Working on your car in December in Ohio sucks. No heated grarage. My system should be pretty clean, as i installed a new water pump and flushed the system in September and the coolant didn't look too bad. I put a thermostat in about 2 years ago and flushed it then, too.

 

I just flushed my heater core this last weekend. I had to let the water flow for about 5 minutes before crud stopped comming out. Did the same with the radiator. After that I put in the radiator flush stuff drove it for a few days and flushed the radiator and the core once again. Just as much crud came out but the heater works now.
I called around, estimates when I thought I had to replace the coer, it came to about 1000, they have to remove the dashboard, relieve the freon, change the core (they recommend the hoses too) vacuum the A/C lines and recharge the system and put back the dash.
I would try flushing it a few times, the radiator and the core. Cheapest way!

 

That's right! And the only thing it cost you was some hose water.

 

Well, that's got to be it then,..
My heat today was up to 125.
It only made it up to the teens all day.
So, it was hotter out the vents by 10 degrees
more than yesterday.
I guess the next move is flush the Rad, & then,
the heater core again.
No red rust looking stuff in the heater core flush the 1st time, just
dirty looking antifreeze with a few small black chunky thingys.

 

ok, so I'm trying to do this right now.

Does anyone know of a trick to get these hoses off the firewall? It's like they are glued on...

 

just cut them off the fire wall. they give you lots of extra hose there anyways
________
MEDICAL MARIJUANA

 

Seriously, I thought about it but it doesn't look like I will have enough hose.

 

yes you will. I did it when I did my heater core. it was seized to the heater core. then just take a knife and cut it off the core.

or if you wanna do it the right way, just try and put some plyers on it and try to turn the hose to get it off.
________
Weed

 

I cut them...I found out that heator hose is only a buck and a quarter a foot. Looks like I may need about 4 feet so losing 5 bucks ain't so bad.

I tried the plier trick...the truck is 4wd and has the factory lift so not being 7.5 and having the 4-5 inch overhang above the connections I could not get a good bite on the hose. A little trip to the parts store in the wifes car and hopefully I will have a heater again.

 

rhutson, I'm sorry if I hijacked your thread but dude I got heat!

After I cut my heater hose off I used one piece as a drainage hose so the flushing water did not spray all over the engine. I started with a reverse flush for about 10 minutes. A lot of rust particles flushed out with that, I then did a positive flush for 10 and finished with a reverse for 10. I have to say that this beats the $1000 estimate for a new heator core. All I'm out is 8 bucks, needed 6 feet instead of 4 and bought an extra foot just in case. Oh and what ever the water cost, being in the So Cal desert it ain't cheap but I think my wallet feels better anyway.

I would suggest that when virused gets to posting his procedure it gets fixed at the top, maybe in a new thread. With as many threads that I see on this subject this info should help lots of folks.