'97 z28 cooling problem

[jeffs97z28]

I did not power flush the system because when I took it in for that the dealer said it did not need it, I don't think it's the core because when I do get heat it works well, which is not very often now. I could get heat sometimes by squeezing the heater hose a few times by the flow valve, thats why I thought that valve was malfunctioning. It would work until I shut the car off, let it cool down and then restarted it. I love these cars but for the non mechanic these repairs are sooooooooooooooooooo spendy.
especially when the mechanic are not sure what is causing the problem.

[jeffs97z28]

Well, now they say there is plenty of hot water reaching but not going through the heater core, they recommend a complete acid flush of the system then a heater core replacement, 1100.00 plus the 600.00 I already have in the heater hoses and thermostat. Holy cow 1700.00 to get heat back and proper cooling. Am I crazy?? or shoulod I trade it off. It has 88000 miles on it.

[78formula78]

WOAH calm down for a sec now i just wanna point out that your talking about getting rid of a 97 Z28 because of a cooling issue now thats a really good car and 88000 is not that many miles (my 78 formula has 174000 on a completly stock system and still runs like a champ) now it sounds like its just time to replace the heater core and then make sure to change the fluid more often then you did before that should help to keep this from happing again, but if you wanna trade it then that'd solve your problems too, but it'd be sad to see another f-body with a for sale sign in the window...

[fastTa]

You need to do like TraceZ mentioned and flush the heater core with a garden hose. You WILL be surprised by the junk that comes out. It's a start.

[TraceZ]

I did not power flush the system because when I took it in for that the dealer said it did not need it,

there is your first mistake. Dealers are idiots.

I love these cars but for the non mechanic these repairs are sooooooooooooooooooo spendy.
especially when the mechanic are not sure what is causing the problem.

Owning any 10 year old car with over 80K on it that never once had the coolant serviced would be the same thing.

As far as not being a mechanic... what/who is stopping you? All you need is basic tools and this forum and anything is possible. It would be so easy for you to powerflush that heater core yourself. I can pretty much guarantee you that is the problem, others agree with me yet you still havent listened to our advice.

go to the hardware store and get a male garden hose fitting and a hose clamp. Open your hood and find the two hoses coming from the heater core. Follow the hoses until you find where they end. Shoebox has diagrams on his website you can look at too. disconnect both the hoses at their ends and put the garden hose fitting on either one with the hose clamp. Hook up the garden hose and turn on the water. You will be surprised by the amount of gunk that comes out. Next switch the hose fitting to the other hose and flush it the other direction until clean water comes out. Put the hoses back together, fill and bleed the system and you are done. Make it a weekend project or something, but paying a dealer thousands of dollars for coolant system work is pretty far out.

I'm by no means a "mechanic" and I have replaced my radiator, water pump, clutch, intake gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets, plugs and wires, rebuilt my alternator and throttle body, replaced the drivers door, installed a hood, shifter and catback all by myself. Not once has my car been in for service anywhere!

I cannot even imagine the cost of all that if I'd of taken it in somewhere professional and paid for it all. Ouch!

[jeffs97z28]

I would love to take a shot at flushing this myself, I live in Minnesota and do not have a heated garage, Not to mention my outdoor water supplies are shut off for the winter. I know where there is a strong will there is always a way, I could probably run a garden hose from a water supply inside the house but I still haven't figured out what to do with the water coming through the core. Maybe some five gallon pails ould do. While I'm at it I may purchase a bullet heater. I really hate to trade this car, I love it and it's in really great shape. I just gotta figure out a way to do more of these repairs myself or they will break me.

[jeffs97z28]

I finally took all of your advice and took the car to a local shop that I have a reasonable amount of trust in and asked them to do as you all suggested, pull the heater hoses at the core and flush the crap out of it with a garden hose, then they power flushed the whole system with a detergent, then added new coolant, [ no more DEXCOOL]. Well you guys were right, I now have heat like I should and the overheating problem went away at the same time. Cost me 177.00 which to me was a bargin compared to the dealers 1100.00 solution. I will be going back into the dealer to raise some cain but I thought I would wait until about an hour or two before they close for the Christmas Holiday. I figure if they won't refund some of my money I can at least take a shot at ruining someone's holiday weekend. LOL. I will be keeping the car for now, I just can't part with it.