Video How To: 90-96 Heater core replacement without dash removal.
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Video How To: 90-96 Heater core replacement without dash removal.
I do a lot of these how to videos, basically any time I do something, I show how it's done. Well the heater core was leaking in my 92 and I wanted to show how it's done.
After doing this job, I fully recommend taking the radio controller and the secondary fuse block out from under the dash, it's required for the reinstall and would have made the removal so much easier.
After doing this job, I fully recommend taking the radio controller and the secondary fuse block out from under the dash, it's required for the reinstall and would have made the removal so much easier.
The following 3 users liked this post by JC316:
#3
Racer
Thread Starter
At least it's done now, I have heat for the winter.
#4
Safety Car
Member Since: Jan 2004
Location: Northern California
Posts: 3,783
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Awesome, video!...
I was waiting for someone to document this procedure on the 90-96 C4 Vettes!...Thank you!
Two questions,...was that plastic pipe you cut, easy to splice or was that a pain too?...Does that pipe connect to the AC vent?...
.
I was waiting for someone to document this procedure on the 90-96 C4 Vettes!...Thank you!
Two questions,...was that plastic pipe you cut, easy to splice or was that a pain too?...Does that pipe connect to the AC vent?...
.
Last edited by GKK; 10-18-2014 at 01:15 PM.
#6
Racer
Thread Starter
I figure if that tape is good enough to seal the heater in the attic of my house, it should be fine for the HVAC in a car.
Thank you.
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HAWAIIZR-1 (01-26-2023)
#9
Racer
Thread Starter
#11
Instructor
Airbag instructions
So I replaced my core this weekend and have a couple of tips for the passenger side airbag.
Because there's no glovebox the dash pad has to come off and the airbag has to go as well.
I cut the zip ties on the wire harness and disconnected all the conectors.
Remove the lower dashboard support. Two nuts on the left and two bolts on the right. 10mm
Unscrew the air duct on the passenger side and middle vent. Screws are on the back side. 7mm
Push the duct work back and pull up a little. This will give access to the top screw so you don't have to cut the duct like in the video. Remove the bottom while your there.
Remove the passenger window defrost vent so you can pull the tubing off the horizontal duct that was cut.
Remove the other four shinny screws that hold the heater cover on. The top ones are now accessible because of all the crap you removed.
I used a ten inch socket extension on the screwdriver socket handle and
unscrewed them straight through the dash. No gymnastics involved.
Put the passenger side duct back in original position. Grab the horizontal tube and pull towards you to clear the heater cover. Once clear pull the right side of the tube down till it clears the hole.
Pull the heater cover down and wiggle out slowly. There's another hose on the left side on the horizontal tube. Remove it before you pull the cover out. Make a not of the cover position at this point because you will need to reconnect it during reassembly.
During reassembly an ice pick is helpful to get the holes lined up. Use the tape the screws to the socket trick, works great. I could not get the top left screw back in but it doesn't seem to matter. The angle is just not there and I was tired. Also the bracket at the top right that holds the core in has to come out but I could not get it back in. It was the only part that I was working blind on.
So the short suggestion is take the time to remove everything you can. You will have a little flex room to move things around and you can go straight at the cover screws without going upside down. Oh yeah take the seat out it will give you room to work. Hope this helps.
Because there's no glovebox the dash pad has to come off and the airbag has to go as well.
I cut the zip ties on the wire harness and disconnected all the conectors.
Remove the lower dashboard support. Two nuts on the left and two bolts on the right. 10mm
Unscrew the air duct on the passenger side and middle vent. Screws are on the back side. 7mm
Push the duct work back and pull up a little. This will give access to the top screw so you don't have to cut the duct like in the video. Remove the bottom while your there.
Remove the passenger window defrost vent so you can pull the tubing off the horizontal duct that was cut.
Remove the other four shinny screws that hold the heater cover on. The top ones are now accessible because of all the crap you removed.
I used a ten inch socket extension on the screwdriver socket handle and
unscrewed them straight through the dash. No gymnastics involved.
Put the passenger side duct back in original position. Grab the horizontal tube and pull towards you to clear the heater cover. Once clear pull the right side of the tube down till it clears the hole.
Pull the heater cover down and wiggle out slowly. There's another hose on the left side on the horizontal tube. Remove it before you pull the cover out. Make a not of the cover position at this point because you will need to reconnect it during reassembly.
During reassembly an ice pick is helpful to get the holes lined up. Use the tape the screws to the socket trick, works great. I could not get the top left screw back in but it doesn't seem to matter. The angle is just not there and I was tired. Also the bracket at the top right that holds the core in has to come out but I could not get it back in. It was the only part that I was working blind on.
So the short suggestion is take the time to remove everything you can. You will have a little flex room to move things around and you can go straight at the cover screws without going upside down. Oh yeah take the seat out it will give you room to work. Hope this helps.
The following users liked this post:
HAWAIIZR-1 (01-26-2023)
#12
Instructor
So I replaced my core this weekend and have a couple of tips for the passenger side airbag.
Because there's no glovebox the dash pad has to come off and the airbag has to go as well.
I cut the zip ties on the wire harness and disconnected all the conectors.
Remove the lower dashboard support. Two nuts on the left and two bolts on the right. 10mm
Unscrew the air duct on the passenger side and middle vent. Screws are on the back side. 7mm
Push the duct work back and pull up a little. This will give access to the top screw so you don't have to cut the duct like in the video. Remove the bottom while your there.
Remove the passenger window defrost vent so you can pull the tubing off the horizontal duct that was cut.
Remove the other four shinny screws that hold the heater cover on. The top ones are now accessible because of all the crap you removed.
I used a ten inch socket extension on the screwdriver socket handle and
unscrewed them straight through the dash. No gymnastics involved.
Put the passenger side duct back in original position. Grab the horizontal tube and pull towards you to clear the heater cover. Once clear pull the right side of the tube down till it clears the hole.
Pull the heater cover down and wiggle out slowly. There's another hose on the left side on the horizontal tube. Remove it before you pull the cover out. Make a not of the cover position at this point because you will need to reconnect it during reassembly.
During reassembly an ice pick is helpful to get the holes lined up. Use the tape the screws to the socket trick, works great. I could not get the top left screw back in but it doesn't seem to matter. The angle is just not there and I was tired. Also the bracket at the top right that holds the core in has to come out but I could not get it back in. It was the only part that I was working blind on.
So the short suggestion is take the time to remove everything you can. You will have a little flex room to move things around and you can go straight at the cover screws without going upside down. Oh yeah take the seat out it will give you room to work. Hope this helps.
Because there's no glovebox the dash pad has to come off and the airbag has to go as well.
I cut the zip ties on the wire harness and disconnected all the conectors.
Remove the lower dashboard support. Two nuts on the left and two bolts on the right. 10mm
Unscrew the air duct on the passenger side and middle vent. Screws are on the back side. 7mm
Push the duct work back and pull up a little. This will give access to the top screw so you don't have to cut the duct like in the video. Remove the bottom while your there.
Remove the passenger window defrost vent so you can pull the tubing off the horizontal duct that was cut.
Remove the other four shinny screws that hold the heater cover on. The top ones are now accessible because of all the crap you removed.
I used a ten inch socket extension on the screwdriver socket handle and
unscrewed them straight through the dash. No gymnastics involved.
Put the passenger side duct back in original position. Grab the horizontal tube and pull towards you to clear the heater cover. Once clear pull the right side of the tube down till it clears the hole.
Pull the heater cover down and wiggle out slowly. There's another hose on the left side on the horizontal tube. Remove it before you pull the cover out. Make a not of the cover position at this point because you will need to reconnect it during reassembly.
During reassembly an ice pick is helpful to get the holes lined up. Use the tape the screws to the socket trick, works great. I could not get the top left screw back in but it doesn't seem to matter. The angle is just not there and I was tired. Also the bracket at the top right that holds the core in has to come out but I could not get it back in. It was the only part that I was working blind on.
So the short suggestion is take the time to remove everything you can. You will have a little flex room to move things around and you can go straight at the cover screws without going upside down. Oh yeah take the seat out it will give you room to work. Hope this helps.