95 J30t White smoke coming out of the vents ?!? Heater core Bad?!?

[95J30tBGGUY]

Well here we go with my never ending headache. So the other it was in the 40's here in Miami (amazing ha) and I turned my heater all the way up to 85. I was cruising on my way to work when gray smoke start coming of the floor/feet vents under the dash. I turned the AC off and it stopped. Then later on that day smoke was coming non stop and I had to drive with my windows down. Then that smoke turned up white every time I turn the heater on and it smells like coolant and looks more like vapor than smoke. So I went to few shops and they send me to a AC place. It took like 5 secs and the guy said its the heater core that needs to be replaced (a bit pricey ha). I took my glove compartment away and checked for any leaks. And yes I found what I was looking for it had some kind of rusty water that feels tacky on touch and smells as a coolant. So I guess he was right. Later on that night the car started overheating I stopped and there wasn't any coolant left in the radiator. Luckily enough I had half a bottle in my trunk and made it to the nearest gas station. Now that I had the coolant in its not overheating any more but it does leak dough from somewhere because on the next morning there was a huge amount of coolant on the ground.I putted some radiator stop leak that Prestone makes as well as some coolant treatment.The leak isn't that major as before but the white smoke/vapor is still coming out.The solution is to have the AC Auto mode on 65 for a few minutes and then turn it off and the smoke/vapor is gone. So now I don't have a heater, the car leaks coolant and I don't know from where to start.

I went to the junk yard and tried get a heater unit out of a 97 J30 with no success. Do you guys have any idea how to get the heater out. I took the dash apart, central console and every thing on the way( w/out the blower and condenser) .Now I have a clean view and access to the heater but still can't find a way to get it out.I know that if there is someone that can help is you guys.Thanks in advance.

P.S. I'm really sorry for the long post. I just wanted to give as many details as I can to help you help me. And not at last I wanna thank you. You've helped me a lot as I was a silent user. Here is a short video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLJNramXizw

Modified by 95J30tBGGUY at 10:35 AM 2/28/2010
Modified by 95J30tBGGUY at 10:36 AM 2/28/2010

[yodawill2000]

Download the FSM if you haven't already and it should show the R&R for the heater core.

The FSM link is in a sticky on this forum.

[qship96]

Looks like it about time for you to get a new/newer car. Obvious owner ABUSE by not changing coolant frequently enough to prevent the acidic condition which caused the heater core to rust out.

[95J30tBGGUY]

Well you can say that I guess. I bought the car cheap and in really bad shape. I've done a lot to make it look and feel better. Mostly I paid attention to the interior and exterior. I had to took some stuff apart to see where exactly the smoke was coming out. And its really dirty I still have work in progress. I've changed both fenders, front bumper and so many more for the past year. I'm on a tight budget so I can't really afford much so I go to the local junk yard and pull the parts myself. Its just I never think of that coolant can do such a damage wow. And here is so hot that I never used my heater and for the past two months its on all the I drive the car. But I still gotta fix it and I wish I can afford a new car. And I really love my J. So can you really give any hint how to pull the heater out. In the FSM in H&A section I saw the components layout but not any dis-assembly or may be its somewhere else.

[95J30tBGGUY]

Well I gave up getting that heater out of the car. So I came up with the idea of bypassing it. Hopefully that will not cause any further damage. That's what I've done.

*I went to Autoparts and bought me PEAK Radiator Fill and Flush kit.

*I've located the two hoses getting into the firewall/heater.

*I loosen the clamps and unplugged the hoses

*Insert the 3/4 flushing tee with the cap into one hose at a time and tighten the clamps.

*And this is the finished product.

*Finally I putted some duct tape over the heater core pipes/hoses and cover them up so no dust or whatever gets in. It's so tight in there that they don't look as pretty as I wanted but it works.

[HowlerMonkey]

A new pope has been selected?