Can Someone Help Me? (HEATER CORE)

Have had a problem with my 98 Chevy S-10...First started with the defroster, now it does it at a stand still too...It emitts a steam from the vents, fogs up the windows with a film, and it smells funny. Took it to the shop todayand they said it was probably the heater core, is a 9 hour job and it's gonna cost about $800-$900. I don't know a lot about the car shops around here, just moved here. Does this sound like a fair diagnosis (They didn't ACTUALLY look at it) and does it sound like a fair estimate? Could it that the heater core is plugged? Just had my oil changed and this same shop and asked them to put anti-freeze in, and it takes the special kind...Dex something? It looks low already, and it's brown. What is going on with this??? Can anyone help me out? Any thoughts would be very helpful! Thanks!!!

Everything you say makes sence. The heater core is nothing but a small radiator under the dash....clearly it is leaking anti-freeze. I cant speak for a 98 but my 93 wasnt too bad at all. It seems most shops over charge for replacement because it is easier than your average core R&R. The core is only 26$ new from Autozone. Look back a few pages and read about core replacement or trace one of my replies on "cores".

Everything you say makes sence. The heater core is nothing but a small radiator under the dash....clearly it is leaking anti-freeze. I cant speak for a 98 but my 93 wasnt too bad at all. It seems most shops over charge for replacement because it is easier than your average core R&R. The core is only 26$ new from Autozone. Look back a few pages and read about core replacement or trace one of my replies on "cores".

I, too, can only speak for a 93 s10. My mechanic charged me $215.00 for the part and installation. I knew the part was relatively cheap, but I just simply didn't want to do it. The best part is now, with me doing the frame off, I took the core out so I have no heat. Not going to drive it anyway, so don't need the heat.

In this vehicle it is a easy fix. Just get you the Haynes manual at Autozone.

I have a '94 Blazer S10 now. This is my 2nd Chevy and I WILL NOT EVER own another one! My Blazer and Camaro both had the heater core go on them. I also have 3 friends with Chevys (various makes/models) that have ALL had the same problem.

The estimate you got is high. Try shopping around a little and get some estimates over the phone. Luckily, I live in Florida, so I just had the system bypassed and don't have any heat at all.

My advice, trade it or expect one problem after another.

I have a 99 2dr blazer. I had the problem of my heater core plugging. I had it flushed many times, but it kept on getting pluged. When i went to my local garage they told me that i would have to replace it. The estimate i got from them was roughly $800 for an 8 hour job. This is Canadian dollars. I also called up my local Chevy dealer and they gave me a similar estimate.

For this year of vehicle it is required to remove (you might be able to just tilt the dash forward) the entire dash to be able to acess the heater core. I have a Haynes manual for my truck and that is the procedure described whithin.

If the price you stated for your quote is in Canadian dollars, then i feel you have recieved an accurate quote. You might want to call other shops to see which one will do the work the cheapest.

where are you from???If you pay for the shipping i will sell ya the heater core real cheap(dirt cheap).Let me know where your at and if interested my email is [email protected]

The heater core being clogged seems likely since you have Dexcool. I, and others, have found Dexcool to be a real problem when it begins to break down. First you get brown clumps in the coolant, under the rad cap is a sure sign, next your rad and heater core get clogged. You begin to have problem with heat and overheating, finally you may experience blown head gaskets and or intake gaskets. I have worked on many GM vehicles and attribute the problem to Dexcool. Every vehicle I work on now gets a flush and gets green antifreeze. I have spoken to many people who have had the same problem and they have taken my advice and agree. Look into it. I, nor any of my customers, have had this problem since.