MY THOUGHTS ON P38 HEATER CORE

The heater core for the P38 has a bad reputation for leaking coolant into the interior carpet.
The issue is the connection point between the heater core and the pipes that carry coolant from the engine and back to the engine depend on O-rings. When these O-Rings get old and dry out they fail.
There is a work around to not have to remove the entire dash to replace the O-Rings.
However this is a difficult job to line up the heater core and the pipes.
Another solution is the put a heater core from an older Audi. There are 2 choices. The Nissen 70220 and the 70230.
I used the 70230 for mine. I had to remove the entire heater core and therefor had to remove dash. My heater core had broken and it was not the O-Ring issue.
I prefer the Nissen heater core for it's tubes that leave the heater core and allows coolant hoses.
A 3/4 inch hose will run from the heater core and attach to the metal pipes in the engine bay. This removes the original metal pipes that run through the firewall.

[@Bavvo69]

100%. I had a long term leak from the O rings that also ultimately caused engine issues from overheating (no low coolent warning sensor either ). Swapped for an alternative core unit with custom hose clamps and it never gave problems again.

[@bpmail1]

In my opinion you are right.. is a weak connection the original one.. with just one small bolt and rigid conection!
This morning i'm greatings Xmas making my heater core job

[@Jeff-rg9io]

Just replaced my heater core, wish I saw this before, another point with the original heater core is there is a small slot in the pipes when fitting the pipes to the core that need to be fitted properly.

[@tonyrangeroverp3852]

Great very, thank you. Very helpful 👌

[@СергейПоддубный-к2ъ]

Good day! Tell me, does the size of the radiator from Audi fit into the heater without modifications?

[@yh-yd8ku]

Thank you for great vid.
I feel that there is a big difference between the parts that are well thought out in various parts of p38 and the parts that wonder why this is such a cheap idea.
I thought that fixing this heater core with only one screw was only in the direction of leakage.
If you think about it normally, it is natural to make it a plug-in type.

[@cltrovers]

If you look at a lot of the parts they are not made by Land Rover but simply 3rd parties. The HVAC system mostly made by Valeo. Most likely Land Rover gave Valeo the size dimensions of the P38 to work with and said make us a HVAC system. What went wrong is Land Rover should have said the design is no good and make a better design.

[@bernardmccann7676]

Great video can you put make and part number up and did you have to remove dash to replace

[@cltrovers]

I used the Nissen 70230....Yes I had to remove the dash. There is a work around to replace the O-rings that does not require removing the dash but to replace the heater core you need to remove the dash.

[@bernardmccann7676]

@@cltrovers fantastic thank you for reply hope I can get one here in nz

[@calvinbeamon3338]

Just watched your video and excellent replacement of core! So did you disguard the original pipes and just run heater hose directly to the opposite connection points?

[@cltrovers]

yes, works fine....even with the temp sensor that attaches to the pipe there is no issue with it connecting to a hose. Also much easier to run hoses than to line up the pipes so they are in the exact location to attached to the heater core

[@calvinbeamon3338]

@@cltrovers thanks for communicating back on this subject. I’ll buy this unit and pull out the old unit has I’m sure it’s the original. But I’m going to pull the whole dash so not to mess up the duct work. 😂😂😂

[@mushipc]

Thanks for this video. My P38 is been parked at garage for almost a year now, replaced heater Core O rings and leaked right away wasn't sure what was the cause but now I understand the alignment of those two pipes needs to be exact. I still do not have it fixed will attempt aligning them again. It keeps leaking around the Screw especially when its tightened more. Keeps me wondering is it possible that I have a bad Heater core?

[@cltrovers]

Not sure hard to say....I had the same issue the first time I replaced the heater core with and original Land Rover one.

[@conrad1468]

Excellent solution. That design is terrible. Do you think this would work in a D1? I know mine leaks but never took it all apart.

[@cltrovers]

not sure....I've never owned or worked on a D1

[@PepperWagner]

Nissens 70230

[@cltrovers]

been a while side I did this...sold the P38 a few years back