I was wondering if anyone would have a diagram or instructions on how to replace the heater core on a 1998 ram 1500 4x4 5.2L. any info on this would be appeciated.

 

I was kinda wondering the same thing, but as far as I could tell you have to pretty much remove the entire dash. It seemed pretty involved to me. I asked one of my mechanic buddies about it and he said its listed as like a 6 hour job. Hes gonna do it for me in his shop for around $300, I decided it was worth that beacuse I know I would surely get frustrated. I know that doesn't help with your question I just thought I would add my two cents.

Lucas

 

Don't fret men.......LOL. Don't quote me, wait till a pro signs on here but, I am pretty sure you can "tilt" the dash forward, and have enough access to the core. Someone will confirm or deny shortly.......LOL.

Good luck.

 

I just done mine last week I had been dreading it for a month or so but it only took me a two hours, now mine is a 97 but should not be to much different. I just took the dash loose and put a bungee cord to the passenger side upper grab handle and pulle the dash back then dissconnected the a/c hoses and heater hoses. there is a couple of wire plugs that is right behind the glove box that need to be unhooked and the hose/cables from the heater switchs also need to be unhooked but all the other wires in the instruments I left in place. I probably forgot something that needs to be disconnected but it is quite simple as far as heater cores go. I have done lots that were worse.

 

I haven't had to do it in a 2nd gen Ram yet (cross my fingers), but I've done it in plenty of other vehicles in when I worked in a radiator shop and if it's listed as a 6 hour job then anyone with decent mechanical skills, a shop manual should be able to do it in 3 hours. Not to say it wouldn't be a headache but we used to be embarassed to charge someone 7 hours labor to re and re a heater core on a Suzuki Samari (for a $50 part). Just watch out it's really easy to pinch the vacuum lines and not have your vents work properly.

 

I figured with some know how and a little expreirence it could be knocked out pretty easily. I just flet better sending it to the shop so I know its done right, I wouldn't wanna have to go back in there besides, I got really frustrated with it on Saturday and I knew if I kept fooling around I would probably be able to do it, I'd judt tear up something else in the process. Yeah spending 300 dollars on a 80 dollar part stinks but, atleast I know it will be fixed now.

Lucas

 

Yes there are definitely times it's just easier to take it in and not have to deal with it.

 

check out the merry Xmas post - it has the 2001 ram service manual - not sure where it's at now but it shows all the connections etc from all sorts of angles.

Had mine changed out last Nov - dealer would have charged me between $800 - $1000. Glad I got the warranty plan.

I had to pay $100 deductable and an extra $130 bucks for a cooling system flush and fill since I tried to fix the heater core on my own with a bottle of stop leak or bar's leak or something.

BTW - DON'T use the radiator leak sealant crap!! 1. It doesn't work and 2. It makes the coolant look like vomit so when a mechanic looks at it he thinks you've severly neglected that system - cost me an extra $130 so he wouldn't tell the warranty company I had jacked up the core by not doing regular maintenance etc...

 

I'm just curious as to how do you know when your heater core is shot ?

 

by the puddle of antifreeze on the floor?