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Author Topic: Dodge Ram Heater Core Replacement  (Read 3044 times)

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Offline MXLord327

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Dodge Ram Heater Core Replacement
« on: April 15, 2011, 01:46:56 PM »
Anyone ever replaced a heater core in a Dodge Ram pickup?  Mine is totally gone, big puddle of coolant on my passenger side floor and steam coming out of all the heater & defrost vents.  I can't even drive at night because the windows fog up so badly that I can't see out when there are oncoming headlights.  I have looked it up on-line, some people day it's easy, some say it's a royal bitch.  I do know that I will have to at least partially remove the entire dashboard.  Does not sound fun!!  If anyone has done it and has any tips, I would love to hear them.  BTW, it's a 1999 Ram 1500 Quad Cab with the 5.9.  The truck has almost 200k miles, so I really don't want to spend the $1200 to $1500 that my local shops want to fix it.  Uugh!!

Offline TMKIWI

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Re: Dodge Ram Heater Core Replacement
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2011, 02:22:01 PM »
Replacing heaters in any car is a royal pain in the ass.
Its a time consuming job thats why shops charge so much.
You are just going to have to suck it up and get on with it.

The other option is to buy a box of beers, some marshmellows & some matches.
Sit back and enjoy. :P
Thats what Dodge owners here do. ;)
If you don't fall off you are not going hard enough

Offline riffraff

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Re: Dodge Ram Heater Core Replacement
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2011, 10:11:16 PM »
Disconnect the heater hoses from the core, may have to cut them, connect the in hose to the out hose and no more leak  :D
aaahhhhh yes, I remember the good old days

Offline SachsGS

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Re: Dodge Ram Heater Core Replacement
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2011, 09:09:35 AM »
The heater core in my F150 is leaking - 8 + hours to replace.I just keep putting stop leak into the rad to stop the window misting up, not the best thing to do but it works. :-X

 In my Chevy Astro van I could change the heater core in half an hour.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2011, 09:11:26 AM by SachsGS »

Offline MXLord327

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Re: Dodge Ram Heater Core Replacement
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2011, 05:25:45 AM »
I am going to bypass the heater core for now, but it was 33 degrees this morning on my way in to work!!

Offline ford832

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Re: Dodge Ram Heater Core Replacement
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2011, 04:29:24 PM »
You need the dash partially out.Let your steering wheel rest on the seat,unbolt dash behind left and right kickpanels as well as screws at base of windshield by defog vents.Lower centreduct and any other obvious hardware.You should be able to pull the dash out and brace it with a piece of wood or something on the passenger side(You want the dash out as far as possible on the passenger side,drivers side can sit wherever it wants to sit).Unbolt the heater box from the firewall from under the hood(screws behind computer and A/C accumulator on pass side as well as behind breather)Remove hoses and from under the dash,pull the box towards you and down(don't take it completely out.You should be able to get the screws that hold the core in place by reaching over the pulled out dash.There's a bracket and a ground strap that hold the core tubes in place.This needs to be reinstalled properly or it will prematurely fail.
It's far from the worst I've seen but anyone who says it is easy has never done one.Just go slow,be prepared to wiggle things a  bit but if things aren't moving,find out why.Which reminds me,before you drop the bolts for your steering column,gently disconnect the cable that runs from your shift to your prndl or you'll break it when you drop the column.Disconnect your battery before you start as well so you don't fire you air bag.
I'd rather a full bottle in front of me than a full frontal lobotomy.