Heater Core/Evaporator Removal Manual?

Absolutely, I’m still surprised that some of the stuff I’ve worked on is “still together”.

Taking it apart is “usually” the easy part.

 

Quick lubes are the worst, I swear they have to have a 55 gallon drum full of lost bolts stashed somewhere. Every vehicle that requires something to be removed underneath for an oil change is missing 90% of the fasteners.

 

Do you try and reuse the foam insulation?

 

For me most of the time if it's a first time job it's easier and faster to put it together than take it apart.

 

Audi/Volkswagen only have like 30 fasteners to hold the plastic tray under them. and yeah lots of those disappear.

 

They typically come with new foam.

 

never reused the foam insulation, but have replaced it with some similar foam insulation.

 

Is that an OEM Heater Core?
If so it should have the foam on it already.

 

Bolts?

Bolts are nothing.
Depending on the job and my level of “irritation”, whole parts are optional.

 

It’s an aftermarket evaporator core

 

That's the evaporator but yea it should have foam on it or come with new foam strips.

 

That makes sense, aftermarket stuff all bets are off on whether or not what you need is included and if it will fit correctly without modification or not.

 

I ended up buying an OEM evaporator core. Came with all foam pieces and fit perfect. The price wasn’t much more than aftermarket.

When I was buying a bunch of parts I assumed OEM would be ridiculously expensive, but it was only $90.

 

Going back together now and can’t find a plug for the grey connector under the steering wheel.

Is this unused?

 

It may be, what color wires are going to it and what year is your truck?

 

It’s a 2007

Here’s a pic

 

That is the Steering Angle Sensor connector, it's not used on that year unless you have Stability/Traction Control.
The Steering Angle Sensor would be attached to the back of the Clockspring if it was present.

 

I’d really like to get rid of this aftermarket alarm, but am worried that I’ll miss something and cause a no-start issue.

Is it as easy as finding the alarm “brain” and disconnecting the spider web of wiring?

 

Yea just remove any wires that were tapped in, repair the spots in the factory wiring insulation, reconnect any factory wiring that was cut, and throw the alarm/remote start rat nest in the trash.
Most are just tapped into a few wires but some are deeply rooted and can take some time to remove.

 

If I got that far I would think the truck would be totaled! I remember a friends Chevy sedan back in the 80's where you just had to undo like 10 bolts and the hoses on the engine side of the firewall. The heater core just slid out. Took 1/2 hour to replace the heater core.