Heater Core

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Jan 23, 2006 | 10:45 AM

PeterM66

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Heater Core

The heater core went on my 1990 Bronco. The tell tale sign being anti-freeze running down my fire wall in the engine compartment. Not from the hoses attached to the core. My question is: does anyone have any advice on doing this or know where to get the procedure, the haynes manual I have is rather vague on the subject. Thanx

Jan 23, 2006 | 12:47 PM

7fords

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From: savanna il

make sure it is actually the core and not a loose clamp on the hoses to the core. i have known several friends who made alot of extra work for themselves because they didnt check the clamps first

Jan 23, 2006 | 03:04 PM

Towmanjbo

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From: Manchester, CT USA

I got this off of the '87-'96 pickup forums. The writer of the thread had a '91 so it should work for you.
"remove the glove box door.
remove the glove box liner.
look on the firewall near the side of the truck, and you will see a small panel with i belive 6 screws in it. remove screws and panel.
go outside and open hood.
remove the heater hoses at the rear of the passenger side on fire wall, and wire in up position.
go back inside, and remove heater core.
clean the box out real good.
install the new core.
reverse steps to put back together.
top off radiator with coolant and you are done.
about a 1/2 hour job.

the nice thing about these ford trucks is that you do not even have to drain the radiator. the heater core is higher than the top tank."
I researched it because my buddy's '89 Bronco is having the same problem and was about to ask the same question as you asked.
Justin

Jan 23, 2006 | 03:27 PM

tompc59

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For some odd reason my heater core was bypassed when I bought my Bronco, and I didn't notice till the heater didn't work. I assumed [yeah, I know] the core was leaking, went a bought a new one, and replaced it. turns out the old one was ok, as I recall [this was last winter] you can either blow through or run water through a core and tell if it is blocked. Obviously you want to be careful where coolant and your mouth is concerned. The removal is pretty easy, I seem to remember one butt-pain of a screw, which fell down behind the plastic and took a few minutes to retrieve.

Jan 23, 2006 | 08:56 PM

7fords

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From: savanna il

run the motor with cap off, rad full , heater lever on and watch for thermo to open and all air bubbles to excape

Jan 25, 2006 | 07:15 AM

b4hntn

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From: Longview, TX

Yep, replacing my heater core took less than an hour. Yes, one screw on the cover is hard to get to. I used a flexible shaft extension with my drill to do it. It also heats better now and does not leak in front of firewall.