Replacing the E30 Heater Core and Valve

[noE30]

Is there any way to test a heater core to see if it is still good? The heater core in my car is starting to leak and the PO gave me a complete heater/ac box, I want to know if the replacement one is good still before putting in my car. Or should I just buy a new one?

[Das Boots]

I was told that there are two different kindss heater core. A/C or non-A/C. This with A/C? And also to replace the hear valve. Perfect time since I might have a pinhole leak in my core.:up:

[Luke!]

bump for a question

I need to replace the blower motor in my buddies E30 Cab

Is it fairly easy to get to, or do I have to remove the whole dash?

[Ferdinand]

I need to replace the blower motor in my buddies E30 Cab

Is it fairly easy to get to, or do I have to remove the whole dash?

The blower motor is accessed through the engine compartment. There is a hatch on the firewall, above the rear of the engine. It's easy.

[Luke!]

The blower motor is accessed through the engine compartment. There is a hatch on the firewall, above the rear of the engine. It's easy.

fewwwww

thanks bro

thank god for that!

I did the same in my sisters Toyota, had to take apart half the car

[CreamE30]

OK R3v, here's what I'm up against. Not sure if this was just a self explanatory thing, but I have an extra obstacle in my way:


The hell is this thing? It looks like there are three bolts holding it in, two along the transmission tunnel, and one under the steering wheel trim pieces:



Can I take this out? Or will it end up being the backbone of my E30 and everything will fall off my car?

[quikveedb2]

You can remove the heater core/valve and just connect the two hoses near the firewall together to by-pass the whole thing for the time being.

iirc, it's better to just plug the hoses rather than loop them, as it can cause the car to run hot.

another pointer, i'm surprised nobody else has thought of this or mentioned it: you can "prime" the heater core by filling it through the pipes that come out of the firewall before you reattach the hoses, i did and it made bleeding the cooling system a 5-minute job. much easier than trying to coax all the air in the core out through the bleeder screw @ the t-stat.

[e30shmobberr]

wtf?? never seen that before

OK R3v, here's what I'm up against. Not sure if this was just a self explanatory thing, but I have an extra obstacle in my way:


The hell is this thing? It looks like there are three bolts holding it in, two along the transmission tunnel, and one under the steering wheel trim pieces:



Can I take this out? Or will it end up being the backbone of my E30 and everything will fall off my car?

[Jean]

iirc, it's better to just plug the hoses rather than loop them, as it can cause the car to run hot.
.

I don't think so. Think of it this way, people turn the heater ON and fan on MAX when bleeding the cooling system and/or if the car runs hot... not the other way around. By plugging the hoses you are limiting the coolant flow

[///digitalme]

i saw this at the yard...on 2 cars...they were on late model cars...and for this reason i couldnt get a heater core! but the ones i saw at the yard were welded...atleast yours are held by bolts...

OK R3v, here's what I'm up against. Not sure if this was just a self explanatory thing, but I have an extra obstacle in my way:


The hell is this thing? It looks like there are three bolts holding it in, two along the transmission tunnel, and one under the steering wheel trim pieces:



Can I take this out? Or will it end up being the backbone of my E30 and everything will fall off my car?

[thesheikh]

+1 on this thread. very helpful

[T La]

My driver's foot well has been damp with coolant for a while now, and is greasy windshield a symptom of failed heater core? becasue i've been having that issue as well.

I have a 91 318is and i was wondering if my car has the metal pipes that this DIY is meant for, also, does anyone have a part # list for this replacement?

[quikveedb2]

My driver's foot well has been damp with coolant for a while now, and is greasy windshield a symptom of failed heater core? becasue i've been having that issue as well.

them be the symptoms, replace it asap! as far as i know most us cars have the metal inlet pipes.

[T La]

what are the part no.s for the pipes going into them though?

[T La]

any word on removing that strange metal piece? I have the same problem....