heater hoses early-how to replace?
 

On my '82, it seems impossible to get at the inside clamps to replace the heater hoses. AC was added later by dealer and it limits the angle to get at the clamps, so maybe that has to be removed first? I am trying to get at the clamps from the right footwell. I got the lower one off, but the upper is impossible, and replacing them seems even more impossible.

I thought I saw somewhere that there was a different heater core for AC cars, so maybe a non AC car with it added later is an impossible configuration?

Any help would be appreciated.

Step 1-Remove the dash
Good basic instructions:http://www.924.org/techsection/DashReplacement.htm
Step 2-Pull the heater fan assembly & Remove the heater core
Step 3-Test heater core for leaks-replacement is best
Step 4-Now is a good time to clean grounds and check instrument lighting issues
Installation reverse of removal

John_AZ

Removal of dash requires the removal of the center console.

Step 2 should be pull air conditioning box, if so equipped. Simply dropping it might be enough.

You'll also want to pull the fresh air fan, as it'll prevent the heater box from dropping and swinging away enough to get to the hose clamps. The fan assembly comes out through the engine bay. You'll have to remove the scoop, and the screws that attach it to the inside of the heater box, from engine bay again. It's a tight fit, but it will pull out of there. Removing the 4 screws that can be seen around the fan shroud drops the heater box, and gives you just a bit more wiggling room to remove the fan.

Step 3 should just be replace heater core anyway. It's a $50 part, and it would be ashamed to do all that work, and end up with a leaky core next year.

It can be ordered just about anywhere, if you have trouble finding one, get one for an '83 Rabbit w/AC. < ----- Other years would likely work too. I had a hard time finding one for my '83, but when I researched it, I found that the Rabbit/Golf/GTI ones were the same, so long as you search for the A/C ones.





Oh, and don't let all this scare you. It's actually easier than it all sounds.

I started removing the console. Do the heater controls pop out from the rear? There are two small phillips screws underneath, but they are nearly impossible to get out, so I'm not sure if they need to be removed.

How does the upper gauge 'pod' come off? I took out the two screws, and on 924.org they say to snap it out, but I don't want to force it in the wrong direction.

This is forcing me to confront the dash recovering needed, so not the end of the world, but I can see it from here!

Thanks for the help.

Art,
Sorry, no help from me today, I hope you've gotten the phillips screws out and have finished the removal of dash. I will be following your progress. Keep posting.

Good luck

John_AZ

Yes, the heater controls come out from the rear. There are 4 screws that hold the bezel on, once you remove those, the levers and the fan knob, you'll find 2 screws that hold the controls to the center console.


For the upper gauge pod, pull the 2 screws that you can see, then pull the A/C knob off(I don't remember if there was something behind the knob.

The cigarette lighter plug will hang, so you have to finesse the control away from the center console.