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Topic: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT (Read 1420 times) previous topic - next topic

Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

I am the one melting down! A year ago I discovered the heater core was leaking so I got on the phone with Billy-Jack and ordered a new one. Gave my Motorcade number, model, build number, etc. Anyway, for the past year we have been busy with life so when using the coach, we just kept the heater valve shut which, for the most part, kept the coolant loss to a minimum. Well, after busting my butt for the last few weeks trying waterproof a park trailer here at our new home base, I decided enough was enough and set out to do the heater core replacement. Dave K's write up, while brief, gave me an idea of the process and gave me most of the needed detail.
Heater core replacement
Getting the old heater core out of the plenum (the metal box containing the evaporator coil and heater core, duct outlets, flapper valves, etc.) proved a lot more difficult than I thought. I needed just about every close quarter bit holder and long shank extension I could muster to get at some of the screws holding the plenum together. Even then, I didn't want to take it apart anymore than necessary to get at the heater core and I especially didn't want to haver to mess with the evaporator coil hoses and lose refrigerant, as the dash A/C has worked well.
Well I finally got the old heater core out after removing the front flapper assembly and bending the front of the box down. I also bent a tack welded tab on each end out of the way to gain enough clearance to tilt it up and drain the rest of the coolant out (thanks for the heads up Dave K.). Forget about pulling the heater hoses off, they are effectively welded on the tubes. I had to cut them off and peel the rubber mastic sealant off around the exit of the tubing.
So finally, I ope the box on the new one I bought in March a year ago ($312!), and it is the wrong part! >:(  >:(  >:(  Of course, we were planning on going to Anza Borego with a bunch of fellow escapees from Jojoba Hills in a week. Not going to happen now... Now the question is whether Foretravel Parts is going to own up to the mistake and send me the right part and take the wrong one back, without charging me for restocking or shipping. This is sooo aggravating! End of rant... maybe a hot shower will calm me down. Here are a couple of pictures. The shiny one is new ::)

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #1 –
Don, that is a bad screw up on the parts Dept. They have to take it back, no question of it esp' as you gave them all that info. I guess you have contacted them already as they could ship expedited so maybe you can go on that trip. You may have to pull another over nighter to get it done.
JohnH

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #2 –
Don & Tys,

When we had a heater core leak, we found the two heater hose connections on the side of the engine block, cut each hose and put in a ball valve.  Something quite straight forward.
If you do this, you can travel to Ansa Borrego with dash apart without losing any coolant.  We have even turned off the ball valves during a hot summer to see if it helped the dash air to work better, and the ball valves would be a great thing to have if any heater hose gave us trouble.

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #3 –
I know it is a little late, but it is much easier easier to remove the entire plenum assy and replace the heater core.  It does require you to capture the freon, but you can pull the plenum in and hour or so.

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #4 –
Thanks for the suggestion Barry... I considered the idea, but it is just too chaotic looking for Tys, and I would have to rig up something to hold the board with the wiper controller, dash Mac Mini power supply, and several other components, or lengthen about 10 wires to lay it on top of the dash. I would also have to stabilize the half taken apart plenum. I already planned to put the ball valves in for future use based on a post I read by you.  But if I had to get the coach on the road right now, even simpler (and cheaper) would be to couple the two heater hoses before the heater valve with a double ended hose barb. I just don't want  go off with it half done. I will just use the time to put in the new flooring in front while the dash parts are out out of the way. It will be easier to get the contour right with the toe kick of that front curved part of the dash gone. No, the camping trip will have to wait... I just want to get the heater core project done and put this episode behind me... If we were already on the road going somewhere, it would be different, and I would jury rig whatever was necessary to get where we were going. I should have worked on the heater core a long time ago, and I put it off too long. In my defense, I never even thought that I would have gotten the wrong part from FOT. I should have known better as I have routinely gotten wrong parts for my other vehicles. I just didn't expect it from Foretravel...

Don

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #5 –
Don,

Sorry what sounds like such a simple job (R&R heater core) has turned into such a hassle!  I am sure you will put the "down time" to good use.

Your "removing the core" story reminds me of my last hotrod, a 1970 Buick Skylark.  When the heater core leaks on that model, it drips down in the passenger side footwell, so you have a lot of incentive to replace a bad one!  (DW: "My feet are getting wet!")

The catch is, to access the heater core, the Buick shop manual says you have to remove the entire passenger side front fender!  The usual workaround is to cut a 3" diameter hole in the passenger side inner fender well, providing access to the 2 bolts which are otherwise impossible to reach.

Don't you love the "engineers" who are responsible for such things?  Good luck with your floor installation.

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #6 –
Don, That appears to be a copper core that you took out.;  How about a local radiator shop repairing it and reinstalling ?  I would GUESS that the old core will probably be a better piece of work than some of the new ones.
Good luck.
Gary B

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #7 –
Don,
While you have that much apart it might be a good time to change the fan blower motor.
If yours is the original one it's time is coming due.

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #8 –
Mike Grimes is the guy at FOT to ask for and he is the parts manager.  I have found him very helpful in the past although they do have a restocking fee. But I should hope you don't have to pay that when it was their error.

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #9 –
I know the motor must be in there somewhere, but I still can't see it! I vaguely recall some posts on that topic... seems like it was a part available from NAPA. Will do a search on it. Thanks for the idea...
Don
Quote from: John Duld –
Don,
While you have that much apart it might be a good time to change the fan blower motor.
If yours is the original one it's time is coming due.

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #10 –
I am with Gary n having the core repaired, money & quality Ahead.

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #11 –
Like others have said,  take it to a radiator repair shop and at least have it tested to determine it's repairability.

If you are able to get the old one fixed and then want to return the new one FOT may not want to issue you a refund, but they may be amenable to a store credit.

Good luck with your project.

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #12 –
Don,

If you can figure out what the new core goes to and FOT won't take it back, consider offering it on the classifieds.  Is there a p/n on it - maybe the Fofums can figure out the year/model coach it fits.

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #13 –
I have a thread or posts I made in the past about getting parts for the dash HVAC assembly for 98 FT. I forget the name of the company that made it, but it's on the sticker.

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #14 –
I recommend calling them and getting it changed to proper one. The one they shipped you is to a newer style ac. In the past I wasn't lucky enough to find the original one. Something was always different so we had to modify plenum. If they refund your money. I would recommend having original one fixed or looking thru napa catalog and finding it.

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #15 –
Victory Climate Systems?
817-293-3331

Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #16 –
Quote from: John Duld –
Don,
While you have that much apart it might be a good time to change the fan blower motor.
If yours is the original one it's time is coming due.

I completely agree with that recommendation. I sometimes almost wonder if the heater/defroster/air conditioner assembly was the very first step in assembling our Unicoaches and then everything else was installed around it!

I believe our 1995 U320 has a model HC212 assembly manufactured by SCS, and that Victory Climate Systems, 817-293-3331, now handles that product line. The information I have indicates that the replacement parts for our HC212 unit, at least, should be as follows:

030-00054 Blower Motor
062-00258 Blower Wheel
041-00059 Evaporator Coil
034-00029 Expansion Valve
042-00029 Heater Coil (automotive)
042-00022 Heater Coil (auxilliary)
035-00017 PC Board
035-00011 Resistor
033-00003 Thermostat


Re: Heater core meltdown... Received wrong part from FOT

Reply #17 –
Good info David.
I was warned by someone in the shop to have my motor and a tape measure in hand when I talked to parts as there are several motors.
Sure enough the one he picked for my coach was to short. I gave him my measurement and yes there it was on the shelf.
A new motor and cleaned squirrel cage will be smooth,quiet and move more air.