The heater began leaking hot water onto my right foot. When it failed, the entire interior of the car steamed up-----called for a few estimates, which ranged from $490--$625 !!!---I paid $2000 for the car, @ 145,000----now has 155,800, Since I live in San Diego,Ca.,(rarely use the heater, anyway) I decided to bypass the heater, and run the coolant hoses back into the engine block. I went to Home Depot and got a U shaped copper pipe. I disconnected the in and out hoses to the heater, from the firewall, and inserted the pipe, joining the in / out hoses and bypassing the heater. Hoses no longer go to firewall, they connect together, back into engine block------$500 + for a heater that doesn't get used, or less than $6 and you're back on the road-----A FIX?????---you decide!!!---I liked the results.