Only 500 miles and heater core bad

[Fuzzyone]

I just turned 500 miles on my 2013 sonic RS and the heater core blew and leaked all over the passenger side. It's in the dealer in pieces. Needless to say I am not happy.

 

[chivalryder]

That seriously sucks man. I feel for you.

 

[Fuzzyone]

I just turned 500 miles on my 2013 sonic RS and the heater core blew and leaked all over the passenger side. It's in the dealer in pieces. Needless to say I am not happy.

How do I post pics?

 

[Eric Smit]

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/site-news-feedback/4833-how-post-pics-links.html

 

[Preloader]

Isolated rare defect in car.

Join a forum full of people who love said car.

1st post, this car sucks.opcorn:

 

[Opticon]

The number of people reporting a coolant smell with the heat on (myself included) + this failure makes me think Chevy may be doing a very extensive service campaign in the near future. They probably sourced the heater cores from Mexico or something.

As long as I don't have to do the replacement...










NO FACKS GIVEN!

 

[Fuzzyone]

Don't get me wrong I love the car. But I did not think I would have it in this soon!

 

[Fuzzyone]

 

[Stew]

FTFY

 

[Fuzzyone]

Pic of the dash when I got to the dealership

 

[Fuzzyone]

Why they had to gut my interior I will not know the heater core is located just below the radio. I am getting new carpet also. If you get a leak stress this to the dealer because you will have problem in the future if you don't.

 

[Gsrdude]

Had water on my passenger floor 2 days after purchase. Fixed under warranty as per TSB

No need for new carpet. It's water no future issues to speak of

Coolant on the other hand...

 

[ChrisJ]

Wow,

Reminds me of a story my dad always told. He had a 1950s car that needed a heatercore and rather than gut the dash he cut a hold in the fender.

Looks like doing a heatercore on a Sonic may be on the list of 100 things I do NOT need to do before I die.

 

[sx sonic]

Most cars as of the last many years have to have the dash pulled out to change a heater core or A/C evaporator...... unless you want a hack job, literally and figuratively.

I've done a few heater cores, they usually aren't fun. And often times you can ALMOST get pcs B out without removing pcs X, but then to remove that you have to take out pcs Y... you get the idea lol


Its good they're replacing the carpet, that stuff stinks for a long time especially with the heat turned on and floor vents selected.

 

[5.0]

Unreal. Why do car companies insist on burying heater cores? Is it really so hard to make an access panel and make it easily serviceable? NO. Probably 8 hrs of work to replace a 50 dollar part.

 

[ChrisJ]

Unreal. Why do car companies insist on burying heater cores? Is it really so hard to make an access panel and make it easily serviceable? NO. Probably 8 hrs of work to replace a 50 dollar part.

They do not intend for the cores to fail, they *should* be good for the life of the vehicle therefore original installation time and effort and cosmetics are far more important.

 

[RS Turbo]

Because thats where it fit best in the dash design. If the Hvac case was on the roof that would be better but you might not like the coolant spraying on your head when it leaks. LOL

 

[5.0]

They do not intend for the cores to fail, they *should* be good for the life of the vehicle therefore original installation time and effort and cosmetics are far more important.

I know. I just like to bitch.

It's just funny to me. I sold my old truck(dodge dakota) after having to replace two heater cores, they were notorious for it. And I was hoping my next NEW vehicle wouldn't have this problem. But I see more and more threads showing up about popped heater cores. So I have a feeling I'll be doing them again in the future.

 

[ronarn]

Isolated rare defect?

Isolated rare defect in car.

Join a forum full of people who love said car.

1st post, this car sucks.opcorn:

look at any other forum: honda, toyota EVEN VW and you won't see so many unrelated problems..why can't GM build a good car? it can't be just an issue with union workers...can it?

 

[ChrisJ]

look at any other forum: honda, toyota EVEN VW and you won't see so many unrelated problems..why can't GM build a good car? it can't be just an issue with union workers...can it?

Every car forum I've ever went to had tons of problems. Back when I was considering a VW (twice) I learned about coil failures, carbon issues and what a wonderful trans the DSG was. People without almost brand new cars for months waiting for DSG problems to be repaired.

Forums are often people complaining with problems while the ones without problems don't post and every brand out there except maybe Tesla has plenty of issues.

You mentioned unions possibly being a cause of a failed heater core. I'm willing to bet that heater core is made in China at the same factory as heater cores and radiators from almost every other popular brand car out there.