Missing coolant

[Casey]

Well, dang. I thought I was going to learn about pressure testing coolant systems, but it's the heater core. I was able to reach my hand up under the dash in the general area where it is and got coolant all over my hand. Such a bummer. When I saw on the car fax at purchase the heater core had been replaced I was glad to have that out of the way. Pulling the dash apart or even letting someone else do it scares me. Maybe for now, I will just find a coupling and bypass it until I get up the courage and time to take apart the dash.

I wonder what could have gone wrong with it?

[Top_Fuel]

Well, dang. I thought I was going to learn about pressure testing coolant systems, but it's the heater core.

That doesn't sound good...but I would still pressure test it to make sure. Then you can install a bypass (see this post for a good DIY bypass suggestion) and pressure test it with the bypass in place. If it bleeds off pressure without the bypass and holds pressure with the bypass in place, then you have verified it's the heater core.

I wonder what could have gone wrong with it?

That's a pretty labor-intensive job. If someone did this job in a hurry, it would be easy to damage the inlet/outlet tubes of the core...possibly causing a leak. Or maybe someone installed a $12 cheap heater core instead of buying a good one.

The good thing for you is that you might be able to survive without a heater where you live.

[Casey]

That doesn't sound good...but I would still pressure test it to make sure. Then you can install a bypass (see this post for a good DIY bypass suggestion) and pressure test it with the bypass in place. If it bleeds off pressure without the bypass and holds pressure with the bypass in place, then you have verified it's the heater core.

That's a pretty labor-intensive job. If someone did this job in a hurry, it would be easy to damage the inlet/outlet tubes of the core...possibly causing a leak. Or maybe someone installed a $12 cheap heater core instead of buying a good one.

The good thing for you is that you might be able to survive without a heater where you live.

Yeah, I've been living without heat for awhile now in my old truck that had no weather stripping so you also got a breeze on cold days. Was looking forward to long warm drives to work. Bummer.

[Casey]

That doesn't sound good...but I would still pressure test it to make sure. Then you can install a bypass (see this post for a good DIY bypass suggestion) and pressure test it with the bypass in place. If it bleeds off pressure without the bypass and holds pressure with the bypass in place, then you have verified it's the heater core.

That's a pretty labor-intensive job. If someone did this job in a hurry, it would be easy to damage the inlet/outlet tubes of the core...possibly causing a leak. Or maybe someone installed a $12 cheap heater core instead of buying a good one.

The good thing for you is that you might be able to survive without a heater where you live.

Original was replaced at 32,000 miles by Coastal Hyundai

[Eggman]

Heater core leaks can be caused by an improper hose connection as has happened to Dirk and also the joint where the inlet and outlet tubes connect to the body of the heat exchanger itself. These joints use o-rings to seal the tubes and are crimped in place. A close visual inspection can show if that’s the cause of your leak, and if that’s the case it may be fixed by re-crimping those fittings.

[Dirk Diggler]

This reminds me, I need to go check the G4's coolant level lol. I keep a bottle of asian blue in the trunk just in case that ghetto rig the Mitsu service center did on my heater core tubing every gives way. They should of replaced it under warranty but of course being that we were subsequent owners we were denied even though another out of business Mitsubishi dealer was the one to screw it up.

[Casey]

This reminds me, I need to go check the G4's coolant level lol. I keep a bottle of asian blue in the trunk just in case that ghetto rig the Mitsu service center did on my heater core tubing every gives way. They should of replaced it under warranty but of course being that we were subsequent owners we were denied even though another out of business Mitsubishi dealer was the one to screw it up.

Should I be able to get mine replaced under warranty? I assumed not since I am not the original owner.

[Mark]

Should I be able to get mine replaced under warranty? I assumed not since I am not the original owner.

5-year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty transfers to 2nd owner. What year & mileage are you at?

[Casey]

5-year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty transfers to 2nd owner. What year & mileage are you at?

6 yr 72k. Wonder if you would make a difference that it was replaced once already under warranty

[Dirk Diggler]

6 yr 72k. Wonder if you would make a difference that it was replaced once already under warranty

Don't hold your breath brother.