# 90 Corolla 1.6 capping/shunt heater core

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/90-corolla-1-6-capping-shunt-heater-core/52780>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** corolla, heating, toyota\
**Created:** [August 1, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/90-corolla-1-6-capping-shunt-heater-core/52780 "2010-08-01T00:07:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mxsurf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mxsurf/32/340_2.png) [@mxsurf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mxsurf)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/90-corolla-1-6-capping-shunt-heater-core/52780/1 "2010-08-01T00:07:51Z")

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the upper hose going to the firewall connects to a plastic gate valve with a wire cable controled by the temp slider lever on the dash.It’s starting a slow leak and I don’t need a heater so I want to cap it off. Should I cap the other end of this hose at the water distributor(for lack of the name) ? Also I have often wondered if there is a chemical which could be rubbed on the male metal stubs? to prevent rust BUT not be slippery for the radiator hose to clamp on. Maybe a rust coverter primer. Both my toyotas are 20 yrs old…thanks, Mike

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/90-corolla-1-6-capping-shunt-heater-core/52780/2 "2010-08-01T00:28:09Z")

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I don’t really like the idea of capping off the heater core but here’s how to do it. Just loop a piece of hose and clamp it to the heater core inlet and outlet. The remaining hoses from the engine need to be connected together with a plastic or metal coupler so that coolant can flow properly. You can pick up a straight coupler at most auto parts stores. The best course of action though is to repair the leak and leave the heater core operating as it should.

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**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 12:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/90-corolla-1-6-capping-shunt-heater-core/52780/3 "2010-08-01T12:00:32Z")

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Are you seriously that cheap that you won’t just get a heater control valve?  
FOUR SEASONS Part # 74637 $35 at [www.rockauto.com](http://www.rockauto.com) probably $10 at salvage yard.  
And the stubs will be brass no they won’t “rust”.