Heater core leak, what to do? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Yeti · 03-16-2017, 11:12 AM

I have a 2011 camaro RS with 46k miles on it and am experiencing the coolant smell in my cabin. From what I have read on here it is the heater core most likely a small pin hole in it. This repair is very costly, well it's costly to me at least. I am not experiencing the leak or drip to the carpet yet and my window has not fogged up. So I think I am catching it in the early stags. A few guys at work have suggest using alumaseal to just seal the leak. Just wonder what some of you think, either spend the 2k to fix it or try the alumaseal? This is not my everyday driver car mostly sits and I take it out on nice days.

Rock-It Man · 03-16-2017, 11:28 AM

Just make sure you have eliminated other possibilities by getting the car up on a lift or ramps and looking for any other potential sources of the odor.

I have never used this product, by the way.

b4wheeler · 03-16-2017, 01:06 PM

If you only drive in the summer and never use the heat, you can bypass the heater core as a temp fix until you can find time and money to do the correct repair.

JDP Sales · 03-16-2017, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b4wheeler

If you only drive in the summer and never use the heat, you can bypass the heater core as a temp fix until you can find time and money to do the correct repair.

That will only last so long. My car had the same problem a couple of years back and we replaced all the hosing we could find that it might be leaking from ended up being the heater core. If it is the heater core for you you are slightly screwed for repairs, I learned the hard way by having to fill the coolant every time I got into the car. Even if you don't drive it it will still leak.

I personally have not used it but the shop is saying no on the alumaseal. It can cause more issues than what you started with.

Best regards,

Kayla L.
801.545.4215

Yeti · 03-16-2017, 01:44 PM

Definitely don't want to cause more problems. I'm taking the car to the shop on Monday to see what all they find and have to say. Was just seeing if I had any other options.

scott1245 · 03-31-2017, 11:24 AM

I had same issue and did the repair myself, it was a pain in the ass!!! But saved me a lot of $$$. If you take your time it can be done. It costed me around $600-700 to do it myself. I replaced both the heater core and a/c evaporator since I had it out. I also had windshield removed, hated to do it but had to and made the access a lot easier, but when I put the crash bar back in I left those 2 bolts out so if I ever have to do it again I wont have to remove the windshield. The $$$ I spent was for parts, windshield removal and installation, Freon removal and recharge, and for a clockspring I broke to not paying attention! it took me 3 weeks to do it all, that's just working on it after I got off work and making appointments to get Freon taken out and putting back in as well as appointments for windshield! If you're gonna attempt to do it yourself and have any ??? let me know and Ill answer them best I can.

Aug · 04-07-2017, 07:05 AM

sorry you are having this problem. It seems like this was a weak spot never corrected unfortunately...as my 2014SS with only 12k miles had a leaking heater core. I am thankful it was replaced under warranty, as the dealer told me it was a $2200 repair for a $75 heater core. I would think GM would have recognized this problem early and made improvements to the heat core to prevent the problem since it costs them a lot with warranty claims. I guess the bean counters did the math though. Anyhow, did you get yours fixed yet?

Yeti · 07-12-2017, 05:12 AM

Update, ended up taking the car to the dealership this spring and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. They did note the smell coming from the car. I ended up filing a complaint with gm about the issue. Yesterday the heater core finally went, puddle of liquid on the passenger floor and smoke coming from the vents when you turn it to heat. Took her to the shop today and awaiting to hear the damage. My car has 47k miles on it and not under warranty since I bought it used with 3k mikes on it. I'm going to try and call Chevy again and see if I can get anywhere with them. Really sucks having a nice car you don't drive much and take care of have a major repair like this so early on.

ron123 · 07-12-2017, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeti

... Yesterday the heater core finally went, puddle of liquid on the passenger floor and smoke coming from the vents when you turn it to heat.

Being summer you could just bypass the heater core, that takes 5 minutes to do. That will give you plenty of time for how to plan/handle the repair - whether DIY or Shop.
I've done the bypass on other vehicles of mine over the years.

Saw many DIY Heater Core replacements in the forum where they short-cut the replacement process. One method was to first cut the thread end of the two long threaded bolts with a Dremel (that hold the dash on) ... that allowed enough clearance that when the remaining bolt length is backed out from the dash top it would not hit the windshield. And did not need windshield removal/replacement using that technique.
Ron

Yeti · 07-14-2017, 07:27 AM

I'm just going to have it fixed. Told the dealership about cutting off the bolts so they don't have to remove the windshield. They said they would look into it. Trying to keep cost down as much as possible. They are having a professional glass company take out the windshield, you would think they would be able to remove the windshield without any issues. Unfortantly, they are saying there is still a potential that they may break the windshield.

Rock-It Man · 07-14-2017, 08:37 AM

Is it the original windshield? If so, it's doubtful that it can be removed without damage.

It's glued in there good.

On the bright side, if you have some miles on the windshield, you'll be amazed how nice a new un-pitted one looks from the inside.

Yeti · 07-15-2017, 03:40 AM

Yes, it is the orginal windsheild. Good news is that I called my insurance company and they have never had an issue with replacing a windsheild in the past. Just told them realy no diffrent then a rock flying up and cracking it vs it getting broke a diffrent way. They said they would pay for the windshield if it broke. I was just against paying for something that had to be broke in order to fix something else. You really shoudn't have to do that.

03-16-2017, 11:12 AM	#1
Yeti Drives: Summit White RS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: IL Posts: 240	Heater core leak, what to do? I have a 2011 camaro RS with 46k miles on it and am experiencing the coolant smell in my cabin. From what I have read on here it is the heater core most likely a small pin hole in it. This repair is very costly, well it's costly to me at least. I am not experiencing the leak or drip to the carpet yet and my window has not fogged up. So I think I am catching it in the early stags. A few guys at work have suggest using alumaseal to just seal the leak. Just wonder what some of you think, either spend the 2k to fix it or try the alumaseal? This is not my everyday driver car mostly sits and I take it out on nice days.

03-16-2017, 01:06 PM	#3
b4wheeler Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS Vert Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Cordova, Md Posts: 632 View My Garage	If you only drive in the summer and never use the heat, you can bypass the heater core as a temp fix until you can find time and money to do the correct repair. __________________ 2011 2SS/RS Convertible, Victory Red, Roto-Fab CAI, Stainless Power 1 7/8 headers, No Cats, Straight piped, Bo White TB, Circle D, 3.91, ZL1 CONVERSION, CDC Roll bar and some powder coating and dipping.

04-07-2017, 07:05 AM	#7
Aug Drives: 2014 2SS MT, Convertible Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Jacksonville Posts: 78 View My Garage	sorry you are having this problem. It seems like this was a weak spot never corrected unfortunately...as my 2014SS with only 12k miles had a leaking heater core. I am thankful it was replaced under warranty, as the dealer told me it was a $2200 repair for a $75 heater core. I would think GM would have recognized this problem early and made improvements to the heat core to prevent the problem since it costs them a lot with warranty claims. I guess the bean counters did the math though. Anyhow, did you get yours fixed yet? __________________ Steve 2014 2SS MT, Convertible Saint Augustine FL

03-16-2017, 11:28 AM	#2
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,043 View My Garage	Just make sure you have eliminated other possibilities by getting the car up on a lift or ramps and looking for any other potential sources of the odor. I have never used this product, by the way.

03-16-2017, 01:44 PM	#5
Yeti Drives: Summit White RS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: IL Posts: 240	Definitely don't want to cause more problems. I'm taking the car to the shop on Monday to see what all they find and have to say. Was just seeing if I had any other options.

03-31-2017, 11:24 AM	#6
scott1245 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Castle Posts: 6	I had same issue and did the repair myself, it was a pain in the ass!!! But saved me a lot of $$$. If you take your time it can be done. It costed me around $600-700 to do it myself. I replaced both the heater core and a/c evaporator since I had it out. I also had windshield removed, hated to do it but had to and made the access a lot easier, but when I put the crash bar back in I left those 2 bolts out so if I ever have to do it again I wont have to remove the windshield. The $$$ I spent was for parts, windshield removal and installation, Freon removal and recharge, and for a clockspring I broke to not paying attention! it took me 3 weeks to do it all, that's just working on it after I got off work and making appointments to get Freon taken out and putting back in as well as appointments for windshield! If you're gonna attempt to do it yourself and have any ??? let me know and Ill answer them best I can.

07-12-2017, 05:12 AM	#8
Yeti Drives: Summit White RS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: IL Posts: 240	Update, ended up taking the car to the dealership this spring and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. They did note the smell coming from the car. I ended up filing a complaint with gm about the issue. Yesterday the heater core finally went, puddle of liquid on the passenger floor and smoke coming from the vents when you turn it to heat. Took her to the shop today and awaiting to hear the damage. My car has 47k miles on it and not under warranty since I bought it used with 3k mikes on it. I'm going to try and call Chevy again and see if I can get anywhere with them. Really sucks having a nice car you don't drive much and take care of have a major repair like this so early on.

07-14-2017, 07:27 AM	#10
Yeti Drives: Summit White RS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: IL Posts: 240	I'm just going to have it fixed. Told the dealership about cutting off the bolts so they don't have to remove the windshield. They said they would look into it. Trying to keep cost down as much as possible. They are having a professional glass company take out the windshield, you would think they would be able to remove the windshield without any issues. Unfortantly, they are saying there is still a potential that they may break the windshield.

07-14-2017, 08:37 AM	#11
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,043 View My Garage	Is it the original windshield? If so, it's doubtful that it can be removed without damage. It's glued in there good. On the bright side, if you have some miles on the windshield, you'll be amazed how nice a new un-pitted one looks from the inside.

07-15-2017, 03:40 AM	#12
Yeti Drives: Summit White RS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: IL Posts: 240	Yes, it is the orginal windsheild. Good news is that I called my insurance company and they have never had an issue with replacing a windsheild in the past. Just told them realy no diffrent then a rock flying up and cracking it vs it getting broke a diffrent way. They said they would pay for the windshield if it broke. I was just against paying for something that had to be broke in order to fix something else. You really shoudn't have to do that.