coolant under dash and in driver footwell. Heater-core?

[AlphaAssault]

I discovered a small pool (3 inches in diameter) of coolant under the driver's side floor mat the other day. Upon closer inspection, there is some coolant underneath the dash both inside and outside the little plastic air duct pieces. My question arises from the fact that this bit of coolant is the only sign that the heater core might be damaged. My car isnt overheating, it still blows hot air when the heater is on, it doesn't smell like coolant inside the car, and the heater doesn't blow a thin cloud of coolant when used. also, the fact that the puddle of coolant was on the drivers side seemed odd as well. Is there another explanation for antifreeze getting into the vehicle?

EDIT: the leak is very slow. Ive known about it for over 3 weeks, and the coolant loss isnt noticeable when looking at engine coolant levels (i.e. overflow bottle).

 

[92AWDHX40]

Heater core sounds likes its leaking. Time to pull the dash, sound like to me, ive had the same problem, a few hours fixed.

 

[AlphaAssault]

Heater core sounds likes its leaking. Time to pull the dash, sound like to me, ive had the same problem, a few hours fixed.

what parts of the dash did you pull to gain access to the heater core?

 

[92AWDHX40]

The whole thing just dig in, everything must come apart on the dash just about, It is a lot of work but you can do it. Pull the seats it will make it easier, and label screws me i have tonnes of screws and ive done this 4 times on two different 1gs.

 

[allidtaken]

if you pull off all of the vynal dash out it makes it easier to get all of the bolts out to get to
heater core and other parts that might need to be changed out.

 

[AlphaAssault]

did you pull the ECU from behind the radio? and did you have to discharge the a/c system? and what parts of the climate control system did you have to take out? for example, i know there are some big black boxes back there housing like the a/c condenser and things of that nature. does all of that have to come out, or just the outer dash?

EDIT: is there a way to make sure its my heater core before tearing into the dash?

 

[92AWDHX40]

Just the dash itself, the ecu yes once you get started you will see all that has to be done. if your leaking cooant into the car thats probably the culprit, the core is in the car. If it is there is no way around it, no short cuts here, a small leak could turn into a large one and cooant in the car, smoking, happened to me once.

 

[allidtaken]

there is one fix, if you dont care about having a heater, just bypass the heater core under the hood...

 

[92AWDHX40]

Yes my bad not if there is one but if thats where his leak is at.

 

[AlphaAssault]

do you have to mess with the a/c system at all? discharge it or anything like that when removing the dash?

 

[allidtaken]

i cant really remember for sure how many there are but theres like 3 or 4 boxes that are connected to each other that are connected (bolted) to lines coming in on the firewall. start with taking all of the dash out then start unbolting those boxes, once you get in there you will know for sure what needs to come off, after the dash is out, which is a pain in the asssss because when you think youve got all of the bolts out there are some sneaky little hidden bast**ds, but really when you get the dash out its all self explanatory. p.s. your wiring harness is hooked to parts of the dash under the drivers side, the bolts or screws holding those in are can be kind of hard to get to and to get out. goood luck

 

[jag987]

do you have to mess with the a/c system at all? discharge it or anything like that when removing the dash?

Haven't touvhed one on sn eclipse, but unless something really wierd is going on, no.

The AC system will be fine without discharging it.

 

[AlphaAssault]

Haven't touvhed one on sn eclipse, but unless something really wierd is going on, no.

The AC system will be fine without discharging it.

yah i was wondering because the repair manual im using recommends that you discharge the a/c system before removing the heater core.

sorry for the double post, but ive managed to get the dash out, but now i cant seem to figure out how to get the heater core out of its little box. i cant even see how to get the box itself out. any help on removing that black box, and the heater core within, would be greatly appreciated.

 

[allidtaken]

they are all connected, start with the passenger side and work your way over to the drivers side, and once again your gonna have to unbolt the lines going into the firewall so that the boxes will release..