Heater Core

[eric99gt]

I think my heater core is leaking in my 2.5 olds. I parked it and went inside, came back out about an hour later and there was a puddle under my car. Opened the hood and enough leaked out that my whole reservoir was empty. I looked for where it was leaking from and I could see a wet spot back by the firewall on the passenger side. Now my question. Do you need to run the coolant through the heater core? Can you just bypass it? I was thinking about getting one of those heaters you just plug in and use that for the winter time. Is there any negatives too this or is it even feasible? It may be a dumb idea lol. It's just that I don't want to waste much more money on this car because i'll be getting rid of it next summer and was looking for a quick fix.
Thanks guys.

[twoxland]

if u bypass the heater core u wont have any heat other than that therer isnt any effect that i know of do u have any coolant coming into the cab area?

[eric99gt]

no coolant in the cab area. I can do without the heat. It barely worked last winter. I'll just get a little 12V plug in heater.

[geoffinbc]

A heater core will be like $30 to $50... Would be a good thing to have when you sell it too.

If there is no leaking on the inside then I highly doubt the core is to blame. Probably the hoses or hose clamps.