Book labor time for a heater core is 1.8 hours. Your dealer must be getting over 300.00/hr!

I did this job in my 850 last weekend. I just replaced the heater core - no o-rings. In the archives here there's lots of talk about removing the hoses between the firewall and heater core, but I didn't find it necessary to replace them.

The instructions in the Haynes manual were sufficient, but it's mostly straightforward anyways. T15 and T25 Torx head drivers take care of most (if not all?) of the fasteners.

My best advice is don't underestimate the amount coolant that will come pouring out of the core when you break the seal. Have plenty of towels laid down to soak up the antifreeze. Otherwise it will pour down your center console and footwell soaking into the foam and carpet...

Ditto on the coolant smell not having anything to do with the AC evaporator. Also, like the others said, when you have the coolant drained down for the job it's a great time to change out the thermostat and coolant.

-Will
--
850 / Mini

2-4 DIY hours in your own driveway. Get a couple of hose clamps and crimp the heater hoses on the engine side of the firewall, even if you flush the radiator and engine. Makes for less spillage on your carpet.
With me, about 6 hours... always lots of zen time :)

Klaus
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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Unless the s70 is very different from the 850 you don't have to take out the evaporator and the core is relatively easy. I have seen procedures posted on the web. Here is one description - there may be others that are better or have photos.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070320152232AAaJAEs

I did my evap and did not choose to replace the heater core at that time because it appeared that it would be easy to do if it ever came up later.

The heater/evap boxes get plenty of condensate in them. Mine smells from time to time but it seems to be mildew or some other growth, not coolant. I was planning to wait on the heater core until it had a leak I could see unmistakeably. If you go in for the core you can reach some of the inside to spray it out or clean it with lysol, dilute bleach, etc.

Good luck.

You can almost bet on it being the heater core. I replaced two of them this year on our cars. Neither was dripping but upon examination of the core you could see some pink solder bloom at the ends. fcp has them for $128 but be sure to get O rings too. Volspeed has good instructions in their repair area.

It is a do it yourself, in my opinion.

dick