Coolant leaks.

[Island_Yota]

Been storing my car over the winter, Its an 88 with a 7MGE, 5spd, full load..

anyway, I start it up once a week. Today I was letting it warm up while I washed it, hopped in and turned the heat onto high and a big cloud of mist came out of the vents and coolant started dribbling onto the passenger side floor from the floor heat vent.. popped the hood, system has no pressure and coolant is pouring out of a little pipe on the fire wall I tried to search but its hard to pick the right terms to find it and I dont feel like scanning through 300 BHG/Coolant related threads. Ive been having problems with air leaking into the coolant system and I could smell a coolant whenever I had the heat on for quite a long time, I guess what ever it is finally let go completely. I have the VSV bypassed so the heat has to actually be on for it to start pouring out of the vent/firewall.

 

[Island_Yota]

anyone?

 

[mirage83]

anyone?

Sounds like the heater core finally gave in a big way rather than just leaking a small amount (which might be where the smell of coolant was coming from)

 

[Island_Yota]

Sounds like the heater core finally gave in a big way rather than just leaking a small amount (which might be where the smell of coolant was coming from)

anything I should check before pulling out the entire dash? far as I can see thats my only option.

 

[mirage83]

Might could try tracing the water lines behind/under the dash and see
if maybe one is cracked/split/pulled loose, just not sure if you could really even see them with the dash and assorted goodies hiding everything you need to get to. I don't see the need to run a pressure check since you've already determined that the water is coming from behind the firewall inside the cabin, and the water lines and heater core are the only real suspects there.

Bear in mind I'm far from an expert, this just seems like the most reasonable suspect and what you can try before pulling the dash.

 

[Island_Yota]

Might could try tracing the water lines behind/under the dash and see
if maybe one is cracked/split/pulled loose, just not sure if you could really even see them with the dash and assorted goodies hiding everything you need to get to. I don't see the need to run a pressure check since you've already determined that the water is coming from behind the firewall inside the cabin, and the water lines and heater core are the only real suspects there.

Bear in mind I'm far from an expert, this just seems like the most reasonable suspect and what you can try before pulling the dash.

Pretty much my suspicions aswell, Seems like the entire cooling system is starting to go, already replaced the rad, water pump, thermostat, upper and lower hoses.. atleast the coolants getting flushed! haha.

Guess il have to pick a day and do it, I hear the heater core is a fun job in these cars.

 

[mirage83]

Pretty much my suspicions aswell, Seems like the entire cooling system is starting to go, already replaced the rad, water pump, thermostat, upper and lower hoses.. atleast the coolants getting flushed! haha.

Guess il have to pick a day and do it, I hear the heater core is a fun job in these cars.

It's much better than some, worse than others. I think the most time consuming part is removing things which are fitted into the dash (radio, climate control, instrument panel, trim, etc) and then replacing them when done, as the dash iirc only has a relative few screws actually holding it in place.

But I tend to agree that if you've already covered the rest of the coolant system might as well go in and replace the heater core. And if you've got any plans for mods or new pieces in the dash do them at the same time.

GL in any case.

 

[Island_Yota]

It's much better than some, worse than others. I think the most time consuming part is removing things which are fitted into the dash (radio, climate control, instrument panel, trim, etc) and then replacing them when done, as the dash iirc only has a relative few screws actually holding it in place.

But I tend to agree that if you've already covered the rest of the coolant system might as well go in and replace the heater core. And if you've got any plans for mods or new pieces in the dash do them at the same time.

GL in any case.

Yeah I found a decent Sony CD player and install kit that match the dash really well so I might aswell pick that up since the stocker is dieing. Guess I can clean everything back there too not that it matters, the dash is in mint condition so hopefully I dont break anything in the process.