Are heater cores interchangeable?
As GM moved into the 1980s, the interchangeability of heater cores varied greatly with the introduction of new body styles and front- and rear-wheel drive. If a replacement core can be located, it is highly recommended that it be thoroughly cleaned and pressure checked before installation.
What are heater cores made of?
A heater core is a small radiator located under the dashboard of the vehicle, and it consists of conductive aluminium or brass tubing with cooling fins to increase surface area. Hot coolant passing through the heater core gives off heat before returning to the engine cooling circuit.
How can you tell if heater core needs replacing?
There are several telltale signs that you’re experiencing a heater core problem: You have little or no heat inside your car Your vehicle is running fine, with the temperature gauge reading normal and no other cooling system problems. You smell coolant inside your vehicle As you drive, you can detect the sweet, fruity smell of coolant inside. Your windows fog up This is a more extreme version of the coolant smell scenario.
What are the steps to replace a heater core?
Remove the Core. Disable the Tracker’s air bag system.
What is the labor time to replace the heater core?
The labor time to replace the heater core is 5.5 hours if equipped with a center console, and 5.0 hours without. Multiply this by the shops hourly rate and you have the labor time.
How long does it take to replace heater core?
How long it takes to replace the heater core depends on the experience level of the person doing the work. Someone less familiar with the job will take longer than someone that is more familiar with it. The labor time that a shop would charge to replace the heater core is 5.2 hours per the Alldata labor time guide.