What's involved
What this repair actually is.
The heater core is a mini radiator buried deep in the dashboard; hot coolant flows through it and the blower pushes air across it to heat the cabin. When it clogs you lose heat, and when it leaks you get coolant fog on the windshield, a sweet smell, and a wet passenger floor. Replacing it typically means removing most of the dashboard, which is why labor dominates this job.
Symptoms
How you can tell.
- No heat even though the engine is warm
- Sweet syrupy smell inside the cabin
- Greasy film fogging the inside of the windshield
- Damp carpet on the passenger side
- Coolant level keeps dropping with no visible leak
If you delay
A leaking heater core drips coolant into the cabin, keeps fouling your windshield with film, and can quietly drain the cooling system until the engine overheats.
Educational estimate. Real pricing depends on your vehicle, the inspection, parts availability, taxes, and shop rates. Use this as a guide while you shop quotes.
Related