014 GMC Sierra. I've had 2 defective sparkplugs, and AC. Stopped blowing. I won't attempt anything with the AC but it's the LAST new vehicle I buy. I'll buy my gf/wife one but I'm going back to a 60s,70s,early 80s vehicle in about 5 yrs. I don't need air bags, I don't need sensors to tell me my seatbelt isn't on, or a sensor to run my vehicle. If something breaks, I can fix it.

The amount you spend on a vehicle these days, the vehicles should NOT break until 10 yrs. But that's not the case. You spend $40k and you're buying shit. The computers are giving out before the engines. So soon you'll dispose or change vehicles like cell phones. Ppl don't think about how once you own a new vehicle til cost too much to keep it running. I wouldn't be surprised if leasing a car will be the norm because as we all know, there's no such thing as durable computer. I rather spend $40k on a car I know is dependable and doesn't require a software flash to fix my car or have to spend 8+ hrs trying to fix something that should take 2...

While I agree with you about making stuff easy to get to, you are in for a rude awakening when you start dragging home that junk from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. You will find out real quick just how far cars have come. Yes they are easier to work on, which is a very good thing, because you get to do it often. I know because I have a whole garage full of that junk and I wouldn't trade one 5th Gen for all of them they ever made. You can do a complete restoration on one of those old cars, work all the bugs out, park it in the garage, and you'll still have work on it before you can drive it the next time. I'd like to have a dime for every time I've raised the garage door and finding one of those old POSs sitting in a puddle of its own fluids. My 5th Gen is quieter, smoother, handles better, rides better, has more power, is more reliable and is much easier on fuel than any old car I've ever owned.

[Wizard1183]

Originally Posted by Rocky1974

While I agree with you about making stuff easy to get to, you are in for a rude awakening when you start dragging home that junk from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. You will find out real quick just how far cars have come. Yes they are easier to work on, which is a very good thing, because you get to do it often. I know because I have a whole garage full of that junk and I wouldn't trade one 5th Gen for all of them they ever made. You can do a complete restoration on one of those old cars, work all the bugs out, park it in the garage, and you'll still have work on it before you can drive it the next time. I'd like to have a dime for every time I've raised the garage door and finding one of those old POSs sitting in a puddle of its own fluids. My 5th Gen is quieter, smoother, handles better, rides better, has more power, is more reliable and is much easier on fuel than any old car I've ever owned.

Then give me your lot of junk. I'll be glad to take it off your hands.

Secondly, I'd install a newer engine and tranny into it. It would get 30+mpg with 400+HP. Where there's a will, there's a way. But as I said give me your junk please.

[SubSonic]

Originally Posted by Rocky1974

While I agree with you about making stuff easy to get to, you are in for a rude awakening when you start dragging home that junk from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. You will find out real quick just how far cars have come. Yes they are easier to work on, which is a very good thing, because you get to do it often. I know because I have a whole garage full of that junk and I wouldn't trade one 5th Gen for all of them they ever made. You can do a complete restoration on one of those old cars, work all the bugs out, park it in the garage, and you'll still have work on it before you can drive it the next time. I'd like to have a dime for every time I've raised the garage door and finding one of those old POSs sitting in a puddle of its own fluids. My 5th Gen is quieter, smoother, handles better, rides better, has more power, is more reliable and is much easier on fuel than any old car I've ever owned.

Yes, I agree completely.
I spent the last 7 years restoring a 1967 Mustang... which I sold to purchase the Camaro.

For a while it was even my daily driver.

From motor, transmission, carpet, glass, suspension, all replaced - new. Cut out old rusted metal, weld in new metal, expensive paint.

6 power steering pumps.
Rebubbling of rust.
Leaks for no other reason than the transmission pan gasket wants to be reinstalled.
Another exploded pump and another replacement part in a terribly designed power steering system.

Add A/C.

Blow fuses. Repair 45+ year old wiring.

Parasitic Draw.

I got over it.
Very fun car, I built it to be that way; got lots of attention. Sounded good and went fast. And looked really good.

But it was a chore.
I put 3 heater cores in it in 7 years...
It's an entirely different game.

[Midnight Rat]

It does not matter if the heater is on or off coolant always flows thru the heater core. Turn on the ac and then go feel the heater hoses you will see they are both hot, inlet and outlet

Originally Posted by myold88

I know it flows through the radiator and engine when running, but I'm not
sure it circulates through the heater core when the heat and A/C are off.