Hi All,
I'm about to do the evap replacement on my 01 XJ, and I figured while I'm in there, may as well do the heater core replacement as well. I ordered a vistapro replacement one online, and it came in with what looks like a hole in the seam.

If I plug it up and blow in, there doesn't seem to be an air leak - totally primitive test, but just wanted to see if it was a full on hole.

My question is: is this a normal thing from welds, or should I return this product? I don't want to have to rip apart the dash numerous times if I can avoid it.

 

When I install heater cores or evaporators I use a hand vacuum pump on my bench and pull as much vacuum as I can >20Hg and watch the dial like a hawk. If there's no change after several minutes I'll throw them in. See if you can buy/borrow a hand pump and test it that way.

The connection is soldered together, not welded. The tube probably fits into a female sleeve and the solder, during the assembly is pulled into and around the sleeve, just like when you do copper water pipes. Personally, if it holds a strong vacuum I'd install it.