Coolant leak driver’s side foot area soaked!

[Lyle Longboat]

Hi everyone,
Checking to be see if anyone can help me out as I found a pretty big of what I determined to be coolant (smell) that soaked my driver’s side floor rug from the top under the pedals to the seat. Heater core? If so, were would this be leaking from?
Thanks.

 

[turkeybird56]

Hi everyone,
Checking to be see if anyone can help me out as I found a pretty big of what I determined to be coolant (smell) that soaked my driver’s side floor rug from the top under the pedals to the seat. Heater core? If so, were would this be leaking from?
Thanks.

Picture Advance Auto. Core could be leaking from coils, split case, top lines solder loose, could be anywhere. If you have antifreeze in the cab, pretty good chance core has gone bad. Also, before U jump, check the hose connections to the core on the firewall. They could be leaking there at the hose connection in engine bay, but fluid inside cab, usually core. All IMHO.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Changing this will be a pain, no?

 

[Lyle Longboat]

I’ll check everything out. Coolant reservoir was empty and I noticed a dark spot under my foot well rug area….. plus smelled the coolant.

 

[RamDiver]

I lasted about 9 minutes before my eye lids started to get heavy.

I did read a YouTube that mentioned performing this swap without draining the AC. I've never done this activity and don't know if that's realistic or not.

2011 Dodge Ram Evaporator Core Replacement

This 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 had a serious Evaporator core leak so on today's video we tackle the dash removal and get the HVAC box out to swap the Evap core. #D...

www.youtube.com

This was a comment by the poster.

It's about a 6-8 hour job for someone mechanically inclined. If this is your first time doing any major auto then this will definitely be a weekend job.
.

 

[turkeybird56]

Changing this will be a pain, no?

YES, a monster pain. The last one needed done on my 2001 F 150 I paid to have done. I did do a change on wife's 1990 Lumina with Transverse mounted V6, had to break motor mounts loose and easy come FWD. There are Multiple You tube on how to replace. Just a few examples below.

2012 Dodge Ram 1500 heater core replacement

Brief description of necessary steps to remove & replace heater core & clean A/C condensor

www.youtube.com

Dodge ram dash and heater core removal the easy way

So I’m gonna show you the quickest easiest way to get your heater core out of your Dodge ram I spend a little bit more time on the lines underneath the hood ...

www.youtube.com

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Good thing I have another daily driver as I’ll have to get this done this summer. I haven’t been driving my truck anyways. Thanks guys for the help!

 

[GTyankee]

The Ram Heater Core is over the transmission hump in the floor
a leak could go to either side of the truck
You could reach under the dashboard above the gas peddle & feel the floor vent for moisture

If it is the Heater Core leaking, chances are, you would have to pull the dashboard out a bit, to get to the big HVAC Unit

a video to get a general idea on what you would have to do, IF your Heater Core was leaking

2011 Dodge Ram Evaporator Core Replacement

This 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 had a serious Evaporator core leak so on today's video we tackle the dash removal and get the HVAC box out to swap the Evap core. #D...

www.youtube.com

most mechanics do NOT remove the steering wheel, they just let it lay down on the seat

He did not even check the 4 doors that are in the HVAC Box
Those doors are real easy to check when the box is out,
if the are broken, it takes seconds to replace them

 

[Brandon-w]

Let me know how it goes. I have to do the ac in mine. Probly do both while I'm in there.

 

[GRKN]

Don't waste your time on any other videos, motor city mechanic on youtube has a very good series on the whole process

 

[Jeepwalker]

You could unhook (block off/valve off, etc) the heater hoses for now and still drive your truck. Soon you won't need much heat. Drive it all summer if you need to, till you're ready to do the job, or find a guy to take it to. I would get a price from the dealer, just to see what they charge. I've done heater cores. They're usually never fun. For many people, it's a job better to pay someone to do. At least get prices so you can have all the info.

Carpet: That's one thing you'll have to deal with. A guy almost needs to shop-vac the coolant out then soak it with soapy water ...vacuum dry again... and rinse/repeat. Then you should probably lift the side of the carpet up, put a mini fan underneath to make sure it's all (completely) dry. If you don't clean/wash/rinse, you'll still smell coolant for years to come. It doesn't really evaporate and carpet padding can hold moisture for a long, long time.

 

[turkeybird56]

You could unhook (block off/valve off, etc) the heater hoses for now and still drive your truck. Soon you won't need much heat. Drive it all summer if you need to, till you're ready to do the job, or find a guy to take it to. I would get a price from the dealer, just to see what they charge. I've done heater cores. They're usually never fun. For many people, it's a job better to pay someone to do. At least get prices so you can have all the info.

Carpet: That's one thing you'll have to deal with. A guy almost needs to shop-vac the coolant out then soak it with soapy water ...vacuum dry again... and rinse/repeat. Then you should probably lift the side of the carpet up, put a mini fan underneath to make sure it's all (completely) dry. If you don't clean/wash/rinse, you'll still smell coolant for years to come. It doesn't really evaporate and carpet padding can hold moisture for a long, long time.

That's what we did with wife's 1990 Lumina till I had the time to get in there, LOL. The Lumina took about 4 hours and a chitload of cussing, lol.