• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

'95 + Heater core... What a PITA!!!!


Southern3.0

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
699
City
New Port Nowhere FL
Vehicle Year
'96
Transmission
Manual
So I finally got around to changing my heater core today. There's really nothing to hard about changing it out, but it's a real pain in the ass. The write up in the tech Library describes it as a nightmare, I'd say time consuming is more like it, it took me about 4 hrs.

The write up in the library is a huge help, there are a few steps that you don't need to do though, you don't need to pull the steering wheel from the column but the column dose need to come out, the gauge cluster and trim around it can stay, and I suggest pulling the steering column before trying to pry apart the big plug monster in the drivers foot area.

I think the hardest part was the nut holding the heater box to firewall right above the tranny and behind the engine. Over all its not that hard of a job, so if you need to replace yours and not sure if you can do it, its not that bad just be ready to spend some time working on it.
 
Did your core actually corrode through? Crack a seam?

Oh well, overall the Ranger's not too bad to work on, esp. compared to just about ANY FWD vehicle.
 
ive rarely had any major trouble working on any FWD vehicles....with the exception of 2.5 contours/cougars. my escorts are friggin gravy....i havnt found a hard R&R on those cars yet.

4 hours is really good for a "noob" you done good southern.
 
I really couldn't see why it was leaking because the leak was between the fins, it was covered in an orange rusty residue tho, when I bought the truck the overflow tank was full of some kind if rusty nastiness and the rad a had plain water it in it so....

Ether way there's fresh coolant in the system and I have working heater now so I'm pretty happy. And I'm with Wicked on the FWD cars, there are some that are a real bitch but for the most part there not that bad. If you wanna see something really rough to work on go take a look under the hood of the new Super duty trucks :fie:
 
those aint so bad after you unbolt the cab and lift it off the frame :D

no doubt, mine is cramped inside...

08_SD_engine.JPG
 
it was a regular thing by the time i left the ford shop to see a 6.4 truck sitting on the ground under its cab on a hoist. you cant do nothing to those things without lifting the cab. the EGR systems are crap. the turbo control systems are crap. and the injectors are crap :sad:
 
yeah i did my heater core right on mothers day....(mom was'nt to happy) i took my time and had it done in 2 days cause i did'nt know u had to pull the WHOLE FRIGGIN DASH!!!!! until i went on here and looked into the tech libary. I think the hardest part was the plug monster.
Yeah i heard about those super duties....pulling the body off the frame does not sound fun at ALL!!
 
Plug monster isn't that bad, a screw driver with a 90* bend it in make quick work of it, that and I pulled the column first so it gave me more room to work with.

Well worth the effort though, I new the heater core was bypassed when I bought the truck last spring and figured no big deal, I'll just wear a sweat shirt. Found out how nice a heater really is.

Pulling the cab from one of those trucks cant be that bad, it just nuts and bolts :D
 
Last edited:

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

TRS Events

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Ranger Adventure Video

TRS Merchandise

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Sponsors


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Sponsored Ad

Back
Top