replace heater core in 93 ranger

[georgedwilson]

Can anyone give me step by step directions on how to replace the hater core in my 93 ranger?

 

[JeffWS]

Drain the radiator.

Disconnect heater hoses.

Under dash at plenum assenbly, remove 4 screws for the access panel.

Remove core.

 

[MrE_Powers]

Drain the radiator.

Disconnect heater hoses.

Under dash at plenum assenbly, remove 4 screws for the access panel.

Remove core.

it really is that easy btw

 

[fastpakr]

Also, pulling the glove box out makes it a tad easier to remove the 4 screws. I haven't looked on my '94's, but on the 1st gen trucks all you had to do was open the box and squeeze the sides, then it just popped right out.

I've done this by flashlight in perhaps 20 minutes. The hardest thing about it is disconnecting the coolant hoses.

 

[cocoasranger]

it really is that easy btw

Don't worry. Ford rectified this oversight in later models.

 

[beaujt]

On my 93 ranger it took me a grand total of an hour to drive to checkers, buy the heater core, drive back and put it in... start to finish. 4 screws and 2 hoses. Easiset one i have ever seen in my life, couldn't believe it! Just right behind the glove box. If you pull the hoses off before you pull the cover off inside the heater core practically falls out by itself(at least for me it did). Toughest part was getting the hoses hooked back up good enough

 

[XLTbeater]

Resurrecting the Thread

Yah, I know this is over 6 years old. I am hoping that the heater core is this easy to replace. I just got a new core and some leftover hose from my heater core replacement for my C20. I will take a good look and maybe change it over this weekend. I suspect my old heater core was clogged. After I change the core and hoses, should I try flushing the engine? Or bring it somewhere to do that?

XLTbeater

 

[redbird]

if your new heater core comes with each end plugged, use those on your old core prior to removal, no spills. I changed out a friends heater core in his '94, he timed it .. seven minutes. on my 03 ranger it took seven hours

 

[XLTbeater]

It took a couple hours for me. I spent an hour trying to persuade the plastic screws off of the lower dash kick panel cloth. Only 2 of the 5 backed off; so I gave up and cut them off. Got the heater core out and replaced in 15 minutes; fire up the truck and coolant is pouring out from the top hose at the water pump. Tightened the crap outta the stainless hose (leftover from another heater core project) and waited for the truck to cool down so I could pop the radiator cap and try again. Been running good since. The old core looked good, but I think it's clogged. My temp gauge would spike and drop to "N" in normal and back again when driving. Now it doesn't do that. I will see if I can clean and flush the old core and see if I can reuse it.

I feared that this heater core would be like my Crown Vic as that involved dropping the steering column, pulling the entire dash, and finding all of the screws and nuts that hold the heater core box to the firewall. The manual said 5 nuts hold the box in, but they must have missed one or two as that sucker was still stuck to the firewall. After a day of that crap, I sent it to the mechanic, who couldn't figure it out either. So he cut a hole in the firewall and extracted it from there. Very annoying!!! And yeah, in the process, I must have severed a major vacuum line when pulling the dash as it hesitates and stumbles at lower rpms. When I pull the engine from that car, I will replace the line that I know I severed. I was saddened to read that the newer Rangers went back to that system of changing heater cores

XLTbeater

 

[Mark_88]

I just finished a 96 Ranger dash swap into an 88 Ranger cab...once I figured out how it came off it was pretty simple...but it would take me a good couple of hours to remove the dash again...

When I finally got the heater hosed connected and was able to run the engine enough to burp the system...the first thing I noticed the next day was the distinct smell of coolant in the cab...so I checked everything over a few times...could not find any coolant leaking...yet...but I'm thinking it might have been from around the hoses attached to the heater core were not tight...hopefully!

 

[AllanD]

I used to say the hardest part of the job was finding a bottle opener for your beer
if you choose to drink microbrews or imported beer...

Or spill your beer when the heater core literally falls out unexpectedly if you've been so short-sighted to leave your beer in the passenger side foot-well...

Of course this job is only "Easy" on 1983-1994. starting with the 1995 models the job becomes a royal Pain In The Ass...