How to check the heater core in a 2002 Ford Taurus?

How do i check the heater core in a 2002 Ford Taurus?

If you smell antifreeze inside the car, then it's bad, if not, then it's still good

There are two hoses leading to the heater core from the engine under the hood… Both hoses should feel hot when the engine is warmed up. If one feels cooler or cold, then the core may be plugged up with rust and should be backflushed to clean it out if possible and adding a chemical flushing compound… Sold at parts stores… To help clean out the rust in the system.

In some cases, the core may be too plugged up and has to be replaced. Or the core may be leaking and must be replaced. A leaking core will show up as sweet smelling steam or moisture coming from the heater vents in the car or dripping from the HVAC drain tube and low coolant levels. Make sure to properly bleed air in the system when done with flushing or replacement of the core.

Some related links on how to flush the core and test…

Does it give heat OR NOT