Why when I turn on my defrost it looks like steam is blowing out of my vents, and also there is a drip that starts from under my passenger side dash at the same time.
When you get your new heater core, have the old one with you an compare it very close. I had to look at 3 before I got a match (not sure why) The tubes were not matching an "dents" in the tanks were off a little not allowing the core to seat properly.
We all have to go through it at least once. Changing a simple little heater core can test your nerves and patience like nothing else. Although I've never changed a heater core in a Maverick, I assume it's like all the others - most car manufacturers build the car around the heater core.
Yes, changing a heater core is a challenge........But not impossible. I found it to be a great learning experience
I learned something too. Sell the car when you see steam coming from the vents. (I know what you mean,though. But once was enough for me - I didn't need a lesson thereafter. )
Pretty easy on a non-A/C Maverick. Very challenging on A/C models. I did mine in '93 and it was a major P.I.T.A. (!) ...
In the meantime, get one of those flush T connectors and bypass it under the hood so it doesn't make any more mess. And bring the old one with you when getting the new one. As mentioned above, quite often they will give you one where the inlet and outlet aren't exactly the same.
Yes, by a magnitude of 10! Flat rate book on most cars with A/C is 6-8 hours. Now, that's for an experienced mechanic. For me, that equates to about two days, several busted knuckles, and about three days of hot-tub for my back to recover. Non A/C means about three-four hours of work for me.
My dad is a mechanic who has 30 years experience with old cars and hot rods, but he's going to make me do it to get learning experience is there a way I can get step by step directions?
I have done both. The A/C car took me a week to get all back together. The non-A/C car took me an hour or so. Big difference...
Yep! A car without A/C can be done in a hour, and you really don't have to take the heater box all the way out, ( but I would if i were you, just so you can learn a bit more about it) A new heater core should cost less then $40.00. Good luck!
Tim, I shouldn't question your method as I've never done the Maverick heater core replacement, but you'd remove the windshield? What does that gain? I was once going to replace the heater core in a 1990 Mustang I had. Of course the destructions state all the safety issues up front ("remove battery terminal", etc). When this one said, "CAUTION, FREON UNDER HIGH PRESSURE" I thought WTH? Then, I believe the first step read, "REMOVING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER". I closed the book, put a coupling between the two hoses and never thought about it again (weekend convertible car - I wasn't going to be driving it in the winter anyway).
