No, we are not destroying it. This Bug needed a heater core. This is like a radiator that takes heat from the engine to provide heat and defrost in the cabin. The heater core itself is easy to install and it’s not a very expensive part. But you have to get to it. Therein lies the problem. The engineers who designed this Beetle made the heater core hard to get to. Getting to it requires disassembly and reassembly of the dash and steering. This is time consuming and painstaking work. Replacing a heater core is an expensive job that can range in cost from $500 to $1500 depending on the vehicle.
Heater Cores do not last forever but there are a couple simple things you can do to avoid the costly repair. First is keep an eye on your coolant level. Catching a leak earlier rather than later may prevent damage to the heater core. In older cars it is beneficial to flush the cooling system and replace the coolant as often as once a year in an old car. This can keep sediment from building up in the corp.
You may have a leaky heater core if
- your vehicle starts to smell sweet and it’s not your perfume or cologne
- you see a mist rising from your heater vent
- your car does not heat up like it used to
- Your floor mats are wet and smell sweet
