Any of you guys do heater cores?

mischiefdart · Jun 20, 2017

I made the mistake of letting a guy I used to work for know I can do this kind of work. Now he calls me every time he gets it. The first time I do a particular vehicle is a challenge but I usually remember what fights me hard until I figure it out. This is a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

RedFish · Jun 20, 2017

Ah the memories, While I worked at a Ford dealership ( 88 thru 92 ), A couple of us had a time competition on the Mustang heater core R&R. Labor guide paid 8 hours. We got it down to about 57 minutes. Of course we vented the Freon rather than reclaim, along with many other shortcuts. Imagine pulling the dash to you sitting in the passengers seat, drop the heater case on your feet, reach over the dash to pull the heater core and chunk it out the door. Reach behind your seat for the new core and install it, case up again, shove the dash right back in place. Knowing exactly what tools needed and where every screw is so you can work blind takes practice. Some fun there but... since I was the only tech to work for the used car dept... feckin Grand Am, SS Monte Carlo, Nissan Pulsar NX, Volvo station wagon, all that crap landed on me. If I had a nickel for every snicker and "You aint done yet?" Good luck to you

67Dart273 · Jun 20, 2017

For "me," not for money LOL

Just changed one in a 98 Dakota. Looks pretty much like your photos.......tear out the seats for room, drop the column, argue with endless connectors, drop the dash out, then remove the heater/ AC box

Took me 20min at least to get the accumulator separated at the engine side firewall. There is no room back there on a Dakota to operate. Turns out the Durango I junked has a TXV, and all that bolts together rather than girdle spring connectors

mischiefdart · Jun 20, 2017

Of course once I have the whole thing apart I figured out if I just moved the dash out of the way instead of completely removed I could have gotten the core out. Live and learn.

adriver · Jun 20, 2017

Taking the cars apart is never contemplated when designed and built.
It isn't supposed to happen.

75slant6 · Jun 20, 2017

If I ever have to change the heater core on my 02 (2nd gen) cummins, it'll get a whole new dash to replace the typical, busted up dash and if I decide to replace the dash before then, it'll be getting a new heater core. Lol

jos51700 · Jun 20, 2017

adriver said:
Taking the cars apart is never contemplated when designed and built.
It isn't supposed to happen.

I typically agree with this statement, but I believe the engineers behind the first gen Dodge Neon did think about the other guy.
But I've never replaced a heater core on one.

The gen 2 neons can lick ma nutz.

diymirage · Jun 20, 2017

jos51700 said:
I typically agree with this statement, but I believe the engineers behind the first gen Dodge Neon did think about the other guy.
But I've never replaced a heater core on one.

The gen 2 neons can lick ma nutz.

You want an easy car to work on, get yourself a Saturn ion
My father in law had one, and kissed a telephone pole with it
Less then 3 hours to R&R both front fenders, the front bumper, the hood and both headlights...and that was my first time working on it

zkx14 · Jun 20, 2017

Holding with some sealant-added refrigerant at the moment, But not looking forward to the day I have to change the evaporator in my '05 Magnum... :BangHead:

adriver · Jun 20, 2017

jos51700 said:
I typically agree with this statement, but I believe the engineers behind the first gen Dodge Neon did think about the other guy.
But I've never replaced a heater core on one.

The gen 2 neons can lick ma nutz.

Well, I mean there are exceptions that prove every rule.
My wife had one of these when we got married.
I wore the engine out in it twice.
Over 100 on the original and 80 on the rebuild.
You could fix it with a screw driver and pair of pliers.
45 honest MPG.
But generally speaking we agree that cars are not made to take apart.

toolmanmike · Jun 20, 2017

RedFish said:
Ah the memories, While I worked at a Ford dealership ( 88 thru 92 ), A couple of us had a time competition on the Mustang heater core R&R. Labor guide paid 8 hours. We got it down to about 57 minutes. Of course we vented the Freon rather than reclaim, along with many other shortcuts. Imagine pulling the dash to you sitting in the passengers seat, drop the heater case on your feet, reach over the dash to pull the heater core and chunk it out the door. Reach behind your seat for the new core and install it, case up again, shove the dash right back in place. Knowing exactly what tools needed and where every screw is so you can work blind takes practice. Some fun there but... since I was the only tech to work for the used car dept... feckin Grand Am, SS Monte Carlo, Nissan Pulsar NX, Volvo station wagon, all that crap landed on me. If I had a nickel for every snicker and "You aint done yet?" Good luck to you

The used car tech gets all the gravy! :poke:

RustyRatRod · Jun 20, 2017

I used to do jobs like that all the time on the side. Then people got to where they wanted everything for free for one. Two, I went through my 40s and suddenly every bone in my body hurts. So screw that mess.

mischiefdart · Jun 20, 2017

RustyRatRod said:
I used to do jobs like that all the time on the side. Then people got to where they wanted everything for free for one. Two, I went through my 40s and suddenly every bone in my body hurts. So screw that mess.

I am in my 50's and still get around ok. Not at all ready for old and weak.

Jimacuda · Jun 21, 2017

He ter kore....heee tur corr...nope, not ringing a bell.

RustyRatRod · Jun 21, 2017

mischiefdart said:
I am in my 50's and still get around ok. Not at all ready for old and weak.

After doing alignment and suspension work for thirty years, my knees, ankles, hips and back are paying the price.

Dartswinger70 · Jun 21, 2017

Heater cores are allright if you are getting paid. If it says 8 hours in the book, you should get 8 times your hourly rate. Doing it for beer money is nonsense. Also warranty time is nonsense.

RedFish · Jun 21, 2017

RustyRatRod said:
I used to do jobs like that all the time on the side. Then people got to where they wanted everything for free for one. Two, I went through my 40s and suddenly every bone in my body hurts. So screw that mess.

Yeah I never had issue with being the family mechanic but when the salesmen and others wanted to bring their mother, brother, sister, cousin, neighbor vehicles to my driveway... I finally learned "just say no" would apply.
And the broken body thing came my way too. Today I take my own cars to the local garage for repairs. I recently found a place to get a heater core R&R if needed. Delaware is a bit far away though LOL. Again, Good luck to all.

jos51700 · Jun 21, 2017

F&#K flat rate.

Dartswinger70 · Jun 21, 2017

jos51700 said:
F&#K flat rate.

Agreed. It is one of the main reasons good technicians get out of the business.

jos51700 · Jun 21, 2017

Dartswinger70 said:
Agreed. It is one of the main reasons good technicians get out of the business.

Roger that.

And I could beat flat rate every time when I worked on Harleys. I still hate it.

ramenth · Jun 21, 2017

jos51700 said:
I typically agree with this statement, but I believe the engineers behind the first gen Dodge Neon did think about the other guy.
But I've never replaced a heater core on one.

The gen 2 neons can lick ma nutz.

Really? I had the dash out of one in fifteen minutes.

P-body GM's are the worst in my experience. The column doesn't drop. It sticks out of the dash. Then you have to pull the dash cover, pull the dash frame, and pull half the evaporator box to get to anything.

I refused to do early Taurus/Sable heater cores when I was at Ford. It was a stipulation when I took the job at one of the dealerships.

When I opened my shop my old boss at the same dealership dropped by for a visit. There sat a '93 Taurus with the dash pulled to the side and the heater core out.

He said, "I thought you didn't know how to do these."

"No, I didn't say I didn't know how, I said I refused to."

It really is no big deal. The car was back out the door in 45 minutes, and that was with the system flushed and bled.

The dealerships have a habit of pigeon holing techs. I know that once I did one of them, I'd be doing all of them.

MoparMike1974 · Jun 22, 2017

I just did an evaporator core in my 05 toyota 4-runner and went ahead and stuck in a new heater core while I was in there. Same deal, pull the entire dash, frame, drop column etc. It was a full day job. On an old mopar its a breeze once you have done it once.

mischiefdart · Jul 5, 2017

Well this Toyota was a bit more than I was expecting. Usually the dash comes out whole. Not on this Sienna

70Duster440 · Jul 5, 2017

Getting ready to do the heater core and evaporator on my Durango - and the intake plenum gasket fix at the same time. Yippeee!

Some engineers deserve a swift kick in he nuts.

67Dart273 · Jul 5, 2017

70Duster440 said:
Getting ready to do the heater core and evaporator on my Durango - and the intake plenum gasket fix at the same time. Yippeee!

Some engineers deserve a swift kick in he nuts.

Just did a 98 Dakota. If I wasn't so old it would not have been too bad

TIP: On my 98 the book lists two cores, one is twice as thick, mine had the small one which is tiny!!! I cut a plastic "finger" out of the bottom of the box and put the larger one right in!!