Heating Core Help!

[JillianLS]

I have a 95 4Runner, and I believe my heating core has finally crapped out on me.

Pretty much as soon as the engine warms up it begins to overheat. My coolant then starts to boil (you heard me, BOIL!!) and plumes of hoopty car smoke shoot out the back (smells like coolant) It also dosent blow hot air when I turn on the heat.

Could it be something else? And if it is my heating core, can't I just bypass it until I can afford to drop 600 bucks? I realize that I won't have heat in the car, but at least I'll have a driveable car, yes?

Any help, suggestions, advice would by greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Jillian

[Brian R.]

I bet you have a 3.0L V6 engine.

Sounds like you have a bad head gasket letting coolant into your cylinders and letting combustion gases into your water jacket. Get it fixed ASAP. Your oil is getting contaminated with coolant and may trash your engine. Bad head gaskets are known to be a problem with that engine.

If you heating coil was bad, you'd either get no heat in your passenger compartment or your heater coil would be pissing coolant all over your interior.

[JillianLS]

aw that aint cool at all. and theres no quick fix for this is there? looks like ill be a bi-ped for a while i guess. I just moved into the area, and JUST got a job down here. (start tomorrow) and dont have the money for fixing right now. I'm gonna have the nicest set of legs in the Atlanta area now. thanks for the input Brian. Greatly appreciated.

[Brian R.]

Well, I might be wrong. If I'm right, then there is no quick fix.

You're welcome - Good luck.