I have a coolant leak but i am not too sure where, the coolant builds up in front of passenger side seat on the carpet. this just started happening today, ive owned the car for about 2 weeks now.

 

Heater core or one of the lines to it is leaking. Fix it asap before your ECU gets soaked.

 

100% True, you want to put a rush on this.

 

k, would i have to replace the heater core if its that?

 

First, identify the exact source of the leak. Get up under the dash with a flashlight to locate the source. If the heater core is leaking and you want heat--which I assume you do considering you're in BC--you will need to replace it. If you don't care about heat, or if you want a temporary fix, you can bypass the heater core. Get a long piece of hose of the same diameter and connect the two pipes in the engine compartment that enter the interior of the car through the firewall.

Get a copy of the factory service manual from one of the links in the FAQ for more info on the heater core.

 

Note that bypassing the heater core will disable the defrost on the front windshield, which will cause the car to fail inspection in most areas.

 

no defrost i guess this method that quick fix is no good for me i need the defrost. just curious how much would a new heater core be?

 

A heater core should be very cheap and easy to source (used). The fun part is removing yours. After removing your current heater core, you may be able to epoxy/braze the leak and put it right back in, so I wouldn't buy one until inspecting yours first hand.

 

I think my replacement core cost around $120 US. You may not be able to physically see the hole in the old core. I couldn't find the leak in mine. But I knew it was the core, and replacing it fixed the problem.

 

Hate to butt in on this thread but are you guys saying the heater core has coolant flow through it? I have my heater core off the car right now and i dont recall there being any hoses to the heater core. I just did a engine swap, ran the car and my coolant is still filled up with no leaks.

 

^Theres two outlets on the engine so HOT coolant can run through the heater core and it'll warm up when the air runs through it becomes hot...

How else you think cars have heat? Lol I had to turn my heater on once to cool the car off

 

The cost of a new heater core is immaterial. The real issue is that Mazda installed the heater core, then built the RX-7 around it.

In order to access, you will probably have to remove the dash. Some have said that it can be done with the dash in place by hacking up the HVAC box but I don't buy it.

 

Outstanding Quote

 

So how come i can have my car running with the coolant filled but yet the heater core is not connected on my car?

 

^Common sense, was said in this thread

(not tryin to be douche, Ill say it)

you can loop the lines to the heater core :P lazy ***** do it, I wouldnt I love how hot the air blows out my 7

 

Quite simply, the feed in and out of the firewall for the heater core must currently be bypassed. Or you have something else installed in place of a heater core, a piece of hose or pipe perhaps - which would make no sense whatsoever, but it is possible.