Since we bought this car at the end of Jan. we have had issues with
windows fogging and strange odor. We thought it was due to the car
being detailed and rugs were damp. Well, the problem is still here.
Now I see little drips of greenish liquid on the passenger floor. Not
a lot but I put my hand up under the glove box and I can feel where it
is wet. Toyota says its not necessarily the heater core. It could be
hoses or connectors, etc. My question is how likely is this. I tried
looking under the hood to see the hoses but I don't really know if I'm
looking in the right place. This car is for my teenage son and I am
thinking that its not really worth the 1100.00 to put in a new heater
core. The car has 99000 miles on it which I why I bought it and I
thought I got a good deal (3000). If I do nothing and don't use the
heat or defroster will the antifreeze continue to leak into the car.
This can't be healthy to breathe in. How hard will it be for the
dealer to diagnose what the problem is. They said 50.00 diagnostic
and then 90 per hour if they have to take anything apart.

"jett456" <Jett456 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

Another option is to connect the hose that goes into the heater core and the
return hose together. Of course that means no heat in the winter. Not a big
deal in some parts; problem in others.

There's no way tell what is the problem (heater core or hose) until you get
the thing apart.

Also, find out how much you can sell it for, add $1100 to that, and see if
you can buy a better car than the care with a fixed heater core.

Try taking it for a 2nd opinion. Apparently, you took it to a Toyota dealer.
You might get a better price at an independent mechanic.

And there is one person who does things more cheaply than independent
mechanics. Your son. Sounds like a great summer project. A real pain in the
butt. But at least, he'll earn the car.

Jeff

"jett456" <Jett456 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

The greenish liquid on the passenger side floor is engine coolant. If it
is inside the passenger compartment, possible sources of the leak are the
heater core, the hoses leading in to and out of the heater core, and related
hose clamps. If you want to invest in a Chilton's or Haynes manual,
available at auto parts stores, you can see what it takes to replace the
heater core or hoses.

$1,100 sounds like a lot of money to replace a heater core. If your son's
high school has an auto shop, diagnosis and repair would be a good high
school shop project, or you can have a competent technician do the diagnosis
and repair.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray O wrote:
How about a cutting torch and taking it out through the front?

"Fishface" <invalid (AT) ddress (DOT) ok?> wrote

more inclined to have the teen get some hands-on training ;-)
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

although I'd be
more inclined to have the teen get some hands-on training ;-)

My son is really helpless at this type of thing. I suggested it to my
husband and he just laughed. I can feel where the leak is. Its under
the dash, passenger side on the white plastic piece that moves with
the heat sliding contol. I am so hoping that this is just a hose or
clamp. I am having a hard time trying to figure out which hoses are
which under the hood. Are the heater hoses sidebyside? Are they
located directly under the glovebox behind the firewall? Is it
dangerous to be breathing this smell. It doesn't bother me but my
husband says it burns his throat.

"jett456" <Jett456 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

The heater hoses are side by side and pass through the firewall in front of
the passenger side. If the car has AC, there is also metal tubing that
passes through the firewall near the heater hoses.

If you plan on keeping the car, a Chilton or Haynes manual, available at
auto parts stores, would be a good investment. Look at the section for
replacing the heater core to see if it is something someone in your family
wants to tackle. It is not as difficult as it sounds, the hardest part is
laying on your back reaching up under the dash.

Antifreeze is toxic, so I can't imagine that breathing the steam is healthy
so get it fixed ASAP. If the leak is from a weak hose or hose clamp, it
could fail catastrophically, burning the passenger's feet so until you get
it fixed, either keep the heater temperature control at full cold or
temporarily bypass the heater core.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)