I think my heater core is starting to go bad in my 85 gsl-se. Because when I turn my heat on it looks like a fog machine in my car and it only does it when I turn the tep *** to hot it blows a light smoke out of the vents for the windshield. How hard is the heater core to replace.

Also does any body know where I could get a good heater core I have check with all my local parts stores and they can't get a heater core.

 

i think blackdragon has them

 

http://www.rockauto.com/

Vista-Pro Heater Core - $78.79 + Shipping

 

In some cases you could take it to a radiator repair shop and they could test, flush and repair any leaks....might even cost less than a new core....

 

As far as difficulty of replacement, I stripped my entire interior, and it was too difficult to get the core out of the box so I just left it there. That was after pulling my dashboard out. Basically, make sure you read up on how to disassemble your dash, because it's going to take a while.

 

+1 never removed my heater core but the first time I dissasembled the dash was a pita took me atleast an hour.

 

This might be another option to consider: https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/engine-coolant-seal-repair-maybe-750774/

If you added the Alumaseal to the radiator, then ran the car with the heat on high, it should take care of it. 15 minutes and $4.00










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Band-aid fix. You don't want to be tossing that stuff in a healthy engine.

 

Well, everyone will have their own opinion.

What I know from my personal experience is, I've put 20,000 miles on that motor since the treatement without any sign of adverse effects.

 

Is your water level dropping, too, in your coolant reservoir? Does the mist smell of antifreeze? Does coolant-scented water come out the drain hole of the heater box?

If not, you might just be dealing with a plugged drain line which is letting condensation get trapped in the heater box, & then is steaming off when heated. Especially depending on local humidity & temp.

For what it's worth, you might have a bad core, but given the cost of the part and the amount of work involved in swapping it, I'd want to be really sure I knew I had a problem before I went down that road.

 

I agree with Divin Driver.

 

I had my heat on yesterday and I turned on the recirclate in stead of sucking air from out side and the smoke only lasted for couple of seconds and there are no leaks on the carpet. Is there anything else that could cause a real light smoke to come out of the vents. Has any body ever had a real light smoke come out of the vents? I just want to make sure it is the heater core.

Also it does not smell like antifreeze and I have been checking my antifreeze and it has not been dropping

 

Check to see if the core vent is blocked; it lets out to a little rubber dingus looks like a right angle spigot, in the engine bay, on the firewall, lower right side.

Put a length of hose to it and see if you can blow air into it freely.

 

I was wondering could the blower motor give out a light smoke if it was going out because today went to turn it on and it did not sound good it is out

 

If the smoke was coming from the blower motor going bad you should have been able to smell the " something electric is burning up" smell. Did you notice that?