428cobrajet
LVC Member
I've had no heat in my 00 LS V8 all winter. After replacing the degas bottle, thermostat, and removing and cleaning the DCCV, I determined that my problem isn't one of the usual ones. The aluminum lines along the engine are hot but I don't think there is any coolant making it up to the heater core. I've bled the system mire times than I can count with no results. I had heat very briefly in December when I removed the lines from the firewall and filled it there, but once I started driving the heat was gone.
I suspect now that the heater core has gone bad. I noticed the other day what seem to be aluminum flakes in the interior of the car, near the vent. They are just tiny silver flakes. I have also been hearing a hiss coming from somewhere underneath the dash while the heater is on. The hiss usually only lasts a couple of seconds and occurs maybe one every ten minutes of so. There is a strange smell coming from the vents but it doesn't smell like coolant to me. Its not a familiar smell e.g. coolant, oil burning, etc... I also think that there was light smoke in the car after letting it idle for 5 min but it disappeared once I started driving.
My questions are does this sound like a bad heater core and if so is it possible to replace without taking the entire dash off? Has anyone done this? Could it be something else? I'd really appreciate help on this.
I suspect now that the heater core has gone bad. I noticed the other day what seem to be aluminum flakes in the interior of the car, near the vent. They are just tiny silver flakes. I have also been hearing a hiss coming from somewhere underneath the dash while the heater is on. The hiss usually only lasts a couple of seconds and occurs maybe one every ten minutes of so. There is a strange smell coming from the vents but it doesn't smell like coolant to me. Its not a familiar smell e.g. coolant, oil burning, etc... I also think that there was light smoke in the car after letting it idle for 5 min but it disappeared once I started driving.
My questions are does this sound like a bad heater core and if so is it possible to replace without taking the entire dash off? Has anyone done this? Could it be something else? I'd really appreciate help on this.