About to dive into Heater Core replacement...Any guides on dash removal?

As the title states, I'm going to replace my leaking heater core and went searching around without much luck for a comprehensive guide on removing the dash.

I've used this thread multiple times for getting trim pieces out and it's an absolute godsend, but finding information/photos on the passenger side of the dash seems much harder to come by.

Do any vets of the forums out there know of any secrets and/or helpful visuals for removing the rest of the dash? I'd hate to make a dumb mistake and break expensive to replace 25-year-old plastics.

Thanks!

 

It's a bear on any vehicle.

My tip that I try to get all the apprentices to do, is go the long way. If you think it has to come out, it does. Just remove it.

The steering wheel is 100% the first thing I remove. It takes up a lot of space and takes the weight off if you need to unbolt the steering column. Once it off I start taking things off in layers and keeping the fasteners with them.

Clamp off the heater core hoses as you take them off. It will leak. Then once the hoses are off, if you can shoot air into the old heater core it will evacuate the coolant, so when you pull the core out, it won't spill coolant on your carpet. You can and should plug them as best as you can once the hoses are off.

You need to discharge and remove AC lines if you have it.

The passenger air bag has to be unbolted and disconnected before removal. (if it has it)

Once the dash is out, it still remains hard. Take photos and come on here to ask help if you need it.

I haven't done an old Tacoma/4runner core in ages, but others have. Good luck!

 

Heck. Hope I don’t have to do this anytime soon, for no reason other than messing with the AC system. That’s a narp for me.

 

If splitting the hvac case is required, take your time doing it. You don't want to crack the plastic. If using an aftermarket heater core, don't expect it to fit perfectly, finagling may be required

 

Well shit...hope mine don't ever go out.

 

I just found this video which seems to be the most visually helpful so far:




Good news is he didn't have to discharge the AC!

 

It’s a lot of stuff to remove, but there’s no real trick to any of it. Just take your time, remove one piece at a time, and don’t force any of the plastic pieces.

I just pulled the entire interior out of a parts truck, first time I’ve removed a heater core but having everything out of the way was very helpful. Let me know if you need any of the parts or pieces.

 

man this would intimidate me but I would still go through with it. Just dont rush it. Make sure you are setting enough time aside for thie project if this is your daily driver. Good luck

 

Day 1 progress! Took about 3.5 hours. Got a bit past the point of this photo, the safety/crash bar thing is fully moveable and the steering rack is unbolted just dangling. Calling it here and going back in tomorrow.

 

People have been wishing for an easier design since...forever.
You have true patience.

 

It ain't too, bad done it three times now. Dash is like 45 mins to remove and the heater box is just some loosening and finagling. Don't make it harder than it needs to be and no you don't have to remove the AC evaporator if you don't want to

 

Got the sucker out! Think I identified the point of failure as well where the pipe meets the condenser - looks like some cracking.

 

Looks like a leak. Shame it's so hard to get to as that would prob. last forever if soldered back...probably.

 

Like it never even happened!

 

maybe it didn't...oooohhhhh. Mechanical Matrix.

Nice job

 

Wow great job! For us future folk that may have a heater core break in the future, what were your pain points? Anything in this job you thought was tuffer than the rest of the project?

I may consider peeking at this if I place some dampening material near the firewall. Cheers

 

Heater cores suck most of the time. The worst one I ever changed was in a 1994 Land Rover Discovery. OMFG. So bad. I fear no heater core after that!

 

I tracked my bolts using zip-loc baggies and labeling which helped a ton, but I got hung up on some wiring that I should have taken better note of. There was one connector that was mounted to the interior reinforcement I just for the life of could not remember where it went, but I was able to reference one of the photos I took and zoom in a bunch to get a good glimpse at it. If I had to do it again I would take a photo on my phone of every connector and wiring loom attachment point before I pop it off to go back to when reassembling.

Also I have no idea why, but there was this super annoying metal point that prevented my A/C controls from lining up with the mounting holes in the dash. No idea what it's purpose was but I took a pair of pliers and just bent it up and out of the way to finally get it to fit properly again. It looks like this:

 

I'll keep this in mind bud thanks!