How Much Does It Cost to Fix A Car Heater Core?

When your car heater core malfunctions or wears out, it seriously threatens the engine if not rapidly repaired. Heater cores use the engine's coolant to heat the air in your car and serve as a heat exchanger that transfers heat from one medium to another.

So, as soon as you start having issues with the heater, it’s best to take action. But you need to figure out what went wrong; this article can help you with that. 

Heater Cores And Their Service Life

Most heater cores last between eight and fifteen years. If you start having issues at a certain point, repair or replacement will be covered by insurance, but that’s not always the case. 

Some manufacturers don't offer any kind of coverage for their vehicles' heating systems because they're considered “wear items” that fail over time rather than as a direct result of an accident or other incident like theft. 

Many cars have heater cores that are only covered by the manufacturer's warranty for one year or less. So, if you're driving an older vehicle with a voided or run-out warranty, you will have to pay for repairs yourself.

Common Symptoms

But how do you know when there are issues with the heater core? Well, some common symptoms are tell-tale signs that something went wrong. They go as follows:

• Leaking coolant. This is the most common problem and can be caused by a leaking coolant hose, clogged radiator, or cracked block. If you have this problem, you'll need to replace the radiator and hoses to fix it. 
• Frozen coolant. It happens in colder climates where your car sits outside overnight or during the winter months when the temperature drops below freezing. When this happens, coolant freezes in your heater core and greatly hinders its function, so much that it might not even be able to turn on at all! 
• Cold cabin and a hot engine. You also have a coolant problem on your hands if your engine overheats, but a working AC unit can’t heat the cabin. That means the core became damaged, and you must worry about its replacement. 
• Hoses, thermostat, and fan motor damage. The heater core connects to several other components, including hoses, a thermostat, and a fan motor. If any of these parts are damaged or worn out, your car will begin to overheat. That's a sign that you need to check these components. 
• Cold air in the cabin. The core has tubes that circulate the hot coolant and return it to the radiator. The fluid is kept warm by the air that blows it through the vents, and the AC unit won’t function if it becomes too cold. 

How Often Should I Replace The Car Heater Core?

Generally, heater cores are designed to last the vehicle's service life. However, it's recommended to have it replaced at least once every ten years or when your vehicle is in for a major service. 

How often you change the heater core would depend on the make and model of your vehicle, how well you take care of it, where you live (temperature-wise), how often you use your AC, and your driving habits in general.

How Much Does It Cost To Repair A Car Heater Core?

The price ranges from $800 and $1,000. The best way to find out is by getting a quote from at least two shops in your area. You'll want to know exactly how much labor will go into a replacement and if there are any additional costs, such as disposal fees. 

Generally speaking, several other factors affect the cost of replacing the car heater core: 

• The price of the core; 
• The location of the shop where you take your car for repairs, as some shops charge higher prices than others; 
• Whether you're paying for an OEM or aftermarket core. 

Summary

It is difficult to replace a heater core, so you will probably have to take your car to an auto repair shop. The cost of replacing the car heater core depends on the type of car, the labor rate, and the cost of parts. It’ll save you the headache of doing it yourself and help avoid any possible problems that may occur during DIY repairs.

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