Well my truck has had a bad burning coolant smell for over a year now and it's finally pissing coolant. I am pretty sure it's the heater core so I found one on rock auto for $40 shipped to my door. Been watching some videos and stuff looks like a big job. I have done fairly extensive audio stuff on this and other trucks so tearing into the dash will be fine. The AC removal is gonna be new to me. Any tips for doing this job fellas?

 

Has anyone else tackled this job?

 

Removing the dash is most of the battle

 

Yeah that's the feel I get. I ordered a cheap $35 unit off of rock auto. It's the same unit sold from autozone for twice the price so I am hoping it works okay.

 

I am in the middle of doing this right now. I too ordered a core from Rock Auto. As of now I have replaced the core, got hvac case back in, coolant filled up and bled. I have tested the heat and all blend doors with my dash still out to make sure everything works before putting it all back together.

While I was at it I replaced the Tstat, some hoses and clamps, my truck is a NBS early 2000 ECSB.

I'm a refrigeration mechanic by trade so I had all the tools to recover the refrigerant. Today I'm going to put it all back together and get the A/C charged back up.

You should probably replace the heater core fittings, mine were brittle and cracked when I removed them from the core.....

 

Damn dude. I don't think I will tear it down quite as far as you did. I am hoping to knock it out in about 6hours total. Seen a few guys do it leaving most of the dash in place. I would take a look at my fittings as well. Mine is an early 2000 ECSB as well.

 

Yup its a little bit of work. If i remember correctly you dont have to split the whole case open. Above the heater core where the tubes com out there is a cover that comes off and you can pull the heater core straight out. Of course the case still has to come out just to clarify lol.

 

Good Tip on the Plastic fittings!!!

There usually fairly brittle from all the heat cycles due to the age of these trucks.

 

[QUOTE=gamble686;5259283]Damn dude. I don't think I will tear it down quite as far as you did. I am hoping to knock it out in about 6hours total. Seen a few guys do it leaving most of the dash in place. I would take a look at my fittings as well. Mine is an early 2000 ECSB as well.[/QUOTE

It actually wasn't that bad....off the top of my head you will need a 5.5, 7, 10, 13, 14, and 21mm and a small e-torx if you pull the wheel, and a Phillips screwdriver....

 

Yeah, in a pinch you could just slide the heater hose over the heater core pipe stubs and clamp them directly not using the fittings at all....