S14 heater core leaking!!

[jlmillionaire]

Hey guys , to get to the point my heater core is leaking !! I'm looking for advice of what to do . Option a replace the heater core , not sure how much is involed haven't done much research at this point. If I have to remove dash board etc ... option b can I cap of my heater core hoses some where so coolant doesn't flow through the hvac system? Car will not be a daily when she's ready . Let me know what you guys think thanks.

[jlmillionaire]

http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s610/joshlawler82/Mobile%20Uploads/2017-05/0FA57CD8-F24B-4F3A-9245-7ED9D9E59536_zps8zsyswco.jpg (http://s1308.photobucket.com/user/joshlawler82/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2017-05/0FA57CD8-F24B-4F3A-9245-7ED9D9E59536_zps8zsyswco.jpg.html)

[FRpilot]

You'll have to remove the dash to replace the heater core (if Nissan even sells new ones, hopefully you can find a quality after market replacement if not).

You can bypass the heater core. There's 2 hoses going through the firewall that feeds the heater core. You need to loop it with something like this

http://images.factoryoemparts.com/media-pics/15717882-97-09-gmc-topkick-chevy-kodiak-u-shape-heater-hose-1-4-15717882.jpg

[Kingtal0n]

I went through this. pics are in my sig link.

It takes about 1-2 hours to pull the dash and all the crap if your steering wheel comes off easy. Mine was quick release. Otherwise I am not sure how long that takes on a normal car.

I had trouble finding a heater core. I eventually tracked one down through advanced auto for like $80 or $120. But while it was in the mail on the way to me, I epoxy'd my OEM heater core and it sealed up tight, so I just put the old one back in and returned the new one.

[jlmillionaire]

I might just try to link the heater core hoses in the engine bay if that's possible

[ThePaddy]

It is possible to loop the hoses and bypass the core

This can be done in the engine bay


It's not a hard job just a long job

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[[240sx]]

I did this every summer (didnt know any better) because my heater valve was stuck open. Buy a hose at the local parts store like pictured above. Make sure the curb isn't too large or it will pinch when you loop it. Bypass the heater core from under the intake manifold (by the oil filter), I found that easier then the fire wall. Hardest part I suppose is bleeding the system when you're done.

Also, I just removed the dash on my s14... wasn't hard to be honest. Just time consuming. I was fortunate to find an S14 at the salvage yard to practice on first.🤣

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170525/e9a6653b1b1065a5d040f659edc029b5.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170525/0bce0e10bcfe124b03890c7eca5caad8.jpg


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[FaLKoN240]

I'm literally going to tackle this for the second time today.

You have to pull EVERYTHING including the dash bar to get to the heater box/core.

I bought an aftermarket heater core off Amazon... low and behold it was way bigger than the stock one, and the fittings were too small.

After a day and a half of pulling the old shit out, I had to reassemble the car and loop the lines again.

Find a used OEM replacement in good working condition.

[[240sx]]

I bought an aftermarket heater core off Amazon... low and behold it was way bigger than the stock one, and the fittings were too small..
What brand? I just odered a replacment evaporator from Global parts on Amazon cuz I couldn't find a good used oem unit in time.
Now that I did,(Thanks to S14ls1) I'm torn between chancing it with a used unit vs this aftermarket one with has no reviews.(havent taken delivery yet)

Kinda off topic, sorry OP.

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[FaLKoN240]

I don't remember. The OEM used one i put in just now is working fine.


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[Agamemnon]

I would try to take my OEM core to a radiator shop and have them braze the leak.

[dbeiler]

You won't find a new replacement heater core that fits anywhere on this planet. Nissan stopped making them a while back. Thanks a lot you #$%^&.
All the aftermarket cores you see advertised online and at autoparts stores DO NOT FIT! They are falsely advertised as direct fit for S14. I wasted my time and money buying every core I could find and they are all incorrect.

You can bypass the heater core by looping the heater hoses. Have fun freezing to death.

You can find and install a used OEM core and count down the days until that one fails too.

You can find the leak in yours and put a large blob of JBWeld or epoxy on it and pray it works.

You can sell a kidney and have a copper core custom made to fit. Copper cores are easily repairable unlike the aluminum OEM cores.

[[240sx]]

I think everyone is right about B.S aftermarket replacement cores. (Heater or evaporator) Just got mine from Amazon...WTF. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170526/e11242be5821374609db15c046492179.jpg

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