Heater Core Replacement

Recently my heater core has gone out. blows cold air on heat or AC and a small leak under the passenger dash. As I am a college student and work full time it is hard to find time to do the repair so has anyone done one themselves and can direct me to a guide or give any tips. or if you had someone else do it can you recommend a reasonable price. Thanks.

 

Link to what is involved. It's on a 3rd Gen 4Runner which is almost identical to the first Gen Tacoma. Definitely looks like a PITA to do.

 

Your whole dash has to come out. That’s the nature of most if not all heater core repairs. Luckily removing the dash isn’t as difficult on these trucks.

 

I think heater core is step one in vehicle building. One guy holds the heater core and another guy starts to build a truck around it.

 

Uh, a leaking heater core will still make heat as long as it's not plugged up. Leaking coolant and then having no heat out of the heater is the 1st sign that you have no coolant in the motor and the motor is about to seize.

 

You have confirmed it’s coolant leaking in the cab? Make sure the valve is open when you put the heat on(can’t remember if on the 1st if it’s still on the fire wall where the coolant lines go into the cab). Hopefully it is.

 

If you don't have time to fix the heater core or don't need heat, an easy and temporary way to fix it is simply bypassing the VSV and the heater core loop. You basically just take a heater hose and bypass all of the heater core infrastructure in the engine bay.

 

Matt, that’s awesome. I actually laughed out loud at that one.

 

On these trucks when the setting is on cold (heater valve closed) does coolant not still circulate through the core? I know when I’ve felt of the hoses the one on the opposite side of the valve is still hot even when it’s closed or set to cold. One would assume if the valve is closed that no coolant is circulating through the core?

 

Welcome to my Nightmare!! Actually it wasn't as bad as it looks, the biggest PITA was getting the speedometer cable connected back, there is almost no slack in the cable or room to get your arm behind it to make the connection. I did end up with a couple of spare screws also.

 

Good job!

 

no thanks!!!