Any hints on how to get to the heater core on a 85 4Runner. I opened the airbox by the passengers feet and used my air gun to blow out a lot of leaves and debris but the heater core area I believe is behind the radio and i am looking for some hints to get to it and hopefully cure my heating problems.

 

you need t otake off the glove box.....

 

I had the glove box out and was able to seperate the airbox and found lots of debris, cleaning this out helped get a little heat but there must be a lot blocking the heater core behind the radio as well.

Just an FYI I had another post regarding no heat and went through all those suggestions and my own thoughts and nothing changed dramtically. Both heater hoses are hot and all the levers work properly.

 

I feel your pain on this one. I have the same problem, tried the same remedies and am stuck. I have had the airbox out between the fan and heater core, no debris. Lots of hidden, but not impossible to get to screws and bolts. It looked like once you get to the core, pull the hoses, mounting bolts, ect. and yank it out...The plastic molding around it is pretty tight, and more things might need to be disassembled like the vent tubing and the bottom of the box the core is in. I would budget a full day for that one. Before I go that route I'm going to try a high pressure car wash heater core flush in both directions to try to dislodge any sediment and rust blocking coolant flow. My cooling system is a bit corroded so I'm hoping the crap will flow.

 

FreakShow are both the inlet and outlet hoses on yours hot as well?

My upper radiator hose going to the thermostat is under some decent pressure it seems as well once the truck is hot, I replaced the thermostat a couple of weeks ago...wonder if there is no flow through my core?

 

I have an 86' truck.
Just changed mine a couple months ago.
I followed the manual which said, remove glove box, remove 3 or 4 bolt that hold heater box which is behind your stereo, and push out onto the passanger floor.
WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!
I ended up taking the whole F@##$NG dash apart!
It's not that hard to do. just takes a little time.
Most likely your core is clogged which is why you have no heat.

 

I just cut one end off of a hose and attached it with a hose clamp to one end of the heater core. The other side of the heater core I took the hose off where it enters the engine and then screwed my garden hose to the one on the engine. Turned it on and barely a trickle, started crimping the garden hose and letting it go a few times to give a burst of water pressure....then whoosh a big clog of brown crap caming flying out and the water flows right through the core now.

It was about 40-45 today and I was getting real good heat. Hopefully when it gets below 10 it still stays warm. I bought my wife and myself these for Christmas, couldn't be more surprised how good the quality is...highly recommend them. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...sPageName=WDVW