Heater core replacement

[tkranz]

I have a 1998 Winnebago grand vectra on a Freightliner chassis.

Freightliner has diagnosed a very, very slow coolant leak as coming from the heater core after a pressure test. When we are traveling, we lose maybe a cup of coolant in two days on the road. We can live with this at this rate, but it will only get worse over time.

Looking around up front it appears that it will be a no-fun job. Cannot even see the heater core behind various covers and dash components.

Has anyone had a class A Winnebago heater core replaced? What has to come off to get at it? How expensive a job was it for you? (not planning to do the work myself)

[weasel4]

2bzy2c
Don't do it. It will plug up not only the holes, but the heater core itself. Been there. Done that!

Strange comment for a product that has been on the market for over 60 years. As I recall, these products only solidify when they are in contact with air. Not much air is a sealed cooling unit.
BTC

[2bzy2c]

weasel4 wrote:
Try a can of Bars Leak or some other leak repair in a bottle/can
BTC

Don't do it. It will plug up not only the holes, but the heater core itself. Been there. Done that!

[weasel4]

Try a can of Bars Leak or some other leak repair in a bottle/can
BTC

[midnightsadie]

I have a question, can you smell a sweet odor when you turn the heater on?? and turn the defrosters on does the windschield fog up?? if you do I agree you got a leak under the dash some where , could be a bad clamp?? pinched hose.

[smlranger]

I replaced the heater core in my 2002 Winnebago Journey twice! Not sure about your coach but on the Journey, the entire lower front clip has to be removed. It is a matter of knowing which screws to remove and having help lifting the heavy fiberglass clip off and on. Once removed, the box with the heater core is pretty easy to access. It is a big job but the second time was easy compared to the first.

Something to consider if you can live without the heater core is to by-pass it by removing the two hoses and connecting them together. When our second core started leaking, we bypassed it for 3 years and just used the LP gas furnace while traveling if we needed heat. Worked fine. I only replaced the second core since I was removing the front cap to get the generator out for some work.

[Argosy24]

If it's leaking outside it could be a hose especially at that age. If you don't use it very much in the winter a cheap workaround could be to make a bypass in the hoses to the heater core. If it is the actual core that would keep the pressure off until the valves are opened and it would probably last as long as the body.