Folks, just found this site but very cool. Lots of know how on here.

Looking for some advice. I have a 99 F 150 and the heater core is gone. It is being replaced right know and after doing some reading on this site I was smart enough to ask about electrolysis. The garage confrimed that there was electrolysis in the coolant.

Up until about two weeks ago, the truck had no after market electronics on it. I recently had trailer brakes installed by the same garage. Shortly after (a couple days) I had the trailer brakes installed I began to smell antifreeze in the cab. It took a couple more days and then the probelm became much worse. My question is this.

I know that electrolysis can cause premature heater core failure but, how long does it take? The heater core is being replaced today and they will look for a poor ground. Is it possible that the installation of the brakes caused the heater core to go or is it just coincidence. Originally I was thinking that it would take a long time for electrolysis to affect the heater core but the more I read, the less I am sure. Any input would be great. Thanks

Tod

 

It takes sometime, moe than a few weeks anyway. If you kep the cooling system serviced at some kind of regular interval you should not run into any real problems. I the trailer system was installed professionally and was hooked into the trucks existing trailer electronics I would not think you would have a problem from it

 

Thanks for the feedback.

Know my next question, I went ahead and got the heater core fixed, ouch. When I got my truck back my airbag light was on. When I discussed with the service manager he felt that what they did had nothing to do with it (even though my entire dash including airbags and sensors were removed), but he is going to replace the sensor at a reduced rate to keep my business. What do you folks think?

 

Read the code and find put what the problem is. Turn on the key and count the flashes. The sensors never leave the body of the truck. They are disconnected from the dash for just that reason. The only air bag that is removed it the passenger side. The driver side is disconnected.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

I would say that the tech that did the heater core caused the airbag light to come on. What part are they saying that they are replacing? Either they forgot to plug something back in, or they pinched a wire somewhere during the reassembly.