Replacing heater core...
02-21-2007, 11:44 AM
#1
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Replacing heater core...
I have coolant leaking from under the glove compartment in my 96 Deville. I went to Midas they said it would be about 700-800 to fix it, since they have to take off the whole dash and everything. However, I've been reading some online and and some places have said that its a relatively easy process, and shouldn't take that long.
Is 700 crazy, or is that what it would really cost. You guys have any experience with this.
Thanks in advance,
Christoph
Is 700 crazy, or is that what it would really cost. You guys have any experience with this.
Thanks in advance,
Christoph
02-21-2007, 12:13 PM
#2
On that type of car I have no idea. Heater core replacement on my Explorer is a 30 min job & another $35 in parts. Real easy.
Might want to buy a service manual & look up what's involved. Most auto stores have Hayes, or Chiltions manuals that cover that car. Hell, read it in the store if you can.
Might want to buy a service manual & look up what's involved. Most auto stores have Hayes, or Chiltions manuals that cover that car. Hell, read it in the store if you can.
02-21-2007, 12:22 PM
#3
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^^In your case it would probably cost about a hundred dollars with the labor. I highly doubt that it would cost 600 extra just because of the different make...maybe like 200 but not 700/800
02-21-2007, 01:27 PM
#4
Depends.....If the dash has to come out to access the heater core, that a ton of labor. If the shop charges $90/labor rate that racks it up. That's why I said research it yourself. Know what needs to be done.
Look up some web forums, maybe there are shortcut ways to replace it.
Look up some web forums, maybe there are shortcut ways to replace it.
02-21-2007, 01:36 PM
#5
Originally Posted by fuzzy02CLS
Depends.....If the dash has to come out to access the heater core, that a ton of labor. If the shop charges $90/labor rate that racks it up. That's why I said research it yourself. Know what needs to be done.
Look up some web forums, maybe there are shortcut ways to replace it.
Look up some web forums, maybe there are shortcut ways to replace it.
Terry
02-21-2007, 02:22 PM
#6
Got da Internet Goin Nutz
Replaced the heater in my beater '95 Kia Sportage. Had to take out the ENTIRE DASH! IT WAS A SERIOUS PITA! Do a search and firgure out what is envolved. If the removal doesn't require takeing the entire dash off, do it yourself! If it does, it warrants the expensive cost, and I would even say, to go ahead and pay someone else to do it. See if you can talk them down to $375 on the labor and you buy the parts...
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02-21-2007, 03:47 PM
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I posted my question on a cadillac forum...I got this response:
Sounds good...however I highly doubt I'd be capable of doing that myself. But how does a mechanic charge 7-800 for something like this?
\
I wouldn't pay that much. I did this myself a couple years ago. Not really that difficult to do if you have mechanical skills. I replaced mine for about $200 total. $150 for the core and I replaced all the hoses associated with it.
Take out the glove box.
Take the lower passenger floor dash panel out.
You will see a black box.
You will then have to take the screws out to move the computer brain out of the way.
Take the screws out that are around the heater core housing (black box)
once you get that cover off, you should mark where the control rod is snapped into place that is for the control of the heater door. After that cover is off, there will be a bracket holding the heater core in place. Disconnect the heater hoses in the engine compartment fist before taking this brack off. After you get the heater core loose, you should be able to just pull it out. BE CAREFUL, THERE WILL BE COOLANT IN THERE. May want to put some plastic and towels down to catch the spillage.
Once you have the old one out, reinstall it. It was one of the easiest I have replaced. Good luck.
I wouldn't pay that much. I did this myself a couple years ago. Not really that difficult to do if you have mechanical skills. I replaced mine for about $200 total. $150 for the core and I replaced all the hoses associated with it.
Take out the glove box.
Take the lower passenger floor dash panel out.
You will see a black box.
You will then have to take the screws out to move the computer brain out of the way.
Take the screws out that are around the heater core housing (black box)
once you get that cover off, you should mark where the control rod is snapped into place that is for the control of the heater door. After that cover is off, there will be a bracket holding the heater core in place. Disconnect the heater hoses in the engine compartment fist before taking this brack off. After you get the heater core loose, you should be able to just pull it out. BE CAREFUL, THERE WILL BE COOLANT IN THERE. May want to put some plastic and towels down to catch the spillage.
Once you have the old one out, reinstall it. It was one of the easiest I have replaced. Good luck.
02-21-2007, 04:15 PM
#9
Got da Internet Goin Nutz
That honestly sounds pretty simple. I think you can do it. First look in the engine bay and find the hoses that you will have to disconnect there. That will be 25% of the battle. I don't think this project would take a novice more than 4 hours than complete. Give it a go, if you get to a spot where you get stuck, put everything back and have some else do it. For now, you have instructions, do that shit!
02-22-2007, 11:37 AM
#11
Got da Internet Goin Nutz
I am sure they came to the prices by either looking in a book at the estimated hours and multiplying it by their rate, or they just gave you a number because you said heater core and and assumed it would be a total dash removal, or they actually have experience doing the replacement on that exact car.
Either way, I think you should try it first and if you can't get it take it to the $400 folks. You are less likely to get suckered into paying a shit load of money if you go in and talk to the people like you know exactly what it takes and tell them you just don't have the time to do it yourself.
I can not over emphasize how much it would help if you TRIED IT YOURSELF. It sounds like an easy process and it honestly isn't rocket science. The way I see it, if George with a high school diploma can do it with just hand tools, then damnit, I can too!
Either way, I think you should try it first and if you can't get it take it to the $400 folks. You are less likely to get suckered into paying a shit load of money if you go in and talk to the people like you know exactly what it takes and tell them you just don't have the time to do it yourself.
I can not over emphasize how much it would help if you TRIED IT YOURSELF. It sounds like an easy process and it honestly isn't rocket science. The way I see it, if George with a high school diploma can do it with just hand tools, then damnit, I can too!
02-22-2007, 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by bl^5
I am sure they came to the prices by either looking in a book at the estimated hours and multiplying it by their rate, or they just gave you a number because you said heater core and and assumed it would be a total dash removal, or they actually have experience doing the replacement on that exact car.
Either way, I think you should try it first and if you can't get it take it to the $400 folks. You are less likely to get suckered into paying a shit load of money if you go in and talk to the people like you know exactly what it takes and tell them you just don't have the time to do it yourself.
I can not over emphasize how much it would help if you TRIED IT YOURSELF. It sounds like an easy process and it honestly isn't rocket science. The way I see it, if George with a high school diploma can do it with just hand tools, then damnit, I can too!
Either way, I think you should try it first and if you can't get it take it to the $400 folks. You are less likely to get suckered into paying a shit load of money if you go in and talk to the people like you know exactly what it takes and tell them you just don't have the time to do it yourself.
I can not over emphasize how much it would help if you TRIED IT YOURSELF. It sounds like an easy process and it honestly isn't rocket science. The way I see it, if George with a high school diploma can do it with just hand tools, then damnit, I can too!
I'll have to get a few opinions...but either way I have to get it fixed before I go home since I can't drive a long distance.
02-22-2007, 07:26 PM
#13
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Yeah, they told me that book rate to do a transmission top cover gasket on my Saturn was 2 hrs.
It took me an hr to get everything out...I thought I could slap a new gasket on and put it back together.
Well, turns out the gasket sealer used "super glued" the gasket not to the top cover itself, but to the transmission! So uhh...I spent 1.5+ hrs scraping the sucker off...in a 1' by 1' space.
Sure, it sounds easy, but it almost never turns out that way with these type of jobs.
It took me an hr to get everything out...I thought I could slap a new gasket on and put it back together.
Well, turns out the gasket sealer used "super glued" the gasket not to the top cover itself, but to the transmission! So uhh...I spent 1.5+ hrs scraping the sucker off...in a 1' by 1' space.
Sure, it sounds easy, but it almost never turns out that way with these type of jobs.
02-22-2007, 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by SodaLuvr
Yeah, they told me that book rate to do a transmission top cover gasket on my Saturn was 2 hrs.
It took me an hr to get everything out...I thought I could slap a new gasket on and put it back together.
Well, turns out the gasket sealer used "super glued" the gasket not to the top cover itself, but to the transmission! So uhh...I spent 1.5+ hrs scraping the sucker off...in a 1' by 1' space.
Sure, it sounds easy, but it almost never turns out that way with these type of jobs.
It took me an hr to get everything out...I thought I could slap a new gasket on and put it back together.
Well, turns out the gasket sealer used "super glued" the gasket not to the top cover itself, but to the transmission! So uhh...I spent 1.5+ hrs scraping the sucker off...in a 1' by 1' space.
Sure, it sounds easy, but it almost never turns out that way with these type of jobs.
02-22-2007, 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by fuzzy02CLS
That's why you buy a service manual for $20 at an auto parts store. At least look what you need to do.
I would not touch ANYTHING until you had this information.
I would not touch ANYTHING until you had this information.
even with a service manual I wouldn't attempt it...Greenie lives in this area maybe he knows a good shop
02-23-2007, 05:53 PM
#17
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Originally Posted by BstonBruin
even with a service manual I wouldn't attempt it...Greenie lives in this area maybe he knows a good shopI'm about 15 mines south of you, but my brothers baby's mama lives up by the college.... She's had someone do work in the bonneville she bought off my father, so she might be able to help...
Chris, Maybe getting it towed back home where you're more familiar with mechanics is another option ??
edit: Last time I changes a heater core, it was in a 70's pinto (must have been someone time in the 80's)... That was a pain in the ass to do, but I'd imagine that a deville would have alot more room to work in...
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