Re: Possible Heater Core Leak?
Posted by HH56 On 2016/1/7 9:42:57
The way the vents and heater are laid out on your car it is kind of hard to believe any rain water could get in and stay in the heater box with the car sitting. If the firewall gasket is totally shot and water is running down the firewall I suppose it could possibly run into the box and get trapped at the bottom. I would think you would be able to see traces of water on the firewall or pooled around the gasket and opening if that were happening. Not sure which article you refer to but I suppose a small hole wouldn't hurt but may not help either. Just be aware of where and how the core is laid out so you don't cause more problems.
About the only way I could see rainwater as the problem is if you have a huge leak around the windshield rubber that is letting water get thru and run down into the defroster channel between the windshield and dash. That wouldn't reach the core but if laying there might provide the stink. I'd more likely bet on the bad core or possibly the heater thermostatic valve rubber seal has started to leak and coolant is running down the dash inside the car between the dash pad and sheetmetal. With valve leaks it is common to find a pool under the carpet on later cars where the valve is low but with the valve being high up on your car it would probably be absorbed by the dash pad before reaching the floor.
Here is a photo of the assy and where water might get in. You might also check out a couple of photos on page 3 of this bloghttps://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=12179&viewmode=flat&order=ASC&type=&mode=0&start=20 showing a 48 heater and valve disassembled.
Attach file:
(112.69 KB)
About the only way I could see rainwater as the problem is if you have a huge leak around the windshield rubber that is letting water get thru and run down into the defroster channel between the windshield and dash. That wouldn't reach the core but if laying there might provide the stink. I'd more likely bet on the bad core or possibly the heater thermostatic valve rubber seal has started to leak and coolant is running down the dash inside the car between the dash pad and sheetmetal. With valve leaks it is common to find a pool under the carpet on later cars where the valve is low but with the valve being high up on your car it would probably be absorbed by the dash pad before reaching the floor.
Here is a photo of the assy and where water might get in. You might also check out a couple of photos on page 3 of this bloghttps://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=12179&viewmode=flat&order=ASC&type=&mode=0&start=20 showing a 48 heater and valve disassembled.
Attach file:
(112.69 KB)
This Post was from: https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=170507