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Tech, Repairs, Upgrades => Capri XR-2 89-94 => Topic started by: 010sambo on December 20, 2014, 05:16:59 PM

Title: Heater core not working
Post by: 010sambo on December 20, 2014, 05:16:59 PM
This is my first winter driving my Xr2 and noticed little to no heat in the cabin.
I have  flushed out my antifreeze
changed out my thermostat to 192°
and fixed my vent door controls under the dash
I'm wondering if my heater core is stopped up.
Is there a way to flush it out our should I just replace it.
Title: Re: Heater core not working
Post by: mitch1204 on December 21, 2014, 12:08:49 PM
Feel your heater core hoses under the hood and see if one is considerably hotter than the other. My experience is a flush is a halfazzed remedy but the rest of the system probably needs it. Many times when they clog is when someone changes out a gasket along with some scraping the little pieces go straight to the heater core and become trapped in the little slots inside the core and possibly the radiator if the pieces make it th a far.

You can attempt a back flush since it's free. I just changed a heater core on an Astro van after a back flush failed. Nothing but Brown sludge and gasket material come out of it.

If your core is in that shape I would change it as it sits above the ECM. I think it was Rocketman that posted covering the ECM with a gallon sized freezer bag to prevent future core leaks from damaging it.
Title: Re: Heater core not working
Post by: 010sambo on December 21, 2014, 02:43:24 PM
Good advise mitch,
 I just pulled both heater cores out of my wife's expedition on thanksgiving week. It was full of stop leak and gunk. Having to pull the dash was the most intimadating part.
So I'm guessing I have to do the same on the Capri to change it out.
Title: Re: Heater core not working
Post by: JJ on December 23, 2014, 09:39:46 AM
good luck.

some tips when I had mine replaced:
the hoses to the inlet/outlet thru the firewall were original and thusly stuck on. i broke the tubes trying to get them off. In hindisght, i would have cut the hoses to the tubes off and just replaced them.

may be able to flush it while still in the car..?

and I could never find a source for a new core. I wound up buying a used system off ebay and luckily it didn't leak. Not sure if anyone has found one that fits since then. Dealer did mine and didn't keep it for me. :(

JJ
Title: Re: Heater core not working
Post by: 010sambo on December 23, 2014, 10:53:22 AM
JJ,
   Do you know if the Heater hoses have the quick connect ends on them. If so that's exactly what I had on the expedition. I ended up cutting them off and replacing them with a retro end.  The dealer wanted 35$ ea. I bought the same thing at my local parts store both for less than 20 $
       Guess I can try flushing the system out again I'm just afraid if i do it will start leaking. And that could lead to more extensive problems down the road.
Did the dealer have to pull the whole dash or did you do that?

      Thanks JJ         
        Sam
Title: Re: Heater core not working
Post by: JJ on December 26, 2014, 11:54:08 PM
Don't remember what they had to pull for dash. they had it for months on end fixing other issues too... back in 04, they charged 350 to swap heater core... didn't scan receipt, so don't know how many hrs or what shop labor rate was... :(

as far as ends, its just a hose over a copper tube with a hose clamp. you should be able to see that yourself they stick thru the firewall mid engine compartment. one below the fuel filter, the other to the right under the brake booster thingy.

JJ
Title: Re: Heater core not working
Post by: T Rex on January 01, 2015, 04:39:50 PM
I have back flushed heater cores before and it usually works for a while. I figure it's better to try that first.

A local mechanic here has a radio show and he said when he flushes a core he unhooks the hoses then he puts heater hose on the core to allow some room, then he flushes with water to get out the antifreeze, then blows out the water with air, then puts in vinegar and lets it sit overnight. Then flush with water and hook everything up and go. I guess the vinegar breaks up some of the lime/rust/crud
Title: Re: Heater core not working
Post by: 010sambo on January 27, 2015, 03:04:40 PM
I flushed out my heater core and a lot of nasty stuff came out of it.
I did have to buy another heater core hose from my local parts store, and I also replaced those funky hose clamps.
Title: Re: Heater core not working
Post by: JJ on January 27, 2015, 03:52:32 PM
what part # did you get?
Title: Re: Heater core not working
Post by: mitch1204 on January 27, 2015, 05:02:45 PM
Good advise mitch,
 I just pulled both heater cores out of my wife's expedition on thanksgiving week. It was full of stop leak and gunk. Having to pull the dash was the most intimadating part.
So I'm guessing I have to do the same on the Capri to change it out.

Yeah it's a job since it's in the center pretty much. I doubt it's related to the stink if your fan isn't blowing. Heater cores can be back flushed as the whole cooling system. The only problem there is if someone got to scraping some gaskets on another repair and it got in the cooling system them little pieces of gaskets will hang up in the little channels in the core. There is no getting them out. Roosport still sells new cores.
The heater hoses are still readily available. They are your normal slide on one's about $10 a piece.
That little bypass hose under the distributor on mine blew right after I got my car. Cost me a head job and new radiator. I went ahead and changed the pump and all the hoses. Something to consider if one hose is bad. Go ahead and change them all because the residual effect is expensive.

There's a good thread here somewhere on the heater core. You might search it out. I think it has pictures and everything you need to know. Then of course there's the online manual at TechCapri.
Title: Re: Heater core not working
Post by: Gaz on May 04, 2018, 01:00:07 PM
Guess what? Necro'd.

Having trouble finding the correct heater core, and I manage an O'Reilly. What I show has straight connections. The one that comes up on Modern Capri has connections ending up facing each other, which seems incorrect considering the orientation of firewall connections. MHT 94621 is what I dig up, but I believe that is for a Mustang.

Who has pictures of the bloody thing when It's out from the car?
Title: Re: Heater core not working
Post by: greywolf27030 on May 05, 2018, 09:09:50 PM
https://capriconvertible.com/FORD-CAPRI-89-94-SA,SC,SE-CONVERTABLE/HEATING-AC/Capri_SM_Climate_Control_System_Service_S12-00.pdf