heater core on a 92

[directory]

92 firebird convertable v6.

i have a leak on the passenger side floor board. i think its the heater core. how hard/easy is it to replace? maybe i can bypass it? would that work, it is a convertable anyway--i don't drive it in the winter--so i don't need heat.

i'm looking to possibly sell it and want to fix the issue before i do. what trouble am i looking at?

--B

[silver87ta]

Yes, you can bypass, but from time to time until it drains completely you will get green dribbles on your carpet.

If you want to take it out, replacements are dirt cheap at Autozone. Disconnect the hose from the brass tubes coming through the firewall from the passenger compartment on the pass side. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DONT CUT THE TUBE GOING DOWN BEHIND THE ENGINE!! Its an absolute bitch to replace. Next, remove your passenger side seat, then remove enough screws from the center console to move it back a few inches. Then, remove your radoi and the heater controls from car, and remove the dash piece that held them. Now, remove your dash pad, and unbolt the screws holding the defroster ducts in place, and pull those out, also disconnecting the dash speakers. After that, go to the drivers side and take out the 2 bolts holding your steering column up, after you remove the insulating panels under the dash on both sides. On the passenger side, you need to pull your ECM and put her in a NICE SAFE PLACE Now, go back topside and get the bolts still hold ing the dash in place, all but the ones closest to the drivers door. This should let you pull the passenger side of the dash out just far enough to see a bplack box behind it. Remove the 3 screws holding the box lid on, and behold your prize. When putting this mess back together, make sure that the plug around the steering wheel gets put back together, or you will have no horn and signals. Also, If you find you have no lights in the rear, theres a plug alllll the way up in the drivers corner under the dash that may have come loose.

All in all, should take you no more than 3 hours, and everything is detailed with pic in the Haynes Repair Manual for Firebird 1982-1992, you should pick one up when you buy your new core.

Hope that helps

[directory]

you are a great person. thanks

--B

[lightgray]

i wouldn't go unbolting the passenger seat. when i put mine in, i sat in the passenger seat. you also don't need to unbolt the center console or move it at all, you do need to disconned=ct the radio and heat controls and remove the plastic housing they are contained in. drop the column, leave the ecm alone. there are bolts at both ends of the dash assembly holding it to the car. after you remove both kick panels from undr the driver's side and passsenger side, as well as the dash pad you will have easy access to them. the dash will actually sit in your lap as you reach over it to get to the heater box bolts. don't break the plastic molding around the core, it bolts to the new one.v all said and done, and believe me it's much easier said than done, it took me 4 1/2 hours to do.