Anyone replaced a heatercore in 99 chev 1500 ( looks like a nightmare )

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Anyone replaced a heatercore in 99 chev 1500 ( looks like a nightmare )

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Check out this youtube how to. Can't be more than an hour.

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Thanks Ray, but unfortunatly mine is the one with the heater blower motor inside the plastic shroud. Just looks like a major pain in the a$$. To top it off my wifes truck has the centre console and I just did the ones in my 96 f350, 88 Cavalier. Are heater cores just junk nowadays? All 3 cars in the last 4 months. Still have the orig in my 57 that I've owned for 30 years! Forgot to mention that my wifes last vehicle was a 96 Intrepid. Did the heater core on that one to 5.5 hr had to remove the whole dash and 1/2 the interrior. Put the heater core in and build the car around it!!! Just had enough of heater cores cry

-- Edited by hawkeye5766 on Monday 10th of November 2014 01:10:17 AM

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Heater cores have never been fun and since they are locked away we never try to service them until its too late. I bet your Chev can't be too much different than that video. Do a search and see if you find one for it.

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

This is the one I found furious furious furious furious furious

GrtDanes · Poncho Master!

Cut it out from the firewall Jim then weld er bk up,easy pezzy.

Indian · Guru

I haven't done one in Chevy truck but did one in a mint 84 crown Vic I bought for three hundred out of pocket a part. Even the instruction manual step one, remove entire dash, second step remove half the crap attached to firewall in engine bay, step three curse and swear..Yea, check on youtube foryour truck, lots of good how to videos on there.

-- Edited by Indian on Monday 10th of November 2014 07:25:56 AM

67Poncho · Uber Guru

73SC wrote:
I bet your Chev can't be too much different than that video. Do a search and see if you find one for it.

Ray, NOT even close... That GMT 400 style truck, ('88-2000 classic) was absolute childs play to the GMT 800, ('99 1/2-'07 classic) series truck.. GM labor was 4.6 hours with non warranty labor being 7.4 hour-ish.... And it is a chore with the center console... Most are like that now... I did an early 2000 G/Am and I had to remove the dash as well...

But, many of the GM cores were actually easy to do... Have fun... wink

-- Edited by 67Poncho on Monday 10th of November 2014 08:31:21 AM

Lemans64 · Poncho Master!

YUP, you have to pull the dash and evacuate the a/c if equipped. The only nice thing about the whole job is all the screws that hold the dash together

are all the same length, 7mm head I believe.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Never realized a 1999 GMC / Chevy Suburban is a completely different truck than a 1999 GMC / Chevy 1500. They must have overlapped release of the new style in 1999.

poncho62 · Poncho Master!

73SC wrote:
Never realized a 1999 GMC / Chevy Suburban is a completely different truck than a 1999 GMC / Chevy 1500. They must have overlapped release of the new style in 1999.

Yes...the 2500/3500 kept the old body style until 2000, I think

Greaser · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

My son had a $350., 1999 Cavalier that had a heater core leak.Read on line it was a 8 hour job,so I did what a lot of guys do in Cowtown...

I went to Pick n Pull and found a 99 Cavalier to see what's involved in taking it out......took the dash out,trim,wires,cables...everything, and 3 hours later it

was still in the car..I think the heater core is first thing put in the car and they build the rest of the car around it.

Did the easy solution for the son's Cavalier. Went and got a high end Bar's leak solution...$16.....no more heater core leak.

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Thanks guys, I do have a customer with an A/C machine that I can get it vacuumed out with. Looks like I'm going to have to set aside a "sunny" day and tackle it. Could cut the firewall Doug, but I'd prob have to pull the motor to get it out frontwards. Like stated, truck built around heater core

Greaser · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

hawkeye5766 wrote:
Thanks guys, I do have a customer with an A/C machine that I can get it vacuumed out with. Looks like I'm going to have to set aside a "sunny" day and tackle it. Could cut the firewall Doug, but I'd prob have to pull the motor to get it out frontwards. Like stated, truck built around heater core

Unfortunate they don't ask mechanics how cars/trucks should be built,instead of computer engineers...

In the old days they built cars to last a long time......today they (hope blankstare ) it lasts through the warranty period...and they make sure you can't fix anything.

norontcan · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I know your talking heater core but I was told its also just as big a job to simply change the heater blower motor on an A/C 1994 truck. My heater motor has been squealing for years, bought a new motor about 12 years ago. Got the story on change out time and the new motor remains in the box. Squeal drives the wife nuts.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

norontcan wrote:
I know your talking heater core but I was told its also just as big a job to simply change the heater blower motor on an A/C 1994 truck. My heater motor has been squealing for years, bought a new motor about 12 years ago. Got the story on change out time and the new motor remains in the box. Squeal drives the wife nuts.

I carry a can of WD40 to deal with mine squealing, it works for a good 4 to 6 months. Why is it the girls can't stand it?

Indian · Guru

norontcan wrote:
I know your talking heater core but I was told its also just as big a job to simply change the heater blower motor on an A/C 1994 truck. My heater motor has been squealing for years, bought a new motor about 12 years ago. Got the story on change out time and the new motor remains in the box. Squeal drives the wife nuts.

drill a tiny hole into the center of the blower assembly, just big enough to get wd40 tube into it, giver a squirt every now and then, it works.

66 Beau · Poncho Master!

I was reading about heater cores (need to replace one too). Apparently electrolysis is a common cause of failure. Caused by poor grounding of some component in the vehicle.... Here's a description and test to determine if you've got a problem.

http://www.4s.com/Upload/Four%20Seasons/documents/Tech%20Tips/English/4S%20350%20ELECTROLYSIS.PDF

The test seems pretty easy (be careful opening the radiator cap with engine "at operating temperature"):
With engine running, connect negative lead to the negative terminal on the battery and positive lead inserted into coolant. A voltage of 0.3 volts can cause pinhole leaks in the heater core in a short amount of time.

Another site suggests that common causes of electrolysis are: ineffective ground straps on the engine, starter motors, electric fans, remote starters, stereo amplifiers (not sure how that last one works). I would think that if the radiator and engine are properly grounded, there should be no potential (voltage) between the coolant and the battery - but I could (must) be wrong.

This document provides additional causes of failure and prevention.
http://www.4s.com/Upload/Four%20Seasons/documents/Tech%20Tips/English/4S%20331%20HEATER%20CORE%20FAILURES%20AND%20REPLACEMENT.PDF

I was surprised and disappointed to read the expected life of heater cores... OEM copper/brass = 5 years, 50,000 miles. OEM aluminum = 7 years, 70,000 miles. I am pretty sure the one in my Beaumont is original and brass/copper, so 48 years is WAY beyond its expected life.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

They are Easy piece of cake couple hours especially if you raise cab up

norontcan · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Thanks for the WD-40 trick but it comes a bit late. 94 is being retired and replaced by an 07 Escalade. Anyone interested in a high miler 94 with a noisy fan ( replacement available at extra cost )

pontorquer · Poncho Master!

Got to do mine on a 1992 GMC Sonoma, she smells antifreeze in the cab when I put the heat to about max, any easier ?

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Do a youtube search for your Sonoma. I did mine a few years back. Its more difficult if your dash has that stupid storage tray underneath of it.

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Well, had to tackle the core tonight,started dripping non stop. Not as bad as I thought! Went to my buds and got the AC out then my wife and I started the job. She held the light and dash! Started removal at 5 and by 9 old core was out and new core was in with the dash bolted back up! Just have to finish all the plastic stuff, figure another hour. Was still a P.I.T.A. On a good note I got to use my new 1/4" air ratchet for the first time that she got me for Christmas. If your going to tackle this you'll need lots of extensions and u joints, saves a lot of time!! Wife will be happy and HOT!!

ZAPPER68 · Addicted!

A HOT wife is a bonus... biggrin

427carl · A Poncho Legend!