'98 Taurus Heater Core R&R

[RaceOn]

Hi Guys,

Does anyone have a write up on removing & replacing the heater core in a 1998 Taurus, 3.0 OHV, manual heat/cooling control vehicle? I tried "search" but did not see any write up or "How To" on this subject.

I usually flush my system every fall and I have been able to keep the cooling system in good order, but this year it didn't work. The heater core is plugged. By feel, I have hot water in, but lukewarm water out. I guess the bypass hose is handing all the water. This thing has 74,000 miles on it, but the cooling system looks like it has 300,000 of hard use.

Thanks,
Pat

[MagicRat]

Have you tried reverse-flushing the heater core itself with a garden hose?
You disconnect the heater core lines, hook a garden hose to the outlet (this is the line that goes to the waterpump) and blow fresh water through the heater core.

These cores are notorious for getting blocked and this process often frees them up.

[RaceOn]

Flushing the heater core is the reason I flush the system every year. This year I flushed the system and the heater core, specifically, twice and it is plugged solid. Don't think I have any choice, but, to replace the heater core.

Thanks,
Pat

[RicartParts.com]

ALL I HAVE IS A TEXT DESCRIPTION TO R and R, I CAN COPY AND PASTE IF YOU LIKE, 9 STEP REMOVE, 12 STEP INSTALL

[RaceOn]

I was hoping to find someone that has replaced their HC without jumping thru all the hoops that the Haynes manual says are necessary. The first step in the Haynes manual says "Take the vehicle to a dealer service department....", now that's what I really want to do. Then it says remove the instrument panel. I think it would be easier to remove the body and shake the heater core out.

In all seriousness, I really hope that there is an easier way to R & R the HC. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part.

Thanks,
Pat

[RicartParts.com]

Good luck with that

[shorod]

Some time back someone posted in a similar thread about a "cheat" method to replace the heater core in the Taurus easily, I think it involved cutting an access hole in the plastic enclosure, the sealing it back up after changing the heater core. Made for a very simple replacement. I'll see if I can find it using the search feature.

-Rod

[shorod]

The link is in this thread. Scroll down to page 5 of the PDF.

-Rod

[RaceOn]

Rod,

I remember reading something like what you describe, but I was unable to locate the thread. I remember reading it when I was searching for brown coolant solutions, but on searching "heater core" I find nothing. Any assistance you can lend will be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,
Pat

[shorod]

Yep, click on the hyperlink in post #8 above where it says "this thread."

-Rod

[RaceOn]

Rod,

That's just what I was looking for. Thank you very much. Now, if it stops raining, and warms up a bit, I'll give it a try.

Thanks,
Pat

[mwt47]

I manged to post this in the link thread instead of here.


Re: remove heater core without removing whole dashboard
I spent twenty minutes looking for a picture of it but Ford finally added the bypass kit in 98 or 99 and a major part of it is a braided ground wire that goes from the water pump to the heater core.

Also the Impeller on the Vulcan waterpump is notorious

If you run a bottle of Prestone Super Radiator Cleaner it will help.

I had the Brown Coolant problem on my 99 Vulcan.
I flushed my system until it was nice and clean only to have it come back.

My 99 had the Bypass hose kit installed but did not have the ground that goes from the heater core to the water pump.

This is how I finally made it go away and it hasn't returned.

1.Totally flush the system with the Prestone Radiator Super Cleaner.
2.Pull the Heater hoses and flush and flush and then back flush and back flush
Flush and flush and flush then
Back flush ,backflush,backflush
Hook the hoses back up and run it for a while with straight water

3.Change the water pump
4.Run another bottle of Super Radiator flush for the proscribed 6 hours.
5. drain and pull the heater hoses and flush and flush and well you get the picture.
6. make sure you install the ground wire. I grabbed one from the salvage but you can just make one.
7. Change the Expansion tank/resovoir with the current updated version.
8. Fill with the proper amount of anti freeze.

It's been 4 winters and now brown coolant or no heat problems.

[RaceOn]

Like many others, mine has been an on going problem. I have replaced three tanks in the last four years. This year I replaced the water pump and the thermostat, even though they both appear to be fine. I do have the ground wire attached and have flushed and flushed and flushed to no avail. It's still plugged. The brown coolant issue seems to be behind me, but I think the heater core ended up being the resting place for all the gunk that built up in the system over the years. I did try the Prestone Radiator Super Cleaner twice, and while it did clean out the engine, it didn't seem to help the heater core.

I made one last ditch effort yesterday and flushed and back flushed for about an hour. I flushed, blew air through the heater core and flushed again. I just could not get much to come out. There is a little bit of heat, but if you switch it over to defrost, the cool air from the AC over rides the warm air. It's my wife's car and she just cannot exist without heat. Know what I mean?

I really appreciate everyone's help, but it looks like the heater core is coming out.

Pat

[mwt47]

Sorry to hear it but sometimes you have to admit defeat.

Use the tutorial that was posted to put a new heater core in and with everything else you have now done, you shouldn't have it return.

Good Luck

[oneroundko]

Old thread (I know) but I figure I will bump this one.


Instead of removing the dash, can I just cut all the bottom parts of the dash (I don't really care that much about this Taurus anymore as it has 220k on odom and It might not even be the core) and just undo all the bolts around area and take the old heater core out? The one I'm working on is a 2000 though I think that's the same schematic as a 1998.