Trust but verify!

[zachmac]

So a friend with a really nice 76 (the one I bought a long time ago from Craig) tells me the heater core has sprung a leak. I help him bypass it and find a good used core, pressure test it and tell him here ya go! Months go by and then it starts getting cold at night and he asks me if I can help him install it as his wife likes to drive it but doesn't like cold feet!

I collect up the tools and head over in the early am to his house for the fairly easy swap out. Then (you knew it was coming) one thing leads to another we spend ~8 hrs addressing everything in addition to the heater core. You know, re-wire the PO tangle left under the dash, eliminate the aligator clip in the trunk to the battery that powers the aftermarket radio, bleed the brakes, clean up the heater box and put on all new weather stripping on the sealing surfaces, flush the brown sludge excuse for coolant, re-wire the radiator fan, etc, etc, etc.

Finally, as it's getting dark we get aroung to actually hooking up the heater core and filling and burping the system. Added a flush connect in the heater return "loop" hose which I absolutely have to add to Luigi! Letting it warm up when I remember to check the passenger footwell and sure enough it's slowly filling with a green puddle ! I shut off the car and look close and it's the damn valve ! The new heater core is dry as a bone. I show the owner what is happening and he says "Yeah, that's what it was doing all along!!!!!" It NEVER was the heater core, it was always the valve!!!!! At that point I told him I'd come back in a day or two to help install the new valve I had in spares. I can't wait.

BTW, his current heater valve appears to be the original, thermostaic probe and control and all. Are they re-buildable? I'll put in a replacement on / off but it would be neat to have a working original.

[spidernut]

They're not rebuildable though you can take them apart. Inside, they have a rubber diaphragm that is unique to this heater valve. Vendors don't have them. I contacted several companies to see if I could have one made...it was extremely expensive to make the initial one and additional copies were more than a replacement valves available from the vendors (though there's the issue with the piping not fitting through the firewall without bending the tubing or cutting the metal lines and putting a flex connection inline.

Best bet is to buy a new one and replace it.

[joelbert2k]

The good news is that it should be a fairly quick job. You already fixed everything else!

[supplyguy]

How do you people KNOW this stuff?! That's why I find Spider ownership intimidating. I'm still in the hunt though.

[spidernut]

Once you've torn one (or more) apart, put it (or them) back together and owned and driven a Spider for 10 years or more, you'll be the same!

[mdrburchette]

And, you have all of us to guide you in the right direction!

[124JOE]

17 yrs ownership $10,000 spent on body interrior suspetion and 2 trannys now i work on it
thats how i know

[Ragno124]

How do you people KNOW this stuff?! That's why I find Spider ownership intimidating. I'm still in the hunt though.

Fiats are some of the easiest cars I've worked on over the last 30 years and the wealth of knowledge from this and other Forums, as well as the source of available parts from our vendors is simply amazing. Absolutely no reason to be intimidated unless you can't find a car in decent condition. Can't imagine my world without having a Fiat in my garage but I think it's more about the "people" who make it special.

[dmwhiteoak]

Amen on the people Steve.

[baltobernie]

I'm at the dyno yesterday, and one of the mechanics is working on an Expedition. Complaint: poor cabin heat. After chemical flushing the Dexcool (sorry, no profanity allowed on the site ... sorry), the diagnosis remains: partially blocked heater core. The cure:


are you ready?




Nine Hundred Dollars labor + parts. The entire dash must be removed.

ps the dyno trip was a bust. I'm stuck with what I've got, 102 WHP. I can make more power on the dyno, but drivability suffers

[WYSpider]

I would be happy with 102. It isn't a Vette or an Abarth but it is fun to drive.

[ga.spyder]

The heater control valve ......possibly the worst job I have undertaken on the Spider.You need to be a contortionist from Cirque d' Soleil to get at that little sucker!If I had to do another,I would absolutely remove the seats first.

[baltobernie]

How about a rotisserie? Attached to a lift? All the spare change that drops out is a bonus

(I'm sure you'd do it for less than the $900 the poor SOB with the Ford is gonna pay )

[124JOE]

I'm at the dyno yesterday, and one of the mechanics is working on an Expedition. Complaint: poor cabin heat. After chemical flushing the Dexcool (sorry, no profanity allowed on the site ... sorry), the diagnosis remains: partially blocked heater core. The cure:


are you ready?




Nine Hundred Dollars labor + parts. The entire dash must be removed.

ps the dyno trip was a bust. I'm stuck with what I've got, 102 WHP. I can make more power on the dyno, but drivability suffers

a friends father had the same issue with his ford he said it was the thermostat
3 hours later he found them with the dash out and wanted BIG$$$
he called them on there BS and demanded it was the thrmostat
they threw it back together and changed the thermostat
and the problem was GONE.
so who trains these guys anyway?

[zachmac]

I have a 1991 300SL Merc that needs the AC evaporator replaced. It is about a $2400 job if done by an indy shop (can't even guess the Stealership $s) as it involves a $280 evaporator and a legitimate 22 to 24 hours of labor to remove all the stuff in the way (dash, etc.) I'll be tackling it myself soon. In comparison the Fiat is a walk in the park.

On the other hand the Fiat doesn't provide A/C or auto climate control and air without some heat (or the fumes from the SUV in front of you) is rare. Guess if you want sophiticated HVAC you get complexity with it!