90 heater core leaking into cab....

[Ramcharger90]

90 heater core leaking, into cab and down the fire wall in the engine bay. So do I need to pull the dash or the airbox in the engine bay? I have it looped rn since the truck is suppose to go for exhaust in less than 24hrs.

 

[RonD]

No, you don't need to pull the dash

Pretty easy to change the core.
Under the glove box toward center hump is the bottom of the heater core box
There are 4, I think, 8mm screws at the 4 corners, one is up higher behind glove box, if you fold glove box down all the way you can see it

Remove the screws and bottom of the box comes off
Remove heater hoses
Put a towel down in the cab
Pull core back and tilt it to get it out, some coolant can spill out when tilting it


To make heater cores last longer reverse the hoses at the firewall every few years, that reverses the flow thru the core and helps keep them cleaner
And change coolant, lol.
Heater cores get leaks when passages get blocked and coolant can no longer circulate thru that passage, so no anti-corrosion chemicals protecting that area and you get corrosion and leaks

 

[Ramcharger90]

No, you don't need to pull the dash

Pretty easy to change the core.
Under the glove box toward center hump is the bottom of the heater core box
There are 4, I think, 8mm screws at the 4 corners, one is up higher behind glove box, if you fold glove box down all the way you can see it

Remove the screws and bottom of the box comes off
Remove heater hoses
Put a towel down in the cab
Pull core back and tilt it to get it out, some coolant can spill out when tilting it


To make heater cores last longer reverse the hoses at the firewall every few years, that reverses the flow thru the core and helps keep them cleaner
And change coolant, lol.
Heater cores get leaks when passages get blocked and coolant can no longer circulate thru that passage, so no anti-corrosion chemicals protecting that area and you get corrosion and leaks

Sounds simple enough. Ill have too order one. Thanks

 

[Bird76Mojo]

That's one of the best things about the older Rangers. The ease of replacing the heater core. Just a handful of bolts and the job is done. Instead of spending a day or two removing an entire dash. Or like my buddies Jeep, removing the entire dash AND disconnecting the A/C system and having to pay to get that serviced afterwards..

 

[Ramcharger90]

That's one of the best things about the older Rangers. The ease of replacing the heater core. Just a handful of bolts and the job is done. Instead of spending a day or two removing an entire dash. Or like my buddies Jeep, removing the entire dash AND disconnecting the A/C system and having to pay to get that serviced afterwards..

I know I had the old one out in 30 mins and took 15 mins to put the new one in and funnel filled it so there was less air in it. It takes me longer to find my tools im still in the process of cleaning up the garage and my tool box has been out of room years ago.

 

[Ramcharger90]

No, you don't need to pull the dash

Pretty easy to change the core.
Under the glove box toward center hump is the bottom of the heater core box
There are 4, I think, 8mm screws at the 4 corners, one is up higher behind glove box, if you fold glove box down all the way you can see it

Remove the screws and bottom of the box comes off
Remove heater hoses
Put a towel down in the cab
Pull core back and tilt it to get it out, some coolant can spill out when tilting it


To make heater cores last longer reverse the hoses at the firewall every few years, that reverses the flow thru the core and helps keep them cleaner
And change coolant, lol.
Heater cores get leaks when passages get blocked and coolant can no longer circulate thru that passage, so no anti-corrosion chemicals protecting that area and you get corrosion and leaks

You should add this to the tech articles the 8mm is correct and thats basically the whole process.I would add funnel fill the core after its in the fire wall