How To Change A Heater Core In A 1997 Dodge Diesel

One of the most common problems that tin can happen to a vehicle is a heater cadre leak. If your Dodge Caravan has a leaking heater cadre, it is non a breakup risk. Although, it is necessary to make sure that the lost coolant is replaced. It can cause damage to the vehicle in other ways, and should be addressed as shortly every bit possible.

Leaking Heater Core Dodge Caravan

How a Heater Cadre Works: Dodge Caravan

A heater core is a small radiator that runs hot coolant to the within of your Caravan. It functions exactly the same way the radiator does. There is a line of hot coolant coming from the engine, and there is a return line.

The blower motor runs air over the heater core and the cabin warms up. Temperature is controlled past the blend door, which the driver controls. The more the heat is turned up, the higher the percentage of air passing over the heater core. If yous do cease up needing a new one, they're pretty cheap.

Bad or Leaking Heater Core Symptoms: Dodge Caravan

Here are the well-nigh common symptoms of a bad heater core in your Caravan:

1. Coolant Smell

The nose and ears are our best machine diagnostic tools. You can learn a lot well-nigh what is going on with a vehicle by what smells and sounds different. In the instance of a bad heater core, the odour yous'll be smelling is quite sweet. It'll odour like maple syrup or fruit. Really, it'south any your engine coolant smells like.

Dodge Caravan Leaking Heater Core — A typical heater cadre

two. Coolant Leaking into the Cabin

If you are able to easily scent coolant while driving your Caravan, you'll probably find that your passenger floorboard is wet. A heater core that is slowly leaking volition practise damage to the sheet metal nether the rug.

The heater core is itself is well-nigh always located on the rider side of the vehicle. Turn on the blower motor and follow the sound. They are e'er close to i another. Check the floorboard directly beneath the heater core and see if it is wet. If coolant is allowed downwards there for a very long time the floorboards tin can rust.

3. No Oestrus

If your Caravan doesn't have any heat at all, that tin be a sign of a clogged heater cadre. Information technology could also be a sign that you lot are almost out of coolant. If coolant can't become to the heater core, information technology won't produce whatever heat at all.

In the instance that the heater isn't putting out heat, check to make certain that the coolant level is full. Y'all shouldn't demand to pull the radiator cap off, simply check the overflow and fill it upward. If information technology's bone dry fill it up and let the cooling arrangement pull it in as the machine/truck warms upwardly.

It is also possible that the blend door isn't opening or closing properly. Depending on how old and complicated the vehicle is, the blend door may exist operated by cable, or information technology could be operated by an actuator. It'southward not unheard of for them to freeze upwards and non work until thawed back out.

If you aren't getting heat at all, cheque out this Contrivance Caravan No Heat article before replacing the heater core.

four. Foggy Windows

Foggy windows are a sure sign of a bad heater core. When you lot turn your heater on with the heater core is leaking, it's effectively acting as a humidifier. it's not water causing the fog, it'south antifreeze.

Antifreeze is harmful and tin can be fatal if swallowed. It's not practiced to jiff as a vapor either.

5. Overheating

An overheating engine can betoken that the heater cadre is leaking. Simply, there are a lot of other reasons why a vehicle could overheat. In fact, if yous are overheating don't start with the heater cadre unless you are getting obvious signs from inside the vehicle. Make sure that the coolant is filled and start looking for a leak if it isn't full. If it is full and overheating, take a look at the thermostat first.

Bad Heater Core Causes

A leaking heater core is going to be caused by a crack that leaks coolant out, or it's going to be clogged. When information technology is chock-full it doesn't accept a leak, but it also won't pass coolant and provide heat to the motel.

Conclusion: Dodge Caravan Bad Heater Cadre

Skilful luck determining whether or not your Caravan's heater cadre is bad. If in that location is anything that you would like to add together, please feel complimentary to get out a comment beneath.