Heater core replacement - Which brand to buy?

[Mattty]

Hi,

After seeing a huge amount of heater core failure posts all over social media and forums over the last year or so, I've decided to do some preventative maintenance and replace the heater core in my 1997 940 while its off the road.

Can anyone recommend where to source a direct replacement? I can't see many options online, though I can see a lot that are in the US that are all metal construction as opposed to some with plastic end tanks which seems much better for obvious reasons.

Are the cores still available from Volvo - and at a reasonable cost - or is aftermarket the way to go? Also noticed that there is are different listing for AC and non-AC cars, does anyone know what the difference is in cores?

Thanks

[Laird Scooby]

Nissens - buy it from the UK for a RHD car, make sure you get one for air-coon if your car was/is equipped with air-con and if it isn't, make sure you get one for non-aricon.

Any you find in foreign lands will almost certainly be for LHD cars and won't fit!

[Rversteeg]

I replaced the original Volvo heater for a Nissens aluminium/plastic one and I still regret it. It gives much less heat than the original one and it is not just me who has this experience. I would have replaced it again for an OEM one if it wasn't so time consuming to get to it. If you are not relying on your car as a daily driver, I would recommend to have the original matrix refurbished instead of buying an aftermarket one.

[Mattty]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Nissens - buy it from the UK for a RHD car, make sure you get one for air-coon if your car was/is equipped with air-con and if it isn't, make sure you get one for non-aricon.

Any you find in foreign lands will almost certainly be for LHD cars and won't fit!

Is the difference in ac/non-ac to do with the fittings on the core or the box in the car where the heater core goes? I was actually pondering on removing the AC since I've never used it in any of my cars and I'm trying to tidy up the engine bay. If I removed it would I be able to use a non-AC version?

[Mattty]

Originally Posted by Rversteeg

I replaced the original Volvo heater for a Nissens aluminium/plastic one and I still regret it. It gives much less heat than the original one and it is not just me who has this experience. I would have replaced it again for an OEM one if it wasn't so time consuming to get to it. If you are not relying on your car as a daily driver, I would recommend to have the original matrix refurbished instead of buying an aftermarket one.

Thanks for the info, I didn't really know that refurbishing them was a thing - I'll look. I may just ring up Volvo and see how much they charge for a new one.

[Dippydog]

Yes there are many radiator re-coring companies up and down the country[and the heater matrix is only a small radiator]how the costs new v re-core would compare I don't know.

[Rversteeg]

An OEM matrix in Holland will cost about 240 Euro.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Mattty

Is the difference in ac/non-ac to do with the fittings on the core or the box in the car where the heater core goes? I was actually pondering on removing the AC since I've never used it in any of my cars and I'm trying to tidy up the engine bay. If I removed it would I be able to use a non-AC version?

You need the A/C version of the heater matrix. While you could remove certain components of the A/C system from the engine bay, you'd be better off keeping them and actually using the A/C, for example dry, conditioned hot air clears a foggy windscreen much quicker than damp, fresh air. If you've ever set your heater controls to the screen to clear it, you've probably found the fan comes on full and the A/C kicks in automatically. This is common practice.
Also in the summer when you need to cool down, it's more economical to use air-con with the windows shut than drive along with the widows open, creating a parachute effect.

That's the subject of a completely different thread though. Unless you're going to strip the dash out, replace your heater box with a manual one, find a heater control valve for a RHD car (they don't exist new!) and all else that entails including reworking the vacuum control system for your current HVAC controls and replacing with Bowden cables, you need to stick with what you've got and if you've got it, you may as well use it!

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Rversteeg

An OEM matrix in Holland will cost about 240 Euro.

For a LHD car Rob? Or for a RHD car?

[Rversteeg]

https://www.estateservices.nl/carros...rco-volvo.html

This is a LHD version with no. 1307236. Just to give you a rough idea about the price level of an OEM one for comparing with refurbishment. Refer to the attached page you will see that the RHD version unfortunately has a different no. (1307277, B column). I would definately go for refurbishing the old one. Should not be too difficult as it is completely oldfashioned soldered brass!