Could anyone give some help or advise on replacing the heater core on my 2002 Ford Ranger? When replacing, will the passenger side air bag have to be removed? Would a NAPA heater core be a good replacement? Thanks, Ronny

 

Ronny, I'm sure napa has a good heater core. I have not changed mine on my 99. But have had the air bags out and it does seem you would have more room. I'm sure someone on this site who has done this will let you know. I know they differ if it has a/c or not.I will keep an eye on your post. And check the manual for you.Alan

 

Are you sure it's the heater core? What are the symptoms?

 

Thanks Alan.

 

Sweet smell in cab of truck and the windows stay fogged up. When I got home a small amount started dropping on the heat sheild covering exhuast pipe at firewall. Thanks for replying any help would be appreciated. Ronny

 

Do you still have warranty? Odd for a heater core to go bad so early. Have you checked the hoses and connections?

 

I'd trace the line and check the connections first, it could be something that simple. It seems pretty early to have a heater core fail. Have you kept up with flushing your system?

 

I've actually heard of heater cores failing early on these ranger. Theres a thing on All Data about it.
You most likely have to remove the entire dash. It should come out as one piece. I have to remove the whole dash assembly on my 87' camaro to do a heater core, it took 8 hours, and i wanted to kill myself halfway through it. If it has to be done then you have to bite the bullet sometimes. If you plan on doing it yourself, i must insist that you get a manual, you will need it.

 

Jim (PKSAM2) provided the forum with some great feedback/write-up when he had to replace the plenum behind the dash on his truck. It'll help get you to where you need to be:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...placement.html

Don't forget to reference the pics in his gallery:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...5&albumid=6718

P.S. I can fully commiserate with all those people who've had to pull a Ford dash in order to replace a critical climate control component. When the blend door actuator on my SHO failed, it took me the good part of a weekend to replace it. HERE is my story on that if anyone's interested.

 

I guess i was right unfortunatley, that the entire dash has to come out. My heater core has no problems, and i hope it never leaks.

 

Thanks everyone for the advise and help. I did check the hoses this evening when I got home and they were fine. I purchased the Ranger about two years ago with 50,000 miles on it and have flused the system and repalced the thermostat since I've had it. While checking the hoses, I did notice a small tube that extends about an inch out, half way down under the heater hose connections on the firewall that had some green antifreeze that had dripped from it ( my guess that its a drain from the heater core compartment ). Sounds like it might be a major job, but I would like to tackle it and learn from it.
________________________________
1998 Ford Explorer
2002 Ford Ranger
2002 Ford F250 Power Stroke

 

Where can I find this All Data that you mentioned? Ronny

 

guess i'll have to bookmark this one when/if mine goes

 

http://www.alldata.com/TSB/20/022022dy.html
It's at the bottom of the list. It's a tech website on how to fix problems that happen often but aren't somthing that causes enough problems to be recalled. I'm too cheap to pay for the service, but i remembered reading it a while back.

 

I posted the text of that TSB (01-15-6) in another forum, here it is:

http://www.shoforum.com/showpost.php...1&postcount=13