Where would you look in a 99 Hyundai Accent for a rain leak that is coming from the front. The rug is removed and the water can be seen on the floor under the dash area but can't trace the leak.?

Answer 1

Oh, No! It is probably the cursed heater core, villain of many car repair dramas! This little gem is what transfers the heat from the engine coolant into the passenger compartment, and that means it has hot water being pumped through it when in operation, and then, it sits, with no flow, for months at time, in some cases. This leads to corrosion, and leaks, and can only be cured by removing and replacing the heater core, which is located inside of a duct work and air box behind the dashboard. You will get to know your dashboard well, if you choose to to take this on yourself. A dash once removed is seldom ever the same, even when the pros do it. Oh, and did I mention that most of these procedures have to be performed while trying to stand on your head in the front seat of your car? A popular fix among backyard mechanics in a hurry is to bypass the heater core, by rerouting the heater hoses. This is not a very good idea in any climate where the windshield can fog up, seeing as there is hardly any defroster action without heat. A heater core should probably run about 75-100 dollars, although I haven't checked prices recently. A shop will charge anywhere from 250 up, including parts, to change out the core, depending on how depraved the owner is. I would suggest checking around to get some estimates, before taking this on yourself, and make sure that you have a maintenance manual for the specific year, make, and model, in your possession, before attempting this job.