99 LX470 heater core leaking, what else should I worry about? (1 Viewer)

[Lalalx470]

Hey all,
Just joined the club and bought a 99 LX470 with ~265k on it. Well, the heater core immediately started to leak. Pretty good amount of coolant in the passenger footwell... So yeah, it's at the shop, waiting to have the dash torn apart to get at that mother...

So, what else should I be worried about? Is this a thing at 265k? Timing belt and water pump we're done at 240k.

Do I worry? Do I not care? Do I just bypass the heater, and flog it hard until something else gives out?

 

[cjmoon]

I’d bypass for the summer and drive it, if you just acquired said vehicle. Get to know it and figure out a game plan. Did that to an 80 with core leak last winter.

A/C expansion valve assuming it have to be removed like in the 80. But I just got a 100 and still learning about it not sure on the order of operations for a heater core.

 

[2001LC]

The heater core leak, is indication coolant system was not properly serviced. This could mean not flushed the earlier of every 30K miles or two years or tap water added to system to flush or top.

Living in LA I'd be inclined to by-pass, until trip planned where defroster needed. This would give time to evaluate the rest of your 99. Things like head gasket leak or other coolant leaks.

 

[Lalalx470]

Update: went ahead and had the shop replace the heater core. Used a Lexus factory part (ouch) but happy to be all back together. Drove to Vegas in the middle of the day and played on a section of the Mojave road, all is good!

 

[trdcorolla]

Don't forget the heater t's. If it was serviced at a specialty shop they might have been replaced already. If it was done at a normal shop or tire store, I would assume they weren't changed. Two $10 parts is what it'll cost you (if you replace them yourself)