Oldsmobile/Buick: leaking heating core (cord), radiator repair shop, heater core replacement

Question
How difficult is is to repair a heating core in a 1987 Cutlas?  Mine is leaking so bad the winshield gets steamed up and the carpet on the passenger side of the front is soaked with radiator fluid.

Answer
Hi Tommy,
Replacing a heater core is a very difficult job and time consuming. I can think of many more involved repairs I'd rather tackle. The reason is your in a very awkward position under the dash. Repairing a heater core would be a definite waste of money because these are cheap. You would spend on the repair for what you could buy a new one for. I doubt you'd get a gaurantee on the repair because another area of the old core can fail. This is a job you only want to do once! I highly recommend that a new one be installed by a radiator repair shop, or a reputable shop that does this type of work on a regular basis. The reason is, that if you don't know what your doing, you can cause more problems, especially to the a/c and heater controls. The dashboard has to be partially taken apart underneath. Expect to spend at least $175-$200. The labor is what makes heater core replacement expensive. Hope this helps! Ray