So the heater core is beginning to fail in my 99 Ram Quad with 156K miles. To my dismay, the minimum repair bill is $1000+, plus I’ve read that the AC needs to be purged and recharged, and the recommendation is to replace the evaporator while everything is apart. So that probably pushes the bill to close to $1500. And… when the dash is being removed, I’ve read stories about it coming apart, much like the top of my formerly cracked dash which I’ve already capped with a plastic dash cover.

I paid $2500 for the truck a few years ago. I put in an AC compressor in last summer, and I’m not so sure about the transmission as there are some intermittent noises happening, especially when I’m reverse. Time to trade it off?? It just seems like one of those repairs that could snowball into a huge bill.

 

Unfortunately, with inflation running the way it is, even trading in the truck, it's hard to replace it without spending serious money on its replacement. In my opinion, a lot depends upon how you use your truck. For example, my truck is a second vehicle that gets driven when I need to haul things. If your truck is a daily driver, you may want to trade it for another truck, however, it won't come cheap.

 

If you repair it yourself the price is just for parts.

 

I replaced mine for $30 with a rock auto core and haven’t had any issues longest part is taking out the dash bolts for it to slide forward. Tons of heater core info on this forum and countless install videos on YouTube. If I were you I’d do it myself but to each their own.

 

What engine is this? No need to touch a/c on the gassers, not sure about the diesels?

All you can get anymore is aftermarket cores and they all have lines that swivel to aid in install -- it's still a jigsaw puzzle, though

 

Depends on how creative you are replacing the core itself. Easiest way is to roll the heater box back a bit, but, that involves disconnecting the evaporator core..... I haven't had to do this particular job yet...... so, no clue if you can put the core in there, without pulling the heater box. I do believe some folks have managed that though.

 

We did it in a '98 with a Spectra core. Kinda hated to use Spectra but it's fairly well-reviewed and it worked. It was still a fight but plenty of vids on YT where guys don't upset the heater box

edit: and I remember now engine doesn't matter. There's a guy on YT who does it on a Cummins and he chooses to cut the hard lines then put them back together with heater hose. Too hokey for my liking but technically it appeared to work....

 

I am SOOOOooo not interested in a potential leak INSIDE the cab..... Nope, no cutting and splicing for this guy.

 

The swivels are for ease of installation but have been known to leak, With a 25 year old vehicle you will find all the foam disinterested and all kind of crap sitting in the bottom. What i did is get core from a junk yard and rebuilt it then swapped out the old one. Of course the replacement(brass) core started to leak a year later and had to remove it again.

 

I replaced mine over ten years ago and still going with no leaks. The old OE was brass. I had to lean the dash back and get to it. I did have to cut the old lines to remove but new one came with swivels so it went right in. Not really that bad. GL