1996 Ford Taurus Heater core repair advice

1996 FORD TAURUS
150,000 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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My engine pours out coolant/water and I had problem diagnosed as the heater core by a general automotive repair shop est. ($500-$800). I read about the bypass option. In either case....my question is where should I take it to be fixed at the BEST price?

1. a general auto repair shop.( not the dealership... $900+ Yikes!)
2. a radiator shop
3. heating & cooling specialist shop

Thanks
Jan 1, 2008 at 2:33 PM
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TAURUSWHEEL
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Make sure whoever does it is familiar with the job, price isn't going to be cheap, the car is built around the heater core
Jan 1, 2008 at 4:17 PM
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UNSURE
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Thanks for the reply, but is circumventing the core with the bypass option instead of core replacement going to be much cheaper? I realiize that i won't have a heater but money is an issue for me at the moment.
Jan 1, 2008 at 6:13 PM
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TAURUSWHEEL
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
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You could do that yourself, with some pieces of hose. It's not going to cause any problems short of no heat,, It's a shame the way they pack the car around the heater core, all the expense for a 60-70 dollar part. That's why you need someone with the know-how to do the job, sometimes there's little shortcuts to save a couple bucks, but also sometimes there's hidden pieces that are a b^&^h to remove, plus you've got to get it all back together correctly.
Jan 1, 2008 at 9:18 PM
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