Gransport Heater core options?

[Chimaera500]

Just a few weeks into Gransport ownership and suspect that I may be looking at a replacement heater core very soon No secondary issues showing up, but have noticed a fair bit of fogging on the screen after a long run when the car has been parked up for a few mins. Unusual I think, for a warm sunny day in August. Everything else appears to be bone dry (carpets, behind the head unit etc).......Suspect this may be the very early signs of a leak and time for some preventative maintenance!

Will most probably do the core bypass now, whilst I make a plan of attack for the repair.

Question I have is, whats the general advice on selecting a replacement core? I have seen both Saab and Alfa items used, but I spotted this one the other day. Wondering if anyone else has fitted a copper/ brass core in place of the Alu unit. Planning for this car to be around for a good while so in the grand scheme of things I dont mind paying a little extra for a fixed forever solution.

What do you guys think, worth the extra over a regular core?
Interested to hear if anyone else has fitted one of these or something similar.

http://www.motoradsonline.co.uk/products/Maserati-Spyder-Coupe-4200-Heater-matrix.html

Cheers,

Matt.

 

[77GR]

This may well not be a heater core leaking issue. Instead it is likely to be the air con evaporator failing to drain properly (blocked drain). When you park up after a run where you used the air con the water that condensed on the evaporator element will pool in the bottom of the HVAC and when you restart it immediately evaporates again straight onto the windscreen. Check if your perceived fogging only happens when your run involves the air con switched on. A car that has the drain under the evaporator working properly will naturally produce a small puddle when idling for a few minutes on a warm day with the air con running.

 

[conaero]

Wet passenger mat is the indicator of core failure, of not you have a blocked drain. Clear that first as it can back up and flow over the top and wet the mat too

 

[Gazcw]

Wet passenger mat is the indicator of core failure, of not you have a blocked drain. Clear that first as it can back up and flow over the top and wet the mat too

Or too long between stops!

 

[Chimaera500]

OK, have now tested with the air con turned off = zero mist. Air con turned on = mist when car parked for a few mins.

I then checked the AC drain although I was certain I was going to find it clear as the car has just been in for a service with Ash at Sportsitalia. Drain was indeed all clear!
So, looks like its just the condensate that gathers on the AC rad, evaporating from the the heater core heat. Thanks to 77GR and Conaero for the info!

Following a bit of passenger foot well yoga, I can see that that all else underneath is bone dry. Happy

Havent seen this quite so much in other cars so immediately thought it might be the core given how often screen mist is mentioned as a common symptom. Air con is really ice cold though which is great

 

[jasst]

I did the heater filter last year, cleaned out the drain, and modified the pipe as in the thread on here after getting a wet foot every time I went round a right hand bend, **** me if it didn't do it again on a drive a couple of weeks ago, thought the worst, about heater core, but definitely clear tasteless liquid, so looked at the drain again, and lo and behold a small piece of crud was blocking the pipe, guess it must have evaded capture last time! hopefully sorted now, wil find out on Sunday when we go for another spirited drive around Exmoor.