Tubes to rear heater core corroded, Options?? '00 GV

Hi All;

It's been a while, which is a good thing...

2000 GV 3.3L

I noticed a coolant leak and discovered that the black painted tubes that route the rear heater lines are corroded and are leaking quite badly.

It appears this part which apparently begins against the firewall near the front heater core and snakes its way to the passenger side underneath the seat, is impossible for me to get to/replace without pulling at least the intake and throttle body out. Is that correct?

I would be OK with bypassing this part/the rear core altogether. The issue I see is that I cannot seem to figure our the routing near the firewall. Would there be consequences to simply connecting the 2 hosed at the top of this tube, thereby completing this loop without ever routing coolant to the back?

Are there consequences to bypassing the rear core?

I do have A/C back there, will that continue to work? Issues with the A/C from bypassing?

Any other simple solutions??

Thanks!
-Tim

I replaced mine on my 99 T&C 3.8L which I think is about the same.
I do not remember having to take off the intake or throttle body.
I did mine using a pit but I think you can do it easy enough on jack stands.
I bought the part at the dealer and it came with all the hoses attached for around $100.
You need to take off the windshield wiper cowl off to do the job on top as that seemed to be the only way to get the small screw out that holds the metal tubes in place. Then disconnect the hoses from the tube. I think the tube came out from the bottom.
Replace all the hoses if you have not already done so.
Steve