Like the title says, I'd like to know if this is a good company for heater cores? Cause' I'm torn between an OEM which retails for $280 (which I can't afford) or a Spectra Premium for $110. You guys think I'll be making a mistake, if I were to go with the Spectra premium.
Thanks.

 

imo i would just go with that, the price of an OEM heater core is outrageous to say the least. Not sure where you got 110 dollars for the spectra premium though, its 32 dollars on rockauto.

 

http://www.spectrapremium.com/products/heaters.html

 

Did you check on Acura Automotive Parts for the best deal on an OEM Honda one?

 

We use Spectra heater cores all the time, no probems so far, we also get cores from...
http://www.usaradiator.com/ 94

 

I found an oem one on hondaautomotiveparts.com for $271 shipped.

 

Yeah true! But I don't plan on doing this again any time soon, by using crappy parts, which a lot of these guys sell. I mean come on, everyone seems to wanna take your money and run in the auto and autoparts business.

 

again, spectra heater cores are 32 dollars through rockauto

 

I picked up a used heater core unit off eBay for like $50 I believe. The plastic unit enclosure was damaged when I got it, so the seller refunded $20 to me. I didn't need that, as I only harvested the brass heater core and transplanted it into my original core enclosure. So it ended up costing me only $30 and haven't had any problems since. That was 2008 when I replaced it.

 

We have Spectra cores in probably 200 cars over the last 3 years or so, not one has come back with a problem, we also use their A/C filter/dryers, condensers, even a rad or two.

I have had more OEM parts come back then any Spectra part, maybe they just sell a good product without gouging you for it like a lot of OEM dealers do. 94

 

Thanks. Only problem, they seem to have a different picture of the Heater core than Spectra Premium themselves. Rock auto has a copper fin unit as opposed to Spectra's all aluminum unit. So, that's why I'm a little skeptical about Rock auto's unit.

 

they are all legit parts if you wondering, sometimes the pictures arent exact either, half my car is built with parts from rock auto lol

 

Copper? Aluminum? Honda heater cores are made of brass, which is soft as crap. I replaced mine because I crushed the pipes trying to get the hoses off with channel-lock pliers. I almost did the same thing on our Corolla but managed to round out the pipes on its original core by sticking needle nose pliers into the pipes and twisting it around.

Be careful trying to get those hoses off.

 

lol i did the exact same thing to mine when changing my hose, its gona be time to replace that with a spectra from rock auto over the summer, i can feel it, i have a phantom coolant leak somewhere and all i can figure is that its dumping from the heater core drain tube every few days.

 

Thanks. I just cut them off, with the intention of replacing all.