1996 850: Yet Another Heater Core Question

kimthepilot · Post by **kimthepilot** » 26 Aug 2015, 17:16

Hi All,
I've been getting some water on the drivers side floor mat for a while. At first, I thought it was just straight water leaking in from outside, but after digging around, I'm fairly sure it's coming from the heater core area.

The real question is: Is the leak from the heater core itself, or from the connection between the hoses and the core? Pic is attached. Follow up question. Assuming it is the heater core, what's the recommended replacement part? Nissen or Behr?

Thanks for the help!

Post by **kahl** » 26 Aug 2015, 17:29

hard to tell from the pictures. Your car being a 96 I would go with the heater core. I have used the $49.00 heater core from ebay Sweedish auto parts. Seems to work well. There are a number of posts regarding this core.

Post by **cn90** » 26 Aug 2015, 20:35

I did this a few months ago and wrote it up (using the "ebay" heater core):

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=69238

Post by **jreed** » 27 Aug 2015, 05:03

I agree with the above. I recently replaced the core on my '97 as a preventative measure. When I got the old one out I could see places along the plastic-metal bond area that showed signs of weeping coolant.

: Leaking core1.jpg (175.32 KiB) Viewed 941 times

I wrote up a short description of some of the methods and tools I used during the replacement process here:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=67723

mika · Post by **mika** » 27 Aug 2015, 10:10

you better get on this as no heat in Canada sounds like a nightmare (already getting cold and its not even September). Even no heat in California is a problem. luckily, its doable yourself! Not fun but not bad, I did this job before I even knew how to remove my wheels and jack car up. READ THE DIY's here, where you cut the plubming and use heater hose instead.