Help with heater core replacement on a 2009 Yaris

[jamez]

Hi folks,

I have a US model 2009 Yaris hatchback that is dripping coolant onto the area where the brake/gas pedals are - ie, onto the drivers feet. It looks like one of the aluminum tubes connected to the heater core is leaking, so I'll probably need to replace it. I haven't been able to find much info on how to do this on a Yaris - does anybody know the procedure? Looking at it under the dash from the driver's side, the heater core is sitting in a 'slot' on the side of the plastic air box. Can the heater core just be slid out of the air box after removing the hoses and such that are attached to it?

I'm attempting to attach a picture of what I see under the dash.

Thanks for any advice,

-James

[SirDigby]

wow. never seen that. what does the "manual" post say?

[CTScott]

You may be able replace the heater core without removing the entire AC box. By the top of the pipes there is a plastic clamp that holds them against the box.

The service manual shows having to remove the entire assembly (which also means removing the entire dash and the support bar that mounts the steering column, etc.), but as long as you have enough play to get the pipes back through the firewall you can do it.

[thebarber]

i did a heater core on my vibe this january

its the worst job ive ever done on a car to date.

sell the car.

[CTScott]

^LOL, but probably right.

Looking more closely at the picture, it looks like the fluid is leaking from the top, so your problem may actually be with the rubber hose to pipe connection, as opposed to with the core itself.

[jamez]

I think you are right, Scott. I took a closer look where the hoses connect on the other side of the firewall and found a little bit of coolant pooled around the rubber grommet at the firewall. I put a second hose clamp on each of the hoses connected to the core and haven't noticed any more leaks. So I guess I got lucky this time!

Thanks very much for the help!

[Bluevitz-rs]

I think you are right, Scott. I took a closer look where the hoses connect on the other side of the firewall and found a little bit of coolant pooled around the rubber grommet at the firewall. I put a second hose clamp on each of the hoses connected to the core and haven't noticed any more leaks. So I guess I got lucky this time!

Thanks very much for the help!

If that's the case, replace the hoses and clean the connections off. They're probably breaking down and failing.