[200q20v] Heater Box Removal: Some progress,more questions

[Phil Rose]

At 9:24 AM -0500 3/6/01, Forhan, Thomas wrote:
>Bear with me here, folks. I took a thin, narrow bladed putty knife to the
>seal between the box and the firewall, mostly along the top. Starting
>carefully, and then with more gusto, I used a variety of flat bladed
>screwdrivers and started levering the thing loose on the drivers side, where
>there is more access. It is moving now, maybe 1/2".
>
>In the interior, I pulled off the footwell vents, and the big corrogated
>rubber central duct vent is loose. Other vents are more problematic. The two
>split vertical ones that feed the rear compartment vent are tightest. The
>two larger elbows behind (actually, in front) them are a little loose, but
>won't really come out. Do I need to remove the two vacuum servos to get in
>there, or do the servos come out with the box ( I've already disconnected
>the colored vacuum tubing)? No mention in the Bentley about removing them.
>
>I wonder if part of my problem is temperature. It was 22 F working on it
>this morning. Adhesives may be more willing to yield if I can get them to
>warm up some.

I can't imagine trying to do this at those temps! Yes surely that's 
at least a part of your problem.  Also, since you're replacing the 
core, I assume you've already disconnected the heater hoses? They 
certainly could offer lots of resistance when so cold.

One thing I'll mention if you've not already done it: I found I had 
better access (and more room for prying up the box) after I cut all 
the cable ties that hold the wiring harness that runs next to the 
delicate A/C tubing along the top edge of the firewall.  The harness 
doesn't look like much, but every 1/4" of clearance helps.

Phil
-- 

Phil Rose
Rochester, NY
mailto:pjrose at frontiernet.net