Just when you think it's over!

I was going to work Friday morning, and just after I passed a truck, I smell antifreeze. I took it easy for a few minutes, and the smell went away a little then started to smell stale. I stopped for a stop sign, and when I started going again, I smelled fresh antifreeze again. Here I am thinking, hmm, I hope it isn’t the heater core. I got to the last turn, and when I pushed the gas, the windshield fogged up (classic heater core symptom). I borrowed a couple vice grips from work, clamped the lines off, and drove it home (after staying for almost 3 hours of re-work… OT!)

I know heater cores aren’t easy…. Heard nightmares about 6 hours of work… I can only imagine what the dealer’s cost is on THAT! Advance Auto has the core for $98.99 with a lifetime warranty… for $100 it had BETTER have a warranty!! I decided to do it.

At 2:00 Friday afternoon, I printed out the instructions from my computer, and went to the garage to try to destroy the truck. I wound up having to drop the steering column on the front seat, and completely gut the dashboard of everything. I flipped it over on the front seat, and had to get the heater box out too. For that, I had to take off the right front wheel and fenderwell, and take out two bolts under the engine, and reach my fingers 5” into a 3” square hole (physically impossible) and take out one more screw. VIOLA! I got it out. I opened it up, took out the core, and it doesn’t look bad….great! Here it is 7:30pm Friday, after 5 ½ hours of disassembly.

Now, do I reassemble it, and hope that it works? Do I spend the $100 and get a new one and still smell it? WHAT TO DO!? Well, I decided to buy it after a half hour and 4 phone calls.

I got home and started to put it back together again at 9pm. I stopped at midnight, when I got the dashboard back up in place. I went to bed, and got back up and on it again at 9am. Anna took Kat to a birthday party, and I had the dash done, and the truck running by 11:30. 5 ½ hours of re-assembly. I started it up and turned the heat on…moment of truth. No Antifreeze! Well it wasn’t all worthless after all.

Just for giggles, I called Gates and asked for a quote for a heater core change on 2002 Blazer. He came back and said, “$919, do you want me to get it scheduled?” I said, “NOPE! Just checking prices!”

NINE HUNDRED and NINETEEN bucks?? I saved myself $820. Boy, am I glad I have the book and tools here at the house! (Not to mention the patience and determination to get it done!) Thanks, everyone I talked to, for the advice and confidence to get it done. For those I didn’t talk to, DON’T CALL ME TO CHANGE YOURS!... check that, I’ll do it for $400.. less than half-price. Sorry, cash only please!

Another successful weekend project completed.