SidViscous

Well I thought it would be simple enough. Now I know why Porsche makes so many air cooled cars. Cuz they don't know ****e about water cooled cars.

The only way they could make this MORE difficult would be to install a ravenous Leopard in the way.


That and the PO made a complete mess of the behind center console wiring.

Jim @ EuroWerks

Sid you are wrong, the porsche could be so acidic it would eat through your hands.

Waterguy

You are lucky that you have an early model. It gets a little complicated on the later models with the fancy climate control system.

SidViscous

That's true Jim.

Waterguy. No way. I've had to remove the underhood fan. Center console. AC system (behind glovebox) and still don't have acess. Looks like tomorow I'll have to remove the dashboard. This has a calmshell type plastic shell. One side goes in from passenger side, other from drivers. the way it is designed the core can only come out one way, and that means removing one half of the plastic shell. It is possible that it's glued together.

Even as far as I have gone I have a procedure (Something I havent been able to find). There are actually a variety of ways to do it.

Heater core repair procedures.

Easiest and most economical.

1. Bypass heater core.
2. Move to Florida.

Easiest
1. Sell car, buy new car with working heater core.

Most economical.
1. Insure car for fire.
2. Torch car
3. With insurance proceeds buy new car.

DIY

1. Strip car to the frame
Note: Heater core housing is installed directly onto the frame at the factory, rest of car is built around it.
2. Seperate two halves of heater core housing.
3. Replace heater core
4. Assembly is the reverse of removal.

Chris_924s

Sid.. chill out- It could be MUCH worse.. You could have an Audi...
Peace out dude.

strip car to frame is a touch extreme-- but worthwhile... YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'LL FIND!!!

Later Brothuh...

SoCal Driver

Didn't they just make a movie about this?

SidViscous

Chris. I'm not being Extreme. Trust me on this. It's unbelievable complex. I'll have the AC system completely out of the car tomorow. Maybe then I can get my head in enough to see what I might have to do.

Peckster

For your sake, I hope there's something the matter with it.

Jim @ EuroWerks

Sid, I'll ck my manuals tomorrow if that wont be to late.I've had late 944 a/c systems out, but never an early.

SidViscous

Yeah. Had steady sticky leaks (passenger side footwell) and cooling system wouldn't hold water. Bypass fixed it.

Thanks Jim. Tomorow is fine. I'm done. No garage. and it's dark out.

Granite 944

I removed this heater assembly from an '83 na parts car when I stripped it down to a shell. This pic shows a view of the heater box from the passenger side with some cables, cable control assembly, and of course the heater core in it with the access door tipped up. Don't you have the same unit as below? I've never tried removing the heater core from my '85/1, but I do need to gain access to it in order to remove the heater hose clamps so I can replace my really iffy looking hoses.

I sure don't know, but can't you remove the lower part of the dashboard under the glovebox, the glovebox, and then gain access to this removable panel, thus the core? I do remember that the plastic tabs that hold the panel in sure are brittle from age/heat. I did break one tab off removing this one.

Good luck with it, and let us all know your experiences.........I've got to get in there soon myself!

SidViscous

Ken


Looks vaugely familiar. Mines white though (not that that matters much I know) And if that's the case I should be close to home free. Flip the tabs and away I go. Would negate the underhood blower steps, but the AC assembly would still have to come out (Huge pain).

What scares me is I used my touching eyes (Fingers, can't see much in there) and it felt different.

Though I have to say that you've given me hope enough not to jump out a window.

SidViscous

Hey

Ken if You ever get out East Coast way I owe you a six pack and a big wet kiss.

Went out on the way to the pub and stuck my hand in there in the dark. Got the latches open, opened the door and touched the heater core.



Just glad I don't have to take anything else apart. Now if I can just find a replacement (wanted to get the old one to take with me since I'll probably getting a VW part for replacement)

Manning

Gee Sid, too bad it's not a Fiat of the same vintage. If it was you wouldn't have to worry about all of this since the whole car would have rusted away by now.

Granite 944

I'd share a six pack with ya anytime, but the big wet kiss..............well.......I won't go there.

So ya say the AC unit still needs to come out to huh? I don't really remember what it looked like under the dash of that '83 when I was there, I was taking it apart pretty quickly.

Take a good look before you remove the core, and see if your leaking might be more of a hose/clamp issue? But since your there anyway, might not be a bad idea to remove the core and have it checked out by a radiator shop before you put it back in? And of course.......new hoses.

Keep us informed on how it goes!

I can sure understand the frustration..........BTDT........like a lot of others!

Sometimes ya just feel like going at it like...........