97 grand am has had 3 (soon to be 4 if you count the coolant pouring out of the heater core drain) heater cores in a year. first one lasted 10 months and every 2 months after. shop has been replacing them as a warrantied part ( not my problem) but i want to FIX the problem . The grounded the 3rd core to the neg terminal of the battery ( the "fix" for this problem i was assured) and
2006-08-17 11:58:06 · 7 answers · asked by bill0341 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Electrolysis is your culprit. The coolant is developing an electric charge that is eating away at the heater core. Grounding the heater core will not completely solve the problem. You will have to have the complete cooling system flushed and refilled with new coolant. Then your vehicle needs to be inspected for missing or corroded engine/body grounds. Something is causing the coolant to pick up a charge. More grounds can be added to the existing engine grounds to help displace the charge. A restrictor in the inlet to the heater core will also help.
2006-08-17 12:10:34 · answer #1 · answered by yugie29 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, these answers are a little surprising to me....now a heater core is nothing more than a radiator. Doesn't matter which direction coolant flows. The restrictor is a new one on me. You could certainly try it. Swapping the hoses will not hurt it so you can try that. Grounding the core...OK...new one on me...that wouldn't hurt, also change the radiator cap...very important. After doing all of these things, also do a compression check on the engine. It may show a problem, but it's possible that it could get missed. If there is a small crack in the head or a small bad spot in a head gasket it could pressurize the cooling system and this high pressure will push it's way out at the weekest point. Should be the cap, but it could still damage the heater core. You can check this before doing all of this work by starting the car with the radiator cap off and put your hand over the radiator. If you feel pressure, then something is pressurizing the system...most likely one of the combustion chambers leaking through. Good luck Hope this helps.
2006-08-17 14:03:03 · answer #2 · answered by jeff s 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are two interfaces to the heater core, a water-in and a water-out. They keep putting the hoses to the core on backwards. Coolant flowing in the wrong direction weakens a heater core prematurely.
Get your money back 4 fold, and swap the hoses.
They are probably doing this intentionally to keep you coming back and charging you outrageously for fluids and whatever else.
Jeff S,
It does matter which direction the coolant flows in a heater core. The water passages are much smaller than those of the main radiator. If small particles, i.e. rust, enter the passages backwards, they can clog and erode the core faster than if they went in the engineered direction.
2006-08-17 12:30:13 · answer #3 · answered by x 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Have they flushed the cooling system? There could be stuff in the system that is clogging the heater core up and since it is essentially the weak link, it blows instead of the radiator or the hoses due to pressure.
As far as hooking the neg terminal to the heater core? I have never heard of this.
2006-08-17 12:07:29 · answer #4 · answered by jerzydevil 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it wont and what you describe isn't a failing heater center. the purely way the heater center fails ist o spring a leak and it has to get replaced. in spite of the project is flushing out and replacing the antifreeze water blend received't remedy any situation in besides. A failing heater center would not enable water into the engine for it to go back out of the exhaust, it would want to finally end up on the floor or interior the automobiles footwell. purely wide-spread condensation on a chilly day or a blown head gasket or a cracked head gasket will attempt this and so this out of your descroption is what's incorrect which includes your vehicle.
2016-11-05 01:17:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is only a guess , but i remember someone with similar problem. that was finally resolved by installing a restrictor in line exiting engine. seems like quick conn was used to fix it. i know sounds crazy ..also car was ckecked for headgasket leaking compression into cooling system.
2006-08-17 12:13:21 · answer #6 · answered by deltech 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1)Not having the cooling system flushed at least once a year.
2)Filling the system with plain tap water,instead of distilled water.
3)Not having the right balance of anti-freeze and water for the cooler weather,or warmer weather whichever applies to your situation.
4)Just plain neglect and or stupidity.
2006-08-17 12:22:34 · answer #7 · answered by T-Bill 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋