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Heater core?

Tiny
LOGANDONALDSON0
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 230,000 MILES
My car is overheating and this morning I got in and there was a frozen puddle of water on my passenger side floor.
Thursday, December 12th, 2019 AT 6:27 AM

12 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
This is the heater core that has a leak. Due to the leak the coolant level is low and causes the overheating.

You could still have another issue causing the overheat but we need to start with this.

Let me know if you have questions. Thanks
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Thursday, December 12th, 2019 AT 5:07 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

This sounds like your vehicle's heater core is leaking. In the diagrams down below I have included the instructions for the removal and installation of your vehicle's heater core. Please go through these guides and get back to us with how everything turns out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Thursday, December 12th, 2019 AT 5:08 PM
Tiny
LOGANDONALDSON0
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The floor doesn't feel like antifreeze. Antifreeze has a certain feel to it plus antifreeze is not clear. I don't want to dig into my dashboard until I know for sure that's the problem. I just would think if it's my heater core my floor wouldn't have a actual frozen puddle that looks like water. I wouldn't think so anyway.
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Saturday, December 14th, 2019 AT 9:11 AM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

Well, an easy way to ensure that your vehicle's cooling system doesn't have straight water running in it would be to simply take the cap of of the radiator and look inside to see if there is coolant or not. There really isn't anything else in your vehicle's dashboard that would leak any fluid at all, that's why I'm pretty sure that that's what itis. Please get back to us with what you are able to find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Saturday, December 14th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM
Tiny
LOGANDONALDSON0
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
It's antifreeze in my radiator.
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Monday, December 16th, 2019 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

Okay, that's good. So if it was straight water, then can you please look around the front windshield and firewall for a possible entry way for water to have entered into the passenger compartment. It would have to be rain water getting in from somewhere. Please get back to us with what you are able to find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Monday, December 16th, 2019 AT 3:41 PM
Tiny
LMBOWER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 276,000 MILES
2002 Dodge Stratus coupe- Have hot air on passenger side but lukewarm to cold on drivers side. We pulled the dash and checked the functions of the actuator which appears to be working properly. Can physically feel a difference in the air temp coming from the area above the heater core. Heater core was replaced last year and heater was working correctly. Why would there be a difference in air temp from one side to the other? Heater core lines are hot in and hot out.
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Monday, August 31st, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
I'm afraid this is not going to be a simple problem to resolve. The issue is going to be internal to the HVAC housing. The air doors operate flaps inside the housing to direct air. I can't tell you the specific issue but usually the blend door is actually a dual door on a single shaft that operates within separate compartments for left and right vents. Something is either broken or no longer has good air seals and cool air is being mixed with the warm air. The easiest way to approach this would probably to just buy a whole used housing complete with all doors and actuators. If you take this one apart, you may or may not recognize the problem and it's a lot of work to get it out. The entire dash has to be removed.
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Monday, August 31st, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HACKZORE23
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 DODGE STRATUS
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 16,000 MILES
Heater does not work and was curious about the easiest way to get to the heater core. With that being the possibility of the heater not working.
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Monday, August 31st, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
Hi:
Is the fan blowing? Is the engine running at a normal operating temp (around 200 degrees)? With the engine warm and the heater on, are both heater core hoses hot?

I ask these questions because you don't want to replace it if you don't have to. It's under the dash and requires partial dissambley of the dash to access. In laymens terms, it's a pain.

Joe
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Monday, August 31st, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MSHERROD32
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 210,000 MILES
WE HAD THE a/c repaired in the summer and prior to that this card had great heat - it started turning cold and heat just blow cold air - we flushed radiator & heater core out and just a little black stuff came out and put antifreeze back in and we had heat for 1 day- it got hot and turned the a/c on and the next day heat would not work. We checked the thermostat, flapper, any suggestions? Would the heater core go out just like that? We don't smell antifreeze nothing is foggin up. Can you help
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Monday, August 31st, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Try and flush the heater core again
Engine cool
lower the coolant level
Locate the two hoses running to the heater core
disconnect them at the engine side leaving hoses connected to heater core throw the firewall
use garden water hose and compressed air if possible
run the water and follow by air throw one side and out the other and vice versa
do that two to three times watching what leaving the heater core you are looking for the good flow and clear water to run throw
good luck
need manual CHECK IT @
https://www.2carpros.com/kpages/auto_repair_manuals.htm
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Monday, August 31st, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)

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