Hows it goin, My heater core is bad I belive, there is no heat and steam coming from the vents whenever I turn the heater on. I already read the diy link and just had a few questions. I have never done anything like this so work with me. Does it matter which vaccuum lines I take out and the order I put them back on? How do I release the freon from the ac? What is an accumulator? How do I add vacum to the ac lines? And last question is how much r-134a would i need to use to recharge it?. Sorry for all the questions just dont have the cash to take it to the shop. Thanks so much for all the help this website has given me. Also what special tools do I need?

 

Just my 2 cents. I don't know how good of a mechanic you are but the Heater core can be very brutal to change out. I would highly recommend forking the money and letting a shop take of it for you.

 

Zeppelin,

I did mine for the first time as well. You can do it if you follow the directions. You MUST have access to a vaccuum pump and set of r-134a gauges in order to charge the A/C or else you are going to have to let an A/C shop do it. Our system takes two cans or r-134a for a full charge. You need hook the gauges up to the H and L charging points and open the valves to release the freon and hook the vaccuum pump to the same locations for 30 mins to evacuate the system upon completion of the job. The vaccuum line simply comes out the firewall and pulls out of a three way valve. The accumulator is the filter that the line from the evap comes out of the firewall and hooks into (shaped like a coke can). If this all reads like greek to you then I agree with DodgeMedic, you need to have help or take it to someone.

 

The AC refrigerent needs to be recovered by special equipment. It is illegeal to vent any refrigerent deliberatly into the atmosphere. You should take it to a shop, have them remove the refrigerent then recharge the system for you when you're done.

 

or not....

 

Just get an aluminum heater core with the swivel pipes and you dont need to disconnect the a\c lines. It will take about six hours if you have a pretty good idea and a decent tool selection. I just did mine no more then a month ago. Now that I know the in's and out's I bet I could do it again in about five hours and half the curse words =)

 

I have a new body style 2002 Dodge quad cab 1/2. I spent about 3 1/2 hours today trying to get to the heater core. I still havent seen it. Does anyone have any sujections?????
My truck is in a millions pieces

 

There is a Heater Core DIY at the top of this forum. What you are posting is partially correct. I recently replaced the heater core in my 1997 with an OE brass module. I did not disconnect the A/C lines and I did not trust that crappy aluminum swivel pipe design. With a bit of OOMPH, the brass core can be replaced with the A/C lines still connected.

As far as venting refrigerant -- I have been told that venting R12 is illegal, but R134a is acceptable. It most likely depends on your locale, but I would opt to have it recovered.