My apologies, posted twice. Thought first post had not been successful.

The plastic tubes that attach the rubber hoses to the heater core that sits under the dash are brittle and one has broken. Does anyone know whats involved in replacing these plastic tubes. Here is hoping I can pull the old ones out using pliers and then insert new ones with new o-rings working in the engine bay. Really hoping for some info and hoping I dont need to dismantle the dashboard

Cheers
John

Its a dash-out job, I had to get mine replaced last year. Replaced the core, pipes and o-rings, but the heater pipes were the culprits as they became brittle and snapped when I was replacing the heater hoses. There's no real easy way to get around it without taking the dash out.

http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/roodood1/media/20131110_130944_zpsbf72949b.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/roodood1/media/20131110_130944_zpsbf72949b.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Nope dash board has to come out.

If you do it, replace the seals while you are there.

is this a common problem with the 3rd gens? I have had quiet a few 2nd gens and never had a heater core problem, I have a TF that needs the heater core replaced.

is this a common problem with the 3rd gens? I have had quiet a few 2nd gens and never had a heater core problem, I have a TF that needs the heater core replaced.

Yes, it is a relatively common issue with 3rd gens.

Yes, it is a relatively common issue with 3rd gens.

Sounds like Mitsubishi was going down the cheap parts path to save money

Not really, Mitsubishi used rubber seals, I could understand if they used cork or something but they didnt, they couldn't have improved there too much.

The plastic elbows generally only break when they are either oven tightened or rust/corrosion in the cooling system sets in and softens the plastic, if the system is kept spotless you would probably get more life out of them.

But yes, the core is a common problem but also an easy fix too though.

Not really, Mitsubishi used rubber seals, I could understand if they used cork or something but they didnt, they couldn't have improved there too much.

The plastic elbows generally only break when they are either oven tightened or rust/corrosion in the cooling system sets in and softens the plastic, if the system is kept spotless you would probably get more life out of them.

But yes, the core is a common problem but also an easy fix too though.

Ripping the dash out doesn't sound like an easy fix, but I guess once you've done it once its not too bad, its just the thought of doing it

I thought this was a common fault, so much so that the parts available from Mitsubishi to fix this issue are revised such that it doesn't happen again?

I thought this was a common fault, so much so that the parts available from Mitsubishi to fix this issue are revised such that it doesn't happen again?

something that would result in much better lifespan would be if the plastic elbows were made of metal. after the O rings start to give out, you can be sure that those elbows will be brittle. mike and i found that out when we did mine.