1995 blazer heater core... how hard is it to get to?

[vballfun]

I believe my heater core is leaking.. (getting bad antifreeze smell in cabin with heat on.. and slowly losing antifreeze (have to top it off once a month))..

I can hear 'gurgling' in the heater core too when I start up the engine after it's sat for a while..

I have heard they are a bear to get out.

I saw the article in the how to section.. but that was for a 1998 blazer.. how different are the 95's from the 98's?

Thanks,
vballfun

[frehol]

well, You have to lower the stearing collumn (4 bolts) and then loosen the dashboard, pull it back 'till you get room to access the heater. Remove the plastic box on passenger side and you will find the heater core inside.

It took me well over 4h first time but less then 2h second time (got a bad new core that lasted only 3 weeks)

Do a search in the "How to" section, I think there are some good posts on how to remove dash etc.

Remember that -97 and newer have a different heater core housing and is more complicated than yours, don't look too much on those threads...

Good luck!
//Freddy

[mudslinger88]

All I can tell you since yours is a 1995 is it's not a fun job. I just changed my out on my 01 Bravada and that took me over 18 hours total. Of course I had never done any kind of work on the interior before is why it took so long. The Dash should be easier in yours to get out. My best suggestion would be to do what frhol said to do. Look in the "How To" section. Just double check and make sure it's for the right year range, otherwise you will get confused as hell. Another good thing to have on hand is a Haynes manual. Again, be ABSOLUTELY SURE you have the right year range or you will end up taking off unnecessary parts. That was part of my problem on mine. I was looking at the older version and didn't figure it out until I turned the page. Just be sharp and don't get in any kind of rush. Make sure you have a few days to do this on in case you have problems. Sorry, didn't mean to be long-winded, but I don't want you getting in a bind. Everybody knows that causes problems.

Best of luck to you and all who is helping
~John~

[frehol]

I did also follow the Haynes, it was correct but some pics a litle hard to figure out...
From what I read in some threads here I figure our 95's are easier the the post 97 ones as we do not have to remove the hole heater core housing (black plastic box) from the firewall, we can open it and pull out the core while it's mounted on the firewall...

//Freddy

[vballfun]

Oh my gosh!!!
two nights worth of work to just -get- to the blasted heater core.. have to remove the dash board to get to the 3 screws on the top of the heater core housing...

I'd say I've spent about 7 hours total on it already (just to work my way down to access the core) I'm just terrified I'll forget to hook -1- connector back up and not realize it after bolting everything back down.. and then have to go through all that again to reconnect whatever I missed......

sheeeesh..
stopping for the night.. will work on actually disconnecting and replacing the heater core next chance I get.

-VballFun

[beatdr]

uh oh I'm scared I just stumbled on to this site trying to find a heater core (94 olds bravada) and got a bunch of info on doing it thanks. Well I think it's the heater core it's shooting that wierd coolant gas out the defrost vents even when the heaters off. I had a old ford that did the same thing but I never fixed it. Dose that sound like what I'm looking at doing?