writeup: '89-'94 heater core replacement

shaeff · 09-07-2007, 08:40 PM

i don't know how much demand there is for this, but i decided to do it anyway. i took some pics along the way when i replaced my heater core. maybe they'll help some people. i had done the heater core on my supra, so this was actually easier.

keep in mind that my truck has no A/C.

click the pics for larger versions:

the full dash before i started. (a bit dirty, heh)

full dash view from passenger's side:

pull the glove box out:

pull out the small piece under the stereo:

pull out the section under the steering column. detach the hood popping cable, and pull out the vent that goes to the upper left vent.

pull the surround for the stereo/climate control. remember to pull the knobs off the climate control, otherwise when you pull it off, they'll fly everywhere!

pull out the stereo:

pull out the instrument cluster:

pull the four (14mm?) bolts holding the steering column up to the main dash support. (the huge metal bar) let the steering wheel drop down onto the driver's seat.

pop the dash out. (make sure you drop the steering column first!)

here's what the steering column looks like dropped out:

remove the bolts/nuts for the two supports for the stereo area, then remove the two fasteners from the passenger's side of the large support bar, and the two bolts/two nuts, and pull it out through the passenger side door.

another of the bar removed:

duct between the blower motor and heater core removed:

i didn't get pictures of having the actual core out, as my hands were quite greasy from helping my friend put rotors, calipers and pads on his '91. so here's the new core installed with new weather stripping from the local hardware store. i also got a new gasket for the extension pipe for the core, and a new clip just for good measure.

and here's the finished product, with everything back in and functioning properly.

install is the reverse of removal.

hope that helps someone!

-shaeff

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KevinInSac · 09-07-2007, 09:35 PM

That's looks pretty damn involved. I hate diving into the dash. I was going to buy another heater core and drill/tap for a sender for an afermarket temp gauge.

How long did it take you?

shaeff · 09-07-2007, 09:41 PM

it took me pretty much all day, but i was doing several other projects at the same time. if i were only doing this, it would only have taken about 3 hours or so, tops.

i had a coffee break in the morning, lunch break shortly after (i was up early that day), helped my friend with his brakes, rotors, calipers, helped another friend work on his jeep figuring out electrical gremlins, etc...

but it's really pretty straight forward. just take your time, and feel for each screw you have to remove.

-shaeff

KevinInSac · 09-07-2007, 10:12 PM

Yeah. I gotta dig into the dash to hook up some CB stuff anyway...

shaeff · 09-07-2007, 10:36 PM

you shouldn't have to go as deep as the heater core for CB stuff!

-shaeff

KevinInSac · 09-08-2007, 05:34 PM

heh yeah, but I'm already half way there... I like to do everything at once.

shaeff · 09-09-2007, 08:31 AM

true, better to pull it and get it over with than to do it half way, twice!

-shaeff

propheadj · 01-04-2008, 07:06 PM

Thanks that post really helped me out today. The Haynes manual is worthless sometimes.

91toybeater · 02-21-2008, 08:13 PM

I inherited this beast and somebody put a new heater core in it. I think they may have crossed a couple of cables. When I move the lever from cold to hot, the water valve opens alright but the recirculation door also opens . Hard to get any real hot air moving when cold air is coming in all the time when in heat mode. I would hope that the recirculation lever would do that but I've not been able to find a diagram of the cables in the fsm or clymers manual. could you verify which lever moves which door or valve.
thanks
paul

jason191918 · 02-21-2008, 08:18 PM

Nice writeup. Just thought that I would mention that if you tilt the wheel all the way down, it is possible to pop the dash w/o removing the column.

Matt16 · 02-21-2008, 08:54 PM

Why don't you put this in the tech writeup section. Its much appreciated when people take a couple pics of their repairs and write a little bit.

I think it would take a little liquid courage for me to rip apart the dash like that. I have something in my dash that blows around (pine needles?) while driving. Its obnoxious and its not in in the area below the slats in front of the windshield.

ozziesironmanoffroad · 02-21-2008, 08:58 PM

sounds like its in the heater core alright, matt16.

09-07-2007, 09:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
KevinInSac Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA (Carmichael) Posts: 1,059	That's looks pretty damn involved. I hate diving into the dash. I was going to buy another heater core and drill/tap for a sender for an afermarket temp gauge. How long did it take you? __________________ 92 ExCab Pickup SR5 3.0 5spd 4X4 Pretty much stock. I've done some stuff though.

09-07-2007, 09:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
shaeff Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: near Kingston, NY Posts: 258	it took me pretty much all day, but i was doing several other projects at the same time. if i were only doing this, it would only have taken about 3 hours or so, tops. i had a coffee break in the morning, lunch break shortly after (i was up early that day), helped my friend with his brakes, rotors, calipers, helped another friend work on his jeep figuring out electrical gremlins, etc... but it's really pretty straight forward. just take your time, and feel for each screw you have to remove. -shaeff __________________ My heatercore replacement writeup with pics. -'94 Toyota 4X4, 22re, 31X10.5 BFG M/T's, 5 speed, MC rear bumper. (Winter DD/ off road fun) -'95 BMW M3, modded/suspension, sticky rubber, back road monster (Summer DD) -86.5 Toyota Supra, too much to list. (Never-ending project)

09-07-2007, 10:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
KevinInSac Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA (Carmichael) Posts: 1,059	Yeah. I gotta dig into the dash to hook up some CB stuff anyway... __________________ 92 ExCab Pickup SR5 3.0 5spd 4X4 Pretty much stock. I've done some stuff though.

09-07-2007, 10:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
shaeff Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: near Kingston, NY Posts: 258	you shouldn't have to go as deep as the heater core for CB stuff! -shaeff __________________ My heatercore replacement writeup with pics. -'94 Toyota 4X4, 22re, 31X10.5 BFG M/T's, 5 speed, MC rear bumper. (Winter DD/ off road fun) -'95 BMW M3, modded/suspension, sticky rubber, back road monster (Summer DD) -86.5 Toyota Supra, too much to list. (Never-ending project)

09-08-2007, 05:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
KevinInSac Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA (Carmichael) Posts: 1,059	heh yeah, but I'm already half way there... I like to do everything at once. __________________ 92 ExCab Pickup SR5 3.0 5spd 4X4 Pretty much stock. I've done some stuff though.

09-09-2007, 08:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
shaeff Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: near Kingston, NY Posts: 258	true, better to pull it and get it over with than to do it half way, twice! -shaeff __________________ My heatercore replacement writeup with pics. -'94 Toyota 4X4, 22re, 31X10.5 BFG M/T's, 5 speed, MC rear bumper. (Winter DD/ off road fun) -'95 BMW M3, modded/suspension, sticky rubber, back road monster (Summer DD) -86.5 Toyota Supra, too much to list. (Never-ending project)

01-04-2008, 07:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
propheadj Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1	That was awesome Thanks that post really helped me out today. The Haynes manual is worthless sometimes.

02-21-2008, 08:13 PM	#9 (permalink)
91toybeater Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 20	heater control cable routing I inherited this beast and somebody put a new heater core in it. I think they may have crossed a couple of cables. When I move the lever from cold to hot, the water valve opens alright but the recirculation door also opens . Hard to get any real hot air moving when cold air is coming in all the time when in heat mode. I would hope that the recirculation lever would do that but I've not been able to find a diagram of the cables in the fsm or clymers manual. could you verify which lever moves which door or valve. thanks paul

02-21-2008, 08:58 PM	#12 (permalink)
ozziesironmanoffroad Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Spring Valley, CA Posts: 5,643	sounds like its in the heater core alright, matt16. __________________ The 22r series engines are made from the fires of hell, and will fight tooth and nail to not be sent back. 1988 Toyota P/U 4x4 22re, 1200 miles on the rebuild engine builder .268 cam pioneer CD deck 31x10.50x15 BFG A/T BAJA 100W lights on prerunner bumper KC Daylighters 100W rancho rs5000 MUD IS A VALID PAINT JOB! If not living life to the fullest, why live it? my trucks official buildup thread

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