Leaky heater core

[Dan Hammalian]

Hi BAC Friends...I need help/advice
I have a 2000 Marquis with what appears to be a leaky dash heater core, hoses, or both. I have read the forum notes on this issue which were helpful, and confirmed my belief that the Beaver Engineers were playing an evil game of hide-n-seek with the heater core.
I have heated up the system and crawled the underside of coach looking for a section of hoses that I felt confident were in the heater core loop. I failed to locate a sure thing.
I am a full timer, currently in a RV resort in the Apache Junction/Mesa Arizona area with limited freedom to tinker with the coach.
Normally I would take an issue like this to the Bend Oregon team, but we are about 1,500 miles away.
Can anyone recommend a shop in my current area that might have experience with the heater core problem?
Thanks, Dan Hammalian

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Dan,
I had the same problem with my 2000 Marquis in 2013. Noticed it as the carpet in front of the pedals was getting wet with antifreeze. The core is right behind the heater door that opens there and very tough to get at as it is just behind the front cap. I had RV Renovators in Mesa replace mine as at the time their head tech was a real skinny guy who could get up behind the cap to get at it. If it's leaking bad and you need to drive the coach use 2 hose pliers or vise grips to clamp off the heater hoses going to the core.
Steve

[Bill Lampkin]

Might be less damaging to the hose to use these:

https://www.harborfreight.com/line-clamp-set-3-pc-63596.html

[Keith Moffett]

I bought these at Harbor Freight and carry a set with me in the coach.  They were invaluable when the heat exchanger cores leaked and are just the thing for replacing the AH filter to limit the air in the line to the burner.
As Bill mentiones the hoses were not damaged.

[Eric Maclean]

This last year I replaced the core in our 97 patriot but it is much easier than your coach .
I also looked at the heater hoses but they ron the full length of the coach up in the baggage compartments in the frame rail and are surrounded by wiring and behind the fuel and water tanks.
So when I replaced all the rad hoses at the engine I installed a pair of valves in the heater hoses running forward just incase I have a leak when on the road I can simply close the valves and travel on.
I know that eventually I will have to replace those hoses as they are 24 years old now .
Eric

[David T. Richelderfer]

Assuming the coach has these, couldn't the "winter valves" be turned off to at least slow the leak from a dash heater core?

http://beaveramb.org/forum/index.php/topic,4905.msg36738.html#msg36738

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

David,
Those valves only control the fluid loop to and from the Hurricane. The dash heater core supply is separate and from the engine. See Fig 3-2 in the Hurricane manual for more info.
Steve