heater core problems

[impinnacr]

Hey, I need some advice. I have a 92 ranger with the 3.0 v6. I have had 3. count 'em 3 heater cores put in this truck. Each one lasts about 2 wks to a month, then starts leaking. Why? I have had this to the dealer each time, so its under warranty on the repair, but its frustrating. Could there be something to do with pressure in the system that is blowing the heater core? Water pump or thermostat problems? Could there be a sticky by pass valve somewhere?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I know, one of my friends said stay away from the dealer! But unfortunately, that doesn';t solve my problem.
Helpful advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,

Chris

 

[Big Jim M]

It's a delimina ani't it?

Hey, I need some advice. I have a 92 ranger with the 3.0 v6. I have had 3. count 'em 3 heater cores put in this truck. Each one lasts about 2 wks to a month, then starts leaking. Why? I have had this to the dealer each time, so its under warranty on the repair, but its frustrating. Could there be something to do with pressure in the system that is blowing the heater core? Water pump or thermostat problems? Could there be a sticky by pass valve somewhere?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I know, one of my friends said stay away from the dealer! But unfortunately, that doesn';t solve my problem.
Helpful advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,

Chris

You are cought up in in a situation of purchasing from the lowest bidder. I'm betting the dealer is installing an aftermarket heater core and you are taking the brunt of it.
My A/C guy has did that over the past couple of years. His evaporators (same thing as a heater core) have lasted about 18 months before splitting and going away. It was his supplier that went with the lowest bidder!
Just keep taking it back and make complaints to the factory about the problem.
AND no there is nothing in the system that could possibly cause the problem.. them are just poorly made BAD cores.
Big Jim

 

[impinnacr]

thanks!

Thanks Jim. I appreciate your reply. I kind of thought that too, but wanted an opinion.
thanks
Chris

 

[modelageek]

Thanks Jim. I appreciate your reply. I kind of thought that too, but wanted an opinion.
thanks
Chris

as jim said tell them to get a better core.they are cheap anyways.......the better one is probably $35 instead of $25.........on the 95+ it is a 8 hour project to change.......on yours it is 15 minutes......

 

[wahl_7s]

i have to agree with BIG JIM on this one, its really ultimately your decision if your paying the bill an OEM part could be 2 or 3 times more than the part your dealer is installing

 

[modelageek]

i have seen a lot of peeps change there cores in these 1994 - trucks they usually have no problem with the $25 one from AZ, advanced or oreilys. As i said earlier the 95+ are an 8 hour repair. I would use the best core i could get then. Find out what brand they are putting in......

I am curios is the job under warranty because you went to a dealer and paid him to repair it? ( how much did they charge?) or is it under warranty because you bought the truck used and the truck came with a warranty?

 

[Tyler M]

May I make a suggestion to your problem impinnacr,
I had the original heater core go out in my 1990 Ranger in January of this year and I work at an auto parts store, so naturally I got one from them. I wanted to do this job quickly because it was January so I yanked the old one and put in the new one, great I got heat now. About a month after I replaced the core the replacement one failed too, so now I'm puzzled. I got another core and sent my first one in for warranty. After I installed my second replacement heater core I began to think to myself that this one will fail too and sure enough about a month latter my second one failed as well, but I knew what I was doing wrong. I got a third heater core SAME BRAND and it has been in there trouble free since the beginning of March. The key, foam padding around the core itself. The factory one had lots of it around itself and I neglected to put any on the first 2 aftermarket heater core's so they were loose inside the compartment and all the vibration caused them to fail. Hopefully my little story will help you out.