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Author Topic: painful heater core  (Read 10704 times)

Offline ssapach

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painful heater core
« on: February 11, 2011, 12:31:24 am »
I didn't know where to put this, I just thought it would be fun to share with everyone else the pain I went through for a very small issue with my 2000 GMC 1/2 ton pickup.....

I almost crapped myself when the tech at the dealer said its about a full day or a little more worth of work to replace the heater core in the truck, the cost of that is half of what the truck is worth.  So I decided to find some instructions and did it myself.

I've never done a heater core replacement on an older truck, but I can't imagine it was as fun as this truck was.

In the end I was left with 4 screws with no home, my cruise control doesn't work and my park brake light doesn't not come on.  I think I have a connection unplugged, but I don't know where the screws belong exactly.

Enjoy!  And I hope nobody else has to go through with this much fun...... :-\









All that for this shiny little thing.......

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Offline bake74

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2011, 12:41:48 am »
     Been there done that, in newer vehicles it is no fun, now you know why the dealership wanted to charge so much, they didn't want to do it either.  ;D
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Offline jthomas12287

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2011, 12:43:43 am »
WOW that is crazy but if you want heat your either gonna do it or pay some big bucks to have them do it!?!?
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Offline ssapach

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2011, 10:40:12 am »
It was one thing after another with this truck for me.....

I was ready to drive it in the shop to change the heater core, go to start it and my battery is dead.....

Get another truck to boost it, won't start!!!

It sat in the shop overnight and warmed up, and started after i finished with the heater core, must have had water in the fuel or fuel lines and froze, because it definately wasn't cold enough for gasoline to freeze up.

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Offline beastie_3

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2011, 10:40:46 am »
I cant believe GM screwed up that bad and made the core so hard to get to.
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Offline ssapach

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2011, 10:45:54 am »
I shouldn't get so mad at it really....

Yes it is a pain to do and yes there is more work involved than most people would think or would like.

But at least they thought it through and the dash does come out rather easily, just time consuming is all.

That being said, I don't want to have to do it again if I can avoid it.
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Offline beastie_3

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2011, 10:51:19 am »
"Time consuming" and "easy" dont go together! haha

And like you said, you put it back together and other things didnt work and you had left over parts.
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Offline Skunksmash

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2011, 02:11:18 pm »
Quote from: beastie_3 on February 11, 2011, 10:40:46 am
I cant believe GM screwed up that bad and made the core so hard to get to.

My aunt's nissan is the same way. I'm having trouble finding a mechanic that doesn't want $1200 just to replace the heater core. I wish I could slap these engineers sometimes. How hard would it have been to just extend it out to a reachable distance? But oh wait, that would cost an extra 16 cents per vehicle...
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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2011, 02:30:12 pm »
I remember when I used to have to replace heater cores by the lots due to recalls and would only get paid warranty time to do them. As soon as you finished one you had another... Talk about having a stiff neck!
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Offline Grim 82

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2011, 03:27:23 pm »
While we're on the subject of engineering, I would like to extend an open invitation to the guy who decided to put the oil pressure sending unit where it goes on a sbc. I will fight you.

Replaced the sender yesterday and the angled pipe fitting into the block twisted off and I had to EZ out it out of the block >:(
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Offline beastie_3

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2011, 08:39:52 pm »
Quote from: VileZambonie on February 13, 2011, 02:30:12 pm
I remember when I used to have to replace heater cores by the lots due to recalls and would only get paid warranty time to do them. As soon as you finished one you had another... Talk about having a stiff neck!


Ya but got darn good at it!
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Offline Dr_Snooz

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2011, 09:59:41 pm »
That looks like a lot of fun. FWIW, the square body heater cores are a LOT easier. I think I did mine in about 2 hours. That included the time I spent blowing and scrubbing out all the dust in the vents.

I say if nothing rattles, then the screws were not needed.
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Offline thirsty

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2011, 09:23:34 am »
I can feel for you man. I got a taurus in the shop that needs a brake booster and when I am done that a heater core in it.
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Offline Skunksmash

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2011, 10:14:46 pm »
Quote from: Grim 82 on February 13, 2011, 03:27:23 pm
While we're on the subject of engineering, I would like to extend an open invitation to the guy who decided to put the oil pressure sending unit where it goes on a sbc. I will fight you.

Replaced the sender yesterday and the angled pipe fitting into the block twisted off and I had to EZ out it out of the block >:(

Which makes me kinda wonder.. would it even be possible to ever design a car/truck that was completely easy to work on? With every possible consumable part positioned in a way that made it very easily replaced?
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Offline ssapach

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Re: painful heater core
« Reply #14 on: February 15, 2011, 01:02:38 am »
Well I found my mystery plug that allows me to have cruise control again.  Only took me about 10 minutes, luckily it didn't require the disassembly of the entire dash all over again.

I do have a rattle though, but I'm quite certain its a plastic plug under the steering column thats touching the metal "theft shield" thats bolted under the steering column......

On the plus side, my heater puts out quite nicely now.
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