I think I have a bad heater core. I have a sweet smell coming from my vents, and the windows fog over when the blower fan is on andmy passenger floorboard is full of anti-freeze. Can anyone tell me where the heater core is located at in the '86 Lxi and how difficult it is to repair.

 

Look in the engine compartment, the two heater hoses will go into the firewall, they are attached to the heater core. More than likely it is hiding behind the center console. The AC System will have to be deserviced, the evaperator case will have to be removed.

From there, PROBABLY most of the stuff behind the radio will have to come out, long job for a driver to DIY, the good part is you can still drive the car around while you work on this project. Bag and mark your parts and hardware if your memory is as bad as mine, take some pics, do what ever it takes.

Let me know if you feel you are actually going to DIY, do you have a digital camera?

 

With what you have told me here, I will probably ask one of my more mechanically inclined friends to help me (maybe he can use a case of beer). I'm much more of an electrical/ audio guy. I feel confident removing and replacing the dash but I'm just not that confident in doing much more than breakjobsand oil changes. Thanks for giving me a place to start though.

 

no need to discharge the a/c sysstem or remove the evaporator BUT the complete dash needs to be removed , if indeed it is the heater core leaking ..

 

OUCH! [:@] Please tell me your pulling my leg. The entire dash! Do you believe it's possible (I've got skinny arms) to remove the glovebox and/or the bottom of the driver side and remove it? Or are there bolts and connections that I can't get to without a complete removal. Thanks for your help