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Old Jan 3, 2010 | 05:09 PM
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Heater Core question

My truck is a 2001 F150 5.4/auto 4x4. The heater core is clogged. I took off both hoses and you can barely blow thru them.. a little trickle of water can be blown out. I tried back plushing and it bushed a little more out but basically I just got soaking wet cause the house hook just kept blowing off. The truck works great otherwise, just doesn't have any heat..Well it will blow a small amount if you leave it off then cut it back on.

My question is are they hard to replace? I just did the heater core in our other car (95 taurus sho) sat. All i did was drop the steering wheel to the floor and removed the five bolts holding it on (plus all the under hood disconnections). I was able to rest the dash on the passenger seat and get to the heater core/evap box ok to do the job. Is the truck gonna be this easy( I mean it was a tough job but not near as hard as I was told it would be) or will it require complete removal of the dash?

Thank,

Gerald
 
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Old Jan 3, 2010 | 05:33 PM
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sorry for not searching first but it appears the truck will be a little easier. I looked at a couple write ups and it appears you don't even have to discharge the ac which you do on the SHO.

Any other tips are still welcomed though.


gerald
 
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Old Jan 3, 2010 | 05:35 PM
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how about filling it with lime- away and letting it set for a week??????
 
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Old Jan 3, 2010 | 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by gharmon
sorry for not searching first but it appears the truck will be a little easier. I looked at a couple write ups and it appears you don't even have to discharge the ac which you do on the SHO.

Any other tips are still welcomed though.


gerald

Please post the links to the write up here, I could use them
 
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 05:43 AM
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Originally Posted by steve(ill)
how about filling it with lime- away and letting it set for a week??????
Has that been known to work? Where do I get it and should I put it in there and let it mix up then set for awhile or any instructions on how to do that?

I was wondering if there was something that might help unclog it. But it will be tough to let it set for a week.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 06:55 AM
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Replacing the heater core is a BIG job. Basically, the entire dash needs to come out. If you want to ket the lime-away sit for a week, you'll need to make a jumper hose and take the heater core out of the loop.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Joe Finn
Replacing the heater core is a BIG job. Basically, the entire dash needs to come out. If you want to ket the lime-away sit for a week, you'll need to make a jumper hose and take the heater core out of the loop.
I got the heater core out of the loop. It is so clogged it only held like 4-5 ounces of lime-away. Has anyone ever heard of this helping unclog a heater core? Do you think it needs to stay in there a week? Since there is such a small amount do you think I should drain what's i there in a couple days and see if maybe then it will hold a little more?

I understand the heater core is a big job. I just did the one in my wifes car like 3 days ago so I completely understand and would really love to avoid doing it..


thanks,

Gerald
 
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 06:33 PM
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if you have a small hole thru the heater, i have heard of people conecting a small fish tank pump to circulate the mixture thru the core and back to a fish tank, etc... if not, i agree, drain it and refill each day and see how it is doing. i migh tbe tempted to blow water or air thru it each day to see if anything comes loose, after the lime away is drained.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 08:53 PM
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just replaced mine today on a 2000 f150 4x4 5.4L, very easy for a first timer, 4 hours total, no extra screws, so all in all I would say pretty easy.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2010 | 06:50 AM
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Originally Posted by steve(ill)
if you have a small hole thru the heater, i have heard of people conecting a small fish tank pump to circulate the mixture thru the core and back to a fish tank, etc... if not, i agree, drain it and refill each day and see how it is doing. i migh tbe tempted to blow water or air thru it each day to see if anything comes loose, after the lime away is drained.
Tried the water running thru and it just kept blowing the little plastic connection off. I would like to try the air thing but some SOB stole my compressor out of my yard (in broad daylight with me sitting on the couch). Sorry just had to rant.

Gonna try the lime awau thing all week then probably just goona do the core if no better. This just happens to be the coldest week in my week of the woods in years maybe even a decade....

Thanks,

Gerald
 
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Old Jan 5, 2010 | 08:13 PM
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Boss said it was too cold to work today so i decided to come home and do my core...Tired of freezing my *** off. Follow some really good instructions I found on this site and it took 5 hours from start to finish and that includes some screwing off and coming in and out several times to warm my hands.. barely got above freezing today so it was tough on the old hands....

The truck was much easier than the Taurus SHO I did fri and sat....

Thanks for the help/input guys..

Gerald
 
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Old Jan 5, 2010 | 08:27 PM
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great, can you tell whats in the core?? is it calcium or mud??
 
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Old Jan 6, 2010 | 06:29 AM
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Originally Posted by steve(ill)
great, can you tell whats in the core?? is it calcium or mud??


Doesn't look like mud but I was goona tear it apart and and I ll take a pic and maybe someone here can tell.

ON one had I believe the lime away was working as I blowed a good bit of gunk out and it was easier to blow thru with the lime-away only being in there one day. I would like to have let it set but I had a day off and I was tired or freezing my *** off so I went for it.

Thanks,

Gerald
 
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Old Jan 24, 2010 | 10:09 PM
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Could you post some links to the threads on changing the heater core. I have been looking for some time and seem to not be searching the right threads.
 
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Old Jan 25, 2010 | 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by rcdriver11
Could you post some links to the threads on changing the heater core. I have been looking for some time and seem to not be searching the right threads.

email me at my user name @ yahoo dot com

I will send you the instructions that I downloaded from somewhere on the forums.
 
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