Window fog. How to get rid of?

**andremike** · 12-20-2012

it sounds easy.. I just need pics..

1.Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2.Remove the cosmetic/acoustic engine cover, as equipped.
3.Remove the air cleaner and duct assembly.
4.Drain the engine coolant into a suitable container.
6.Disconnect both heater hoses from the heater core. On some vehicles

, accessing the firewall side heater hoses can be a challenge due to limited working space. In addition, some vehicles equipped with the 3.1L engine may have quick-connect fittings on the hose, requiring special tool J 38723 Heater Line Quick Connect Separator, or equivalent.
7.Remove the lower center console, if equipped. Additional information may be found in the Control Panel service instructions, found in this section.
8.Remove both left and right underdash sound insulator panels.
9.Disconnect the lower heater duct.
10.Remove the heater core cover. The sealer usually should be discarded and replaced with new sealer. Evaluate the condition of the existing sealer and the availability of new sealer.
11.Locate and remove the heater core mounting clip and bracket and remove the heater core from the vehicle

. Use care as it will likely have coolant inside and could drip onto the rugs or seats.
12.Installation is the reverse of the removal process. After refilling the cooling system, bleed out the air and check for leaks as outlined in of this guide.
13.Connect the negative battery cable

**Scottydoggs** · 12-20-2012

for one. you dont need to drain the coolant, you take the hose off the engine and blow the core out, i just blow through it till it gets most of it out, that reduces the chances of spilling it inside the car.

2, the one clip that holds the core in is located on the fire wall, you need to reach up from inside to get it out. follow the pipes up.

3, that seal they are talking about is like thin foam too, handle it with care.

**spazzz** · 12-20-2012

I did a butt-load of searching and reading before I did it.
Until you actually get in there and start,it will read like it is daunting.
I really couldn't find any decent pics of a 2004+ swap,so one day, I just got in there and started tearing it out.
Hell I tore it out before I even ordered the new one.
Just work slow and calculated and post if there is any problems.

hope you have a garage or know someone

**andremike** · 12-20-2012

so for heater core I found..
ACDELCO Part # 1560142

{#52481498, 88956887} $101.79
CORE,HTR

there also this one..

SPECTRA PREMIUM / COOLING DEPOT Part # 93016

{#98361} $37.79

Do I need any of these?
ACDELCO Part # 52478817
SEAL KIT,HTR NEEDED WHEN SERVICING HEATER CORE
or
SEAL,HTR INL & OTLT PIPE (O-RING)

**Scottydoggs** · 12-20-2012

thats how i did mine. by the seat of my pants. i had no write up at all, i knew where it was, just dove in and tore it apart.

i may or may not of had extra bolts left over...... lol

**Scottydoggs** · 12-20-2012

id pass on the seal kit, if the old one rips, you can just put it back in, all it does is seal the air box off, its just plastic to plastic, the light foam seals it tight.

**spazzz** · 12-20-2012

Scotty ,what year is your car?
My 2004 didn't really have so many choices. Rock Auto has crap loads for a 2000 at 30s - 40s then jumps to 100 for AC/Delco
I bought a Delphi,it was supposed to be OEM

**Scottydoggs** · 12-20-2012

my cars a 98, but i took mine out for no reason as it would be, my leak was the out side hose. it was summer time and i planned to just by pass the core till i got a new core.

after testing it hooked up out side the car, i found the hose leaking. i was more then pissed off that day.

the extra bolts i had may be a direct reflection of the days findings lol

**andremike** · 12-21-2012

So I peaed back the passenger side carpet and it was a little damp underneath.. I didn't feel any coolant. I think that wetness was from the cowl.
I took of the pad underneath the dashboad and coudnt find anything.. I could barely see the heater core.. I looked at the hoses in the enginebay and didn't see any leaks were the hoses meet the firewall..

Would I see a lot of water if the core was leaking? I guess I could have the ac checked, but I don't think its that. And what little water I had I don't think that would cause my windows to fog... it has to be the core..

Anyone know what this might cost me in labor? $300 to $400?

**Scottydoggs** · 12-21-2012

coolant could be sitting in the bottom of the hvac handler. the core is dead center of the dash, right in front of the console. that black plastic box is where it lives, right over the hump in the floor.

you can run a hose over the cowl, have the rug up so you can see if water comes in to rule that out.

**spazzz** · 12-21-2012

yep,just rub your hand underneath the dash,behind the console on all the plastic. Theres a good chance you will feel dampness that is slippery,which would be coolant.

Yeah, if you are lucky after calling around to a couple of shops, it might be 3 - 4 hundred.

**andremike** · 12-21-2012

I do think my cowl is leaking, but I really don't thinks its causing this problem.. it wasn't that wet inside.. my windows fog instantly.. never saw anything like it.

Do you think it will be more than $500.00

**Scottydoggs** · 12-21-2012

i would hope not more then 5.

as always shop around, go to a few shops and ask for a price. some shops when they dont want to do work will just quote you some crazy number.

**Scottydoggs** · 12-21-2012

oh, and you can also buy a coolant system pressure tester, they run maybe 15 bucks, you pump air into the rad and if pressure drops most of the time you will find it leaking from somewhere.

**andremike** · 12-10-2013

Hey guys... I want to revisit this again... its cold again and my windows are still fogging up.. I still don't know the problem.. My windshield stays clear, its just my side windows fog up. I don't think its the heater core because my windows aren't slimy nor do I smell anything sweet.. Its almost like a damper door is stuck. I feel air coming from the defrosters. They fog up like I have the recirculator button pressed. If I leave my window open a crack the windows will stay clear.

Please help..

**Scottydoggs** · 12-10-2013

if you get into a car wet or even damp the side window will fog up, or if your a heavy breather lol

is the air hot out of the defroster?

**andremike** · 12-10-2013

I don't think its really wet on the inside. It happens even when its just me in the car. When I have 4 people its even worse. Is the defrosting systyem that bad on these cars? I just never remember it being this bad before.. I think it all started last year.

Could it be the recirculating door? (if there is one) where do I find it?

yes the air is hot

Mike

**Scottydoggs** · 12-10-2013

if you take the glove box door off then look up you'll see the door. that should be closed when def is on. you can hear it open and close, at least in my car i can.

work the controls to recirculate and watch up there you'll see it move, maybe even see daylight through it.

**andremike** · 12-10-2013

which door is this? recirculating door or the door to send air to the defrosters? when you run your defrosters, fresh air should be entering the car. recirculating off. so if door is closed is that what its doing?