Defroster / heater core ?

dawg111 · 12-05-2008, 09:26 AM

have a ram 1500 v-6 2000 model, runs great, etc etc - cant get any heat our of it any more - was told the heater core most likely culprit. If I crank up the heat control, stinky, smelly smoke comes out of all the vents - coats the inside of my windows and whew its bad.

what is involved in a heater core replacement? and potential costs besides 200 for the core itself?

junior3382 · 12-05-2008, 09:49 AM

wow, you have smoke comming out of the vents? You may have a gunk blockage in the coolant lines. The core is not fun at all to replace, very messy, you will be cussing for sure....lol.... What does the smoke smell like? Are you running the A/C to get this smoke, or only the hot air?

bradrhale · 12-05-2008, 11:37 AM

might have buildup on the outside of the core. once a year, i have to clean ours as they develop a mat or carpet of dirt and bad stuff. dont rule out that the smoke is coming from the core. you might have another problem at hand. you might try gaining access to the core and turn the heater on to watch where in fact the smoke is coming from.

dawg111 · 12-06-2008, 07:41 AM

Well, it blows only cold air - brrrrr - ac works great. if I turn up the heater control, the smoke that comes out leaves a film on the inside of the windows - it smells like anti-freeze?

So where do I find material, say a exploded view to drop dash and check it out?

belvedere · 12-09-2008, 08:15 PM

sure sounds like a leaking heater core

12-05-2008, 09:26 AM	#1
dawg111 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2	Defroster / heater core ? have a ram 1500 v-6 2000 model, runs great, etc etc - cant get any heat our of it any more - was told the heater core most likely culprit. If I crank up the heat control, stinky, smelly smoke comes out of all the vents - coats the inside of my windows and whew its bad. what is involved in a heater core replacement? and potential costs besides 200 for the core itself?

12-05-2008, 09:49 AM	#2
junior3382 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Currently, I live in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Posts: 3,170	wow, you have smoke comming out of the vents? You may have a gunk blockage in the coolant lines. The core is not fun at all to replace, very messy, you will be cussing for sure....lol.... What does the smoke smell like? Are you running the A/C to get this smoke, or only the hot air? __________________ *The Blazer is dead, so I pumped her with lead, laid her to bed, and bought a FORD instead!*

12-06-2008, 07:41 AM	#4
dawg111 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2	Core Problems Well, it blows only cold air - brrrrr - ac works great. if I turn up the heater control, the smoke that comes out leaves a film on the inside of the windows - it smells like anti-freeze? So where do I find material, say a exploded view to drop dash and check it out?

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12-05-2008, 11:37 AM	#3
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 7,831	might have buildup on the outside of the core. once a year, i have to clean ours as they develop a mat or carpet of dirt and bad stuff. dont rule out that the smoke is coming from the core. you might have another problem at hand. you might try gaining access to the core and turn the heater on to watch where in fact the smoke is coming from.

12-09-2008, 08:15 PM	#5
belvedere Full Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 13	sure sounds like a leaking heater core