Fw: 4KQ heater core help

[Derek]

This bounced the first time I sent it, hence the little (>) things on the
left.  I hope the formatting isn't all screwed up and unreadable now.

 > The Bentley is a little vague on the removal of the heater core for the
 4K.
> Ohboy... yeah Bentley is of little use for this one.
>
> >Anyone out there have some good guidelines for the replacement of the
> heater core?
> Does your AC work? (y/N)
> Are you _ever_ going to want it again?  really?
>
> It is possible to remove the heater core while leaving the AC intact, but
> it's 2x harder.  If the AC is dead, now's the greatest time to eliminate
> 45lbs of weight, and make heater core changes a 30 minute job.
>
> Assuming you're keeping the AC, here's what I did:
>
> ---in car---
> *Remove glovebox, 2 screws on the left side, one on the right, one on top,
> one more in back RH corner, and some plastic tabs into the center console.
> Take care with the brain wiring that's here.
> *Remove AC drip tray.  2 screws at the top, and one nasty nut way in the
> back, under some carpet, where the tray protrudes through the firewall.
> *Remove drivers side underdash panel.  About 3 screws going up into dash,
> one in back corner of the cubyhole, and more plastic tabs.
> *Remove shift boot, ashtray, 2 screws underneath, 2 into each side by the
> seats, 2 more into the back of the center console.  Pull heater controll
> knobs/facia off, 2 more screws up into dashboard, press out window
switches
> and cigarette lighter.  Now you can remove the trim around the center
> console.
> *Remove the diff lock controlls, 2 screws either side, pull off vac lines
> and wire connector.
> *Remove 2 screws in back/either side holding center console to heater box.
> More screws hold the top of the console to the dash but I forgot how many.
> Unscrew the heater controlls from the center console... I think one screw
> and some tabs hold this on.
> *There's an ecu for something (cruise?) mounted under the radio, just
unplug
> it and whatever else is prohibiting you from pulling the center console
out.
> You don't need to remove it completely, just move it back about a foot or
> so.
>
> The heater core is barely visible, on the right side of the white plastic
> airbox, but out of reach because of the AC stuff next to it.
>
> ---out of car---
> *Open hood, remove rubber strip at back of engine bay, remove plastic at
> base of windshield.
> *Unplug vac lines and wires here, 4 8mm screws hold the white plastic
thing
> to the body, remove it.
> *The fresh air fan is held in by one screw underneath the ballast
resistor,
> which unclips easily.  Remove fan.
> *See the heater core down there? 2 more screws hold the top of the airbox
to
> the body, remove.
>
> ---back in car---
> *Remove both heater ducts to vents.  If you hate the cold air feature of
the
> center vent, there's a mod to allow hot air somewhere in the archives.
> *The airbox should now be supported only by the large wire clip on the
> front/top.  The idea now is to pull and wiggle the airbox far enough
towards
> you that you can remove the black cover hiding the heater core and
servicec
> it.
> *With the heater core within reach, the hose clamps on my car were best
> reached from outside via the hole where the fan was.  If might help to
> disconnect the heater hoses where they mate to the engine to get more
length
> and to dump the coolant onto the driveway rather than the carpet.
>
> The heater core is held into the white airbox with some foam tape.  I
> replaced this with that strip insulation stuff for sealing windows and
doors
> of your house.  After doing so, I noticed a bit of a "burnt
> adheasive/rubber" smell whenever I used the heater, which slowly
diminished.
> Doing this again, I'd go sparingly with the foam tape stuff, usiing it
only
> on the plastic ends of the heater.
>
> Now if your AC is never to be used again, then you can skip the whole
> process of removing the drivers "glovebox" and center console.  Just
remove
> everything at the base of the windshield, remove the two phillips screws
to
> the right of the AC stuff, undo some hose fittings, and the AC stuff drops
> right out of your way!
>
> And in true Bently style, assembly is reverse of removal.
>
> HTH
> -Derek L.
>
>