Just a little rant about the heater core

[Devin]

During my remodel of the car, I decided to beat time and install a new heater core. So I just wanted to take some time to say how ridiculously difficult this is. You have to take the entire dash off the car. You have to remove the instrument cluster, the steering column, every wire harness, every hose. It is so stupid! Why can you take it off from the other side? If I ever get this back together again I will be surprised.

Anyway, I got the dash almost removed. I stopped short of removing every bit of wire because I wouldn't get it back together if I did that. So now I'm just trying to remove the blower/heater assembly from the wall. Anyone have any pictures? The Chiltons has none for some insane reason. sigh

 

[DHMag]

vacuum a/c system
disconnect evap lines at firewall
unmount steering column from dash, lay in driver seat
remove speedo
unbolt dash
begin pulling passngr side of dash into seat, stopping to undo wiring/vacuum lines as needed
unbolt heater core box from firewall
replace heater core
assembly is reverse of removal

my total time was 6ish hours start to stop.

 

[Rockledge]

Some people have found this article/pictorial helpful, it's a regular Taurus involved but nonetheless it's all similar regarding the climate control stuff, the part relavant to your question begins on page 56 (or thereabouts):

http://www.geocities.com/jaromcall/taurus/

I believe the host site allows a limited # of views per day, so saving the file to your hardrive and/or printing it when you can is a good idea.

I've shared some of your pain, inasmuch as I "only" had to pull back the dash on my own SHO to replace the BDA, but that repair gave me a very good dose of you're going through. :banghd:

Good luck, HTH.

 

[SHOtime2511]

one word...bypass!!!!!!

 

[Devin]

Betcha can't guess which one of these heater cores was bypassed and I just replaced!

 

[platoribs]

one word...bypass!!!!!!

Fortunately I do not yet have to deal with this problem, however it seems like it would be prudent to know how to bypass the heater core if it becomes necessary.

Please elaborate. Thanks

 

[shofun93]

That looks like a copper heater core, tis tis, use AL it lasts much longer.