Can I use the defroster if I have bypassed the heater core?

[timbolia]

The heater core was leaking onto the passenger floor so I bypassed it. It never gets cold enough to worry about it here near the coast. But I am wondering if I will hurt anything by turning on the defroster. Will it do anything at all? I thought if it was fogged up the air blowing on it might help. Otherwise I will just carry a towel with me on the few days I have to worry about it.

Thanks
Tim

 

[66340SEDAN]

Shouldn't hurt anything, it will just blow cooler air, still would defrost a little too if needed, here in MN, you would need the heat!!

 

[MoparDaddy]

It won't do you any real good. The blower motor blows air through the heater core. If you have bypassed the heater core then its not hot= no warm air for defrost.

 

[67Dart273]

It won't do you any real good. The blower motor blows air through the heater core. If you have bypassed the heater core then its not hot= no warm air for defrost.

Uh.............he seems to be in Culver city?............. I'd say if you can stand the cold feet, the air blowing will probably be enough. I don't think it really frosts much down there, although I DO remember one time in San Diego.........

 

[cudavert]

Yes, I think the cold air will do okay. The only condensation I get on the inside glass is from me breathing after I took a sip of my coffee....lol.

 

[Burntorange70]

My Dart does not have a heater any more. Some times she will want to frost up on me. I crack the wing window and it helps.

 

[timbolia]

I have yet to see the windows frost in the 7 years I have been down here. (from Bay/Sacramento area) Thanks for the info. If I was somewhere colder, like where my folks are from in Kenosha Wisconsin, I would have replaced the heater core. Here, I am fine with the temp. LA weather forecast is a cliche for a reason I guess.

 

[69B-Cuda]

it won't hurt anything, it will help a bit but not near as much as if you had a heater core hooked up because, as was said, it is not warm air,

 

[MoparDaddy]

Uh.............he seems to be in Culver city?............. I'd say if you can stand the cold feet, the air blowing will probably be enough. I don't think it really frosts much down there, although I DO remember one time in San Diego.........

In my defence. Down here, come time to need a defroster. It better blow warm air

 

[cudamark]

As a defroster, It's unlikely you'll need it. As a defogger, it might help some but without A/C, they're marginal at best. It won't hurt the car to run it but bring the towel with you anyway!

 

[BillGrissom]

You can buy an electric defroster for <$10 on sale at Harbor Freight. I recently got one for my son in San Diego since the heater core on his Mercedes 300D was bypassed when I bought it. He whined that it was marginal. Funny that same week, Car Talk handled a question from a lady in Santa Cruz. They said she didn't need a heater there, well maybe, but not if she lived in San Diego. I told him to pick a sunny day to drive back for Xmas.

I used an electric one for a while on several cars in Atlanta. At least it clears a peep-hole. That said, I got a new heater core for both my 65 Dart and 65 Newport recently. I recall ~$25 and $55, resp, maybe both from rockauto. The Mercedes is tougher since new ones "not avail" and people ask $50 for used ones. It is a funky 3-tube type with high-density fins and plastic reservoirs, similar to the Behr models for semis. Since no German winters here, I got a new heater core for a Caravan cheap that I will adapt.

 

[kursplat]

don't bring it out the valley, you'll need that thing blowing warm to get the frost off some mornings

 

[daredevil]

It will definately help when its rainy and your windows are up. Wont hurt anything.

 

[sireland67]

A heater core is only $40 bucks, fix it.
It is super easy in a A body.

 

[BillGrissom]

It is super easy in a A body.

I would say "fairly easy" if a non-factory AC car. If factory air, the heater core is behind the AC evaporator and I recall you have to vent the refrigerant to remove the climate box. At least I had to on my 69 Dart. If so, and you have Freon, consider alternative refrigerants.