98 villager heater core

[hytwr1]

Hi guys,

My folks have a 98 villager. They say one of the heater hose connections cracked or broke off mear the firewall and a local mechanic reconnected the hose to the plastic stub that was left. The question I was asked "is the heater core in these vehicles plastic"? Difficult to change?

Thanks

[tempfixit]

Originally Posted by hytwr1

Hi guys,

My folks have a 98 villager. They say one of the heater hose connections cracked or broke off mear the firewall and a local mechanic reconnected the hose to the plastic stub that was left. The question I was asked "is the heater core in these vehicles plastic"? Difficult to change?

Thanks

To my knowledge the heater core pipes are brass. The core is under the dash and is quite extensive to replace (I have never replaced one or heard of this problem before on these vehicles).

Any idea how it broke ????

Sending PM

[hytwr1]

Originally Posted by tempfixit

To my knowledge the heater core pipes are brass. The core is under the dash and is quite extensive to replace (I have never replaced one or heard of this problem before on these vehicles).

Any idea how it broke ????

Sending PM

No definite idea, but suspect the same mechanic/service garage damaged it when changing hoses, intake/head gaskets in the vehicle a few months back. I haven't actually seen it yet , so I can't say for sure what they have the heater hose stubbed onto. If the pipes are brass I'm thinking maybe a piece could be soldered on to the stub.

Sent you PM too.

[tempfixit]

Originally Posted by hytwr1

No definite idea, but suspect the same mechanic/service garage damaged it when changing hoses, intake/head gaskets in the vehicle a few months back. I haven't actually seen it yet , so I can't say for sure what they have the heater hose stubbed onto. If the pipes are brass I'm thinking maybe a piece could be soldered on to the stub.

Sent you PM too.

If you believe the garage damaged I would try getting them to remove and replace heater core free of charge. Maybe the work invoice can help you prove it. Most likely it was damaged when they were removing the old hose to install new one. (quessing)

How many miles are on the vehicle?? It is rare that head gaskets need to be replaced on these engines. Did it overheat at some time causeing the head gasket problem?

In order to solder a piece on may take as much work to do as replacing core. I need to look at my 94 to see how accessible the core is on the firewall, thinking not real easy to get at.

Have not recieved PM.

[hytwr1]

Originally Posted by tempfixit

If you believe the garage damaged I would try getting them to remove and replace heater core free of charge. Maybe the work invoice can help you prove it. Most likely it was damaged when they were removing the old hose to install new one. (quessing)

How many miles are on the vehicle?? It is rare that head gaskets need to be replaced on these engines. Did it overheat at some time causeing the head gasket problem?

In order to solder a piece on may take as much work to do as replacing core. I need to look at my 94 to see how accessible the core is on the firewall, thinking not real easy to get at.

Have not recieved PM.

I dont know for sure if it overheated. To be honest, it may have been a plenum and intake gasket removal while replacing all the hoses. I remember my Dad complaining how it took days for the shop to get all the parts.

It's 100 miles from me, so it will take a while to get a look at it.

[hytwr1]

Originally Posted by hytwr1

I dont know for sure if it overheated. To be honest, it may have been a plenum and intake gasket removal while replacing all the hoses. I remember my Dad complaining how it took days for the shop to get all the parts.

It's 100 miles from me, so it will take a while to get a look at it.

Just talked to my Dad and he said they did have an overheat issue of sorts. They blew a hose back in August. He remembers steam everywhere. Said they replaced all the hoses. So, I assume the plenum and things came off at that time.

Bill

[tempfixit]

Originally Posted by hytwr1

Just talked to my Dad and he said they did have an overheat issue of sorts. They blew a hose back in August. He remembers steam everywhere. Said they replaced all the hoses. So, I assume the plenum and things came off at that time.

Bill

WHen replacing hoses and back of engine it is easest to remove upper plenium. Chances are the heater hoses were the ones to blow out.

Lot of the hoses behind the engine are not easy to acquire these days. some modifications of preformed hoses that are for other applications is necessary.

WHen you get a chance to check out the problem, would you take a picture and post what you need to deal with?

Did you get my PM?

[hytwr1]

Originally Posted by tempfixit

WHen replacing hoses and back of engine it is easest to remove upper plenium. Chances are the heater hoses were the ones to blow out.

Lot of the hoses behind the engine are not easy to acquire these days. some modifications of preformed hoses that are for other applications is necessary.

WHen you get a chance to check out the problem, would you take a picture and post what you need to deal with?

Did you get my PM?

Will do.

Yep, PM'd you back. Wonder why it didn't go back to you. I am a yahoo member too.

Bill

[hytwr1]

Originally Posted by hytwr1

Will do.

Yep, PM'd you back. Wonder why it didn't go back to you. I am a yahoo member too.

Bill

Well, here's a pic of the injured core.

It turns out the vehicle was serviced by a shop who changed the water pump not too long ago. They think the damage may have been done by them.

The shop currently doing the heater core replacement said they've never seen one with the plastic coupling and would never have let it leave their shop with the connectors in the condition they are in . A new core was ordered, but did not include these couplings. So another is being shipped to central IL from VA.

Bill

[tempfixit]

Did the second core come with everything needed and were the connectoers for the hoses also plastic?

[hytwr1]

Originally Posted by tempfixit

Did the second core come with everything needed and were the connectoers for the hoses also plastic?

From what I understand, the second core did not come with any of the required connectors. So, the shop doing the work searched the country for the connectors and found a dealer in VA or WVA that had a core with connectors attached. It was being shipped west.

I will have to ask about the connectors on the second core when the snow birds get back from FL in about a month. They left their villager at the shop and flew south in a Buick.

Bill