camarosource

iTrader: (1)

I have a 1992 Camaro Z28. Heater core burst on my passenger side. TIGHT on available cash to pay the $700+cdn to have it fixed (they claim 6.5 hours).

I'm being told it's not TOO hard to do myself, but requires a lot of patience because you have to remove the entire dash and console.

I have NEVER gone to that extreme. and am worried of screwing up. I really worried about connectors, wires, and cooling tubes coming off or breaking, or anything and me stuck to get it towed with the dash all over the place..

Does anyone have a EXACT removal (step-by-step) with pics which would help greatly (YES, I have the HAYES book but it's describing OLDER 3rd gen Camaro's).

Including Empying, Flushing, Refilling coolant...

Joez88Camaro

Take a weekend off, make sure you have all the necessary tools, and just keep on digging and digging in the passenger side of the dash while keeping all the little nuts and bolts organized until you find it.

Petes 84Z28

The pics aren't the greatest, and it's from an 86 R&R, but it should be quite similar.
http://www.hioutput.com/tech/heatercore.html

92camarors5spd

here is what you need. a cordless drill. with an adapter to use 1/4 sockets(to make it easy on yourself) 7mm and a 10mm. i just replaced my heater core in my 92. it was really that bad i had it done in just under 5hrs. first thing you want to do is remove the dash pad. becareful now because it cracks very easily. make sure you only remove the screws for the dash. not the a/c ducks. now remove the passenger side lower consuled cover. and the driverside you will need a torque bit. for got what size. take it down. now that you have. things pretty much out of your way. you will then need to take out your center consult. i tried to do it with out removing it. and it needs to come out. now remove remove the 4 bolts holding the steering column. lower the column. then take out the screws that are holding the rest of the dash up on the top side. the dash should just fall out. now go to the engine bay and disconnect your heater core. this could get messy. then go back into the car and remove the screws on the panal thats on the a/c box. now remove the screws holding the heater core and with some muscle it should come right out. then transfer the brackets off your old heater core to your new heater core and installation is reverse of pulling it out.

hope this helps you just a little bit.

camarosource

iTrader: (1)

thanks for the replies. I had no time, was desperate at the time and spent the $800 to get it done.

irocstang

it only took me 1/2 an hour to do myself and the 60 bucks for the new heater core.

Steps.

1.) Remove plastic panel on lower side of dash passenger side. Believe its about 6 screws and then comes off.

2.) Open hood and pinch heator core tubes (2) with straight vice grips (need 2 pairs 1 for each tube)

3.) Undo the heater core circle clamps-2 (inside the motor compartment at the firewall)

4.) Pull out heater core from the passenger side (under dash) inside car. And put new one in exactly as you took old one out.

5.) put tubes in motor compartment (2) onto heater core at firewall and install both clamps.

6.) undo vice grips and test for leaks (car running)

7.) Reinstall plastic piece inside the car lower side of dash on passenger side.

Im sorry to hear that you payed 800 to get it done. Thats highway robbery at its best. You were mugged. Id go back and ask for at least 700 of it back.

Even an ameteur could replace a heater core in a camaro in less than an hour total.

camarosource

iTrader: (1)

That's cause you have an 86' ;-) the 1992's (believe 89 and up) require you to remove the entire dashboard (or at least remove it as much out of the way so you can reach the TOP screw that is up, UP inside the dash.

irocstang

not worth 800 bucks!!!! Ask for 700 back!!!

Jade Grey

iTrader: (1)

You do not have to remove the entire dash on the '89 and up cars.

Drop the ECM out of the way, and the top screw on the heater box is not that difficult to reach. See the picture posted by JamesC in this thread, Heater Core and 82-86 Vehicles. The same technique can be used on the later cars. A 1/4" gearless shorty ratchet made the job simple.

$800CDN is way too much to spend on that simple repair. You were raped.

This thread helped me when I replaced mine, Notes on heater core replacement.

irocstang

Raped is the right word. For a hour job you paid someone 800 bucks cdn. I wish I was that mechanic....700 bucks n hour... must be nice. Part costs 100 at the most and even thats a bad price.

tummyson

I get slight wiffs of antifreeze every now and then coming through my vents when driving, could that be signs of the heater core ready to explode?

Jade Grey

iTrader: (1)

I had noxious green clouds coming from my vents when my heater core decided to die. The clouds left a nasty residue on the inside of my windshield.

You might want to check it before that happens.

tagta189

If you are smelling antifreeze coming out through your vents then yes your heater core is already leaking.Failure phase 1 is what you have happening now.Failure phase 2 is when you have green steam coming out your defroster vents and steaming up your windshield in about 10 minutes after you start driving.Failure phase 3 is when you have a green sticky smelly lake in your passenger compartment floor.You can kiss your carpet goodby at that point.Get it fixed before it gets that far or it will happen suddenly and at the worst possible moment.At the very least bypass the heater core in the meanwhile.Like they say it's not to bad of a job to do if you are prepared and are in the right frame of mind.I did it in a little over 2 hours but I was in no hurry(heated garage).Good luck.

p.s. don't feel obligated to put that 4th screw back in.You guys all know what I mean,right???

tummyson

Good call, Thanks!!!

WckdDudeMan

While making rom the other day I pulled the entire AC setup from inside the engine bay, as well as the blower housing and Heater core and everything else, took me about an hour to do it all so Im guessing it shouldnt take more than 3 to replace it.

Tobias05

wow...i went in at it from the underside...took me a few hours, don't remember how many off hand...

you could of had a brand new exhaust system for 800 dollars, wow.