# How much of a bitch is it to change the heater core on a '98 Grand Am?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-bitch-is-it-to-change-the-heater-core-on-a-98-grand-am/415678>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 15, 2007, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-bitch-is-it-to-change-the-heater-core-on-a-98-grand-am/415678 "2007-08-15T12:29:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-bitch-is-it-to-change-the-heater-core-on-a-98-grand-am/415678/1 "2007-08-15T12:29:05Z")

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I’ve got a friend who has a blown heater core, past the point of no return as far as AlumAseal or Bars is concerned.  
Needs to have it ripped out and replaced.

Bitch or no-bitch??

I did the heater core on an ‘88 Thunderbird, so I know Bitch. I’ve done several other vehicles’ cores so my understanding is pretty solid.

Hit me with the facts! (and maybe a link to a step-by-step!)

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**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-bitch-is-it-to-change-the-heater-core-on-a-98-grand-am/415678/2 "2007-08-15T14:31:21Z")

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Bitch. As much work as the T-bird.

This assumes you have A/C.

You can bypass the heater core by connecting its inlet and outlet hoses together with a pipe. Solves the leak problem, but not viable once the weather turns cold, so it’s just a delaying tactic.

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**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-bitch-is-it-to-change-the-heater-core-on-a-98-grand-am/415678/3 "2007-08-15T14:38:25Z")

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[QUOTE=Uncommon Sense]

I did the heater core on an ‘88 Thunderbird, so I know Bitch. I’ve done several other vehicles’ cores so my understanding is pretty solid.

[/QUOTE]

I had the evaporator core on an ‘88 T-Bird go out so I tore into that bitch and it was a bitch. Ten minutes after getting it all put back together and checking out my new cold-blowin’ a/c, I noticed coolant dripping from the heater core drain. It was a bitch both times.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-bitch-is-it-to-change-the-heater-core-on-a-98-grand-am/415678/4 "2007-08-15T19:58:11Z")

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[QUOTE=Gary T]  
Bitch. As much work as the T-bird.

This assumes you have A/C.  
[/quote]

☹ Yes, it has air.

> [@](#):
>
> You can bypass the heater core by connecting its inlet and outlet hoses together with a pipe.

Been done. 😉

> [@](#):
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> Solves the leak problem, but not viable once the weather turns cold, so it’s just a delaying tactic.

Exactly. It’s only a month or two from foggy morning commutes around these parts.