Ok, so I have the heater core out and there is no big drippy hole allowing coolant out. I have a local radiator repair shop I'll take it to for verification of a leak BUT has anyone been down this road? Any hints? Thanks, Lester
It's a tiny radiator coil. These old parts are getting crazy expensive. I'd get it to pass pressure test and put it back in. Unless you can find some OEM parts stock at reasonable prices. Good luck with that. Faster to fix locally and go on with life
If a new one is affordable to you, I would get a new one. The trouble of getting one out is a lot of work. an old heater core maybe repairable but it's hard to tell how thin or corroded the inside wall of the core, may last 20 years or may last one day. If it's me, I wouldn't take the risk. it's really your call.
Hi, I had mine repaired and pressure tested at my local radiator shop. They have been leak free for years. I too am a Saab guy with a 96 9K aero. Bill
I'll find out tomorrow about the radiator shop, I can't get to the one I trust until then. As to NAPA, the owner, the guy who knows, wasn't there and I got the slack jaw response I expected and NO big book of heater cores. I'll try them tomorrow again. Hi Bill, I still own too many SAABs, 2 9000 AEROs, 20 something 96's, 2 Formula S cars, 3 Sonett II's, etc etc.. The 9000 is truly fine touring car, I love it!
While they're out, refinish the boxes. Be mindful which box has which core and snout configuration blah blah I had to refit mine 1923091283091829381689723.237 times before I got it right. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328/379218-heater-box-finish.html http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328/386724-heater-core-box-configuration.html Cheers. UPDATE: I forget not everyone has a GT4.... DERP!!
Not sure about the 308 but getting to the heater cores and getting them out of the 328 is not too difficult of a job. I suspect either replacing or repairing would be a fine option. If you were talking about the main radiator I would say definitely repair as replacing is not cheap (over $1000). But as was mentioned above, these heater cores are smaller and I would think an aftermarket core would be fine. -F
My brother has been purchasing new aftermarket built in China and he replaces the heater core every two years on his old Ford due to going bad. He is keeping the most recent leaker and if the new one leaks in two years will have a shop fabricate one out of good materials that will hold up over time.
