heater core ok? probably not. change my mind

[MILsYukon]

Hi All,

Working on the MILs 2000 Yukon. pulled the intake manifold and of course, when i put it back on, i bumped the closest heater hose quick connect tee and snapped off the old line.

Bought a metal disconnect tool, but i dont think it engaged long enough to move the QD fingers out of the way. Seeing as how plastic connector was broken, i used some needlenose pliers to try to help pull the old broken connector off while pushing with the QD tool from the back.

Finally got the carcass of the old plastic tee off, but now looking at it, the needlenose pliers were pulling/wiggling on the aluminum heater core tube too.

Its not obviously loose, but whats the chances that i loosened up the heater core tube solder/whatever thats holding it to the core?
If i leave it alone, will it be obvious to see drips or worse?

Im now worried that ill be replacing the heater core itself (looks like real fun from the videos i saw).

thoughts?

thanks all!

 

[strutaeng]

Should be fine. There's some play in the tubing coming from the firewall. That's normal.

But yeah, replacing the heater core on these is a nightmare. I've had my mechanic replace the heater core on my 99 Silverado (like in 2010) and my 06 Suburban (3 years ago.)

 

[MILsYukon]

i dont have a heater core in front of me. Are the tubes brazed/soldered on? im wondering how much pull and wiggle they can really take.

 

[89Suburban]

Did you already close it up? If not maybe you can use a garden hose to pressure test it for leaks. You should be fine though I would think.

 

[rockola1971]

Highly doubt you knocked a brazed joint loose at the heater core with needlenose. If you did, then you are one very talented individual and should not be allowed around hand tools ever again. Power tools would be banned too!

 

[MILsYukon]

no,its not connected yet. i havent put the new plastic tee on it and im sure not taking the black one off if i dont have to.

im wondering if i can pressure test with 15 psi of air? have to see if i could actually hear an air leak.

most of you guys think im probably ok. thats surprising, but good news.

 

[MILsYukon]

got off the phone with the parts store. parts man says they arent brazed, but pressed in and crimped. wonder if that changes things?

maybe im worried about nothing

 

[89Suburban]

I’d be more worried about replacing both tees don’t skip out on the other one. I haven’t once read anywhere on this forum about anyone breaking the tube seals on the heater core replacing these things.

 

[MILsYukon]

thanks man. im going to reassemble and pressure test

 

[89Suburban]

thanks man. im going to reassemble and pressure test

There is also a plastic nipple that slides onto one of the tee's that likes to get brittle and break off too.

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[afpj]

I did the exact thing last year changing out my intake gasket. The white tee was basically fused to the aluminum heater core tube and eventually had to just cut it off but I had previously yanked on it Pretty good while trying to press on those not so quick Connect tabs with no results. Changed both white and black tees, and did notice that the heater core tubing does move a little bit but I've been tracking my coolant level and it really hasn't changed in the past Year. so I think you should be safe as well. On a side note, in my consternation at the whole process, I forgot to put loctite on the intake manifold bolts, so I'll probably be doing it sooner than later again. Hope you did not "pull a bob" as my wife would call it.

 

[blondie70]

I got pretty rough with mine when I replaced them....Nary a problem after the job, so I reckon those tubes are on pretty good. Used pliers to break up the old plastic tees as was recommended here on the Forum. Worked great.

 

[rockola1971]

I got pretty rough with mine when I replaced them....Nary a problem after the job, so I reckon those tubes are on pretty good. Used pliers to break up the old plastic tees as was recommended here on the Forum. Worked great.

Same problem with the tees on my 05 Denali. They were fused and locked good on the heater core nipple. I cut those Tees to pieces with wire cutters. I made up cuss words while doing it too! I even said things about the Tees mother.