Does the AC system need to be decompressed to change it out in these trucks? This was my biggest concern..

Is there a DIY guide somewhere that I am not seeing for this job? I checked around the forms here but I did not see one (Sorry, I am kind of new to the forums...)

Is it pretty straight forward? Drain coolant, take dash off, replace core, put back togeather?

Thank you very much for any assistance~!

 

No,

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ater-core.html

And at the top of the main page is a link for 2nd Gen Ram FAQs, DIYs & How To's

 

I just did mine a couple of weekends ago. It took me about 5 1/2 hours including a break for lunch and some running around for some tings. There is a DIY is the DIY section. I think it is the third page in. I followed it directly and had very little problem The only thing that tripped me up was there was a double nut on the heater box ground wire. One to hold the ground wire and one to help hold the heater box. I did not have to decompress my AC. I cut the heater core lines and more or less pried the old core out. The new core had the pipes that were movable so I was able to "swivel" the pipes down and wiggle it in without much hassle. Remember to hook your ground wire back up, I forgot and it was a pain in the butt putting it on through the glove box opening.

 

This DIY states that you DO have to decompress the AC.....

 

I see, so basically follow the guilde, but ignore the parts about decompressing the AC?

 

i replaced mine last fall took me about 3 hours, didnt evacuate the ac, just tugged the a/c lines thru the firewall a bit and cut the old heater core lines off and pulled the old core out. same as cow my new core had swivel pipes so i just went in at a slight angle and it slid right in.

 

Look at this thread, https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...tructions.html

 

Thanks for all the help guys, one final question for now..

Is it necessary to drain the coolant as long as the engine is cold when I start this? ...As long as its cold (Lines are mostly empty) it should be ok right...?

I just changed my coolant like 2 months ago so if possible I dont wana drain it again....but if it simplafies things to drain it before replacing the core I will.

Thanks again for all the tips.

 

If you don't drain it, you will have coolant running out on the floor.

 

I THINK what you COULD do is connect the 2 heater core hose's together so as not to drain the whole system. That would free up your heater core. Then take the air compressor and "push" the coolant out of the heater core so as not to make too much of a mess. Just an idea though.