I want to kick this cold weather in the fayse! (engine problems)

[M20_fever]

How do the brakes feel now that you deleted everything?

[Yoshi]

Actually. I think my brakes feel like I've seen spec E30 guys describe how they want their brakes to feel. Consistent and stiff. I'll tell you more after this weekend. I got a drift day.

[87e30]

So I ordered a clutch slave, but I don't know if I'll be needing it. Last night on my way home from work I noticed my temp go way up into the red, so I pulled into a parking lot. I knew my coolant was low. I've had to add like a quart every couple days, and I hadn't added any in 2 days. When I open the hood I notice a stream of wetness coming from under my car. I got on the ground and saw antifreeze dripping from the transmission. Yes, antifreeze! Also the whole floor inside the car is wet now. I'm guessing coolant from the heater core is dripping down onto the transmission, and probably getting the clutch wet, which would explain the way it's been feeling when it acts up. Remember, it doesn't do it all the time, and it usually starts happening when I get that puff of fog from the vents after the thermostat opens.

[Yoshi]

M50 swap time!

[87e30]

Sure! If you supply all the parts and do the labor.

[M20_fever]

Swap in a new core man, you keep dumping coolant on that clutch and you'll be pulling the engine and trans (easier than pulling just the trans) to do the clutch too. That's if you haven't already cooked the clutch.

[Yoshi]

The sweetness from the coolant will make the clutch more grabby once it's dry tho!

[87e30]

I ordered a new core and 2 hoses. They shipped out this morning. I'll be swapping those in when they arrive. Is there anything else I should buy just in case?

[Yoshi]

zip ties to put stuff back together so it's easier to get back apart lol. Nah I think you're ok. maybe hose clamps.

[87e30]

I got a whole box of Harbor Freight hose clamps somewhere. Probably have a couple thousand zip ties too. I actually pulled the side of the console as far back as I could without breaking it and saw what I'm gonna be dealing with. Metal pipes, not hoses. I guess I should probably try to get those as well. I read they can get corroded pretty bad, although they looked pretty good from what I could see.

[87e30]

Woo hoo!!! It was like 65 degrees on Saturday so I swapped out the heater core. The old one was definitely leaking. After I removed it I filled it with water, plugged 1 hole and blew into the other hole and the water was spraying out the side. When I put in the replacement (which didn't have any of the foam insulation, will that matter?) I was gonna replace the o-rings, but the ones in there looked like they were brand new, and were weirdly shaped. Can't explain without pictures, but it looked like they would seal better than a regular o-ring. The 3 screws holding the pipes onto the core were barely tight, but after I replaced it I really had to torque them down a lot to get the drip to stop. Seems to have stopped finally. It really got bad. At first I only had to add about a quart every 2-3 days, but it got to the point where I had to add a gallon of coolant each way to and from work! That was getting expensive.

I still have my center console out. I broke the back part out closest to the gas pedal. Gotta figure out a way to fix that or I'll be making another junkyard visit soon.

[Yoshi]

Back part closest to the gas pedal? I feel like most of the dash in is good enough. I think my dash is held in with 6 bolts quite honestly. Glad you're not putting in a gallon of coolant a day anymore lol.

[87e30]

I'm glad I finally have heat again! I can actually turn on the fan without the entire car fogging up in 30 seconds.

Yeah, back by the gas pedal where the clip holds it in place. The first time I went to try looking at the heater core I pulled out the clip thing and pulled the console out as far as I could without breaking it, and I guess it got caught on the gas pedal because it broke off when I started driving.

I may have to pull the pipes back off and replace those o-rings anyway. I can't tell if the green goo is fresh or if it's from when I first replaced the core and it was seeping. Yesterday after a drive I got a strong antifreeze smell when I shut the car off. Possibly just all the antifreeze that's soaked into the carpet at the moment. I'm leaving the console out for a while so I can keep my eye on it.

[87e30]

Glad you're not putting in a gallon of coolant a day anymore lol.

Oh no, it wasn't a gallon a day... It was a gallon on my way to work, and another gallon on my way home! And it's only like 11 miles each way.

[Yoshi]

I don't think I ever want to ride in your car.