Coolant/Steam Burst(heater core)

mrscottg89 · Post by **mrscottg89** » 17 Dec 2011, 23:01

I replaced a heater core in my 95 850 turbo 3 weeks ago (junkyard part) and today while driving with my 1,3, and 5 year old in the car to go visit the fat man we stopped at wal mart started the vehicle and due to some issues(not car related) sat for about 20-30min idling, gave the car enough time to create some pressure, enough that when I put in drive and drove through the parking lot for about 1 block until... POP.... BOOM the car hissed steam into the car so much that within not even 3 second's I couldnt see the dash, I reached for the shifter and had to feel around for it flipped it into park smacked a button that I thought was the hazards but I couldnt see anything at all and couldnt breath hopped out ripped the kids out and began diagnosing what the real deal was. about a half gallon spilled(estimating) to the ground, I pretty much knew to break out the towels and start cleaning under the carpet. I bypassed and started filling with water and coolant. It took a lot of fluid and when seemed full started going down, after about a gallons + worth I started getting it to chill and drove but coolant line came on after about 10-15 miles and I drove for another 5-10 then stopped and looked to see it had almost all drained from the reservoir. I topped it off and havent seen much from since, this all happened right in the middle of waiting for santa (5:30) from 11 am at a shopping center. Irritated kids, busted car or not Were going. Its like 8-9 by the time were out so I havent followed up. Is there any obvious or usual place that could have popped open other than the heater core due to this and was it the heater core to cause this kind of disaster ( this stuff was crazy I really wish I could have got a video of this it was unbelievable how much steam/smoke came out within the short amount of time, I tryed to find a similar posting from google and found nothing.

Post by **precopster** » 17 Dec 2011, 23:57

When you replaced the core did you undo the single torx screw where the metal pipes join the core or did you unclip them from the coupling at the firewall?

Personally I would only use a junkyard heater core if I could tell it was recently replaced. They are one of the items most likely to fail on an 850/V70 after 15-16 years.

Post by **burnout8488** » 18 Dec 2011, 02:31

Agreed, all the used heater cores I've seen always have a leak starting on them anyways. Lots of green sludge at the bottom corners.

However, it sounds like your end tank exploded in this case, or the torx screw holding the core to the pipes was not tight.

mrscottg89 · Post by **mrscottg89** » 18 Dec 2011, 14:58

I undid it with the torx screw but I had to replace the coupling in the firewall. I just pulled the hater core out and the torx screw was tight it was just dripping from the bottom of the core itself once I loosened the torx It began to drip out and had a good amount left inside the heater core. I checked the pipes in the firewall coupling and they would not pull out so they seemed to be in pretty good. After draining I put the hose to the heater core to see if it was leaking and I filled it multiple times and It seemed it may be dripping but at a very slow rate if any. There was alot of coolant spilled throughout the cabin on both sides and both kick guards showed evidence of a good splash on them but I cant find any solid place it could have erupted in such a manor other than maybe the fire wall? Maybe? and If it only blew out inside the cabin how did the amount that got out on to the ground get there. I checked the reservoir this morning and after filling it a bunch of times it is finally holding. Any ideas?

Post by **Pauloil** » 18 Dec 2011, 20:30

get new Behr heater core and coupler and 2 orings you need it.