I suspect I have a coolant leak in the heater core of my 92 Golf GL (California). I *know* I have a coolant leak, when I rub my fingers on the carpet near the floor vent they come out smelling like coolant and my windshield is constantly fogged, which are all symptoms of a heater core leak. I also tend to get black smoke coming out of the air vents. I have a couple of questions I'd appreciate if anyone could help me with:
1) There are a couple of earlier posts about replacing the heater core on a Passat. Sounds pretty bad. But is there anything technically difficult about it (this might relate to my next question too)? Can I do it with basic tools and a manual? Seems like it would be an expensive thing to get fixed at a shop if it takes so long.2) I'm looking at the Bentley manual and it tells me that the A/C has to be discharged to replace the heater core which requires special procedures that should be performed by a qualified shop. Well, my A/C doesn't work anyway so I think it's probably already discharged, if I check the sight glass and it looks discharged can I pretty safely change the heater core myself? How can I safely try to discharge the A/C just in case it's not completely empty?
3) Is it more likely that there's some internal leak in the heater core itself or a leak in a seal at the connection point? The manual says to install a new soft seal where the heater core hose connects pass through the body, is that the only potential seal leak? Anyone have a part number or something equivalent for the soft seal for the hoses?Thanks in advance, Rob W.