I'm back with a new project. I need to replace my paw paws heater core in his 97 grand V8 4x4.

First question is we (I) are (am) going to pull one at the local junk yard as he doesn't have a lot of money. So is there a way to tell if it's bad while at the junk yard? If not, they're only $15 and they have a policy where you can exchange for the same part.

Second,are there any good video or pictures tutorials anyone can point me to?
Third, any tips?
Fourth, is this as hard as people act like?

 

You're in for a very long day to just pull one.

I strongly suggest buying a new one.

If you're determined to try a used one, you could rig up some fittings and pump it full of air with a tire pump or portable air compressor.

Keep in mind that there's no way to know how long a "good" one from a JY is gonna last.

 

A new one is $36 plus shipping on rock auto. Maybe he can spare a few extra bucks.

So it's more time consuming than hard. Any good tutorials? I'm not good with the search.

 

You have to pull the dash completely out.

https://www.google.com/search?q=zj+h...utf-8&oe=utf-8

 

Yeah the rule of thumb if it don't have a heater box under the hood your stuck pulling the whole dash.If it has a console thats probably gotta come out the whole steering column comes out also.You will have to evacuate the ac system to pull out the heater box.Most shops charge 1500 to do this job because of everything you gotta pull out.

 

Yup! I can live without the A/C, but not without the heater. My A/C evaporator needs to be replaced, but I'm not pulling the dash until the heater starts leaking. (00 WJ) BTW, airborn coolant is toxic. It has a nasty way of ruining your liver.

 

The entire dash needs to come out, you have to evacuate the A/C refrigerant. You should replace the heater hoses and the O rings at the A/C evaporator when you button it back up. It is not any easy, or cheap job to do right. I wouldn't risk using a junk yard heater core, you have no way of telling if it's bad until you get it out of the doner. You have to remove the A pillar trim, kick panels, center console, drop the steering column, and unplug a metric butt load of electric connectors before you pull the dash. The actual unbolting the dash is simple once you get all of the crap out of the way, it's just a few bolts at each end and in the center on the tranny hump, then five or six along the windshield. Good luck.

 

all I have to say is good luck, a true pain and a huge mess

 

Welcome to modern cars and new cuss words lol.