92 sc 300 --- Anyone know if it it true that you have to pull the engine to replace the heatr core. I have a leak in mine and need some help. :

 

NO you don't, but you have to rip out the dash. Its gonna cost A LOT if you don't try and do it yourself. Buy a shop manual, it should show you how.

 

I already had a large part of the dash out and could not see how to get to the core without completly removing the entire guts of the heating /cooling system

 

where is the best place to get a shopp manual

 

Call Steve Ganz of Carson Toyota 800-908-6968
or Jay Mark 800-540-4048 or Jeff Watson 800-327-2087

 

And
Darrel Diller
E-commerce Parts Manager
Sewell Lexus of Dallas
ddiller@sewell.com
(214)353-2826

Always shop for best price

 

Don't feel bad, I just rip off hafe of the dash of my 88 vette. to cange the heater core. Still trying to figure out which screw go where and where all the wires should go.

Take pictures lots of them and/or mark them with like color tape/paper for the wires so you can put it back latter on. For the screws, you better remember which one goes where. I don't think the SC is as difficult as the C4 corvette. I had to take the pass. seat out to have more room to work with. Hope you don't have to for the SC.

Report back on the procedures and how much you pay the massage so I know what to expect on our cars.

 

from page AC-127 of vol. 2 of my '93 SC4 manual:

REMOVAL OF HEATER RADIATOR
1. Set temp control switch to max cool.
2. Remove A/C Unit (see page AC-109)
Etc.

from page AC-109:

REMOVAL OF A/C UNIT
1. Recover refrigerant in system.
2. Remove Engine.
Etc.

Right there in black & white.

Ye Gods.

mtnandy, are you absolutely sure your heater core is leaking? Is your carpet getting wet with hot, green, sweet-smelling fluid? Are you sure you're not getting a/c evaporator condensation? It can end up inside the car if the drain line is plugged - it's just clear cold water - I have been crawling around on this forum for half a year and haven't run across anybody else with a bad heater core - for your sake I hope it's something else -

 

WOW! I didn't have time to look up the manual last night. But remove the engine is a bit much. I thought GM engineer were a bunch of idiot, now Toyota engineers would be worse. Taking the engienout to change a fricking heater core :eek:

 

yeah, that's why I asked if the heater core is absolutely the problem - if the Toyota engineers aren't being idiots here, then maybe they know the cores just won't fail, so removal will very seldom be necessary.

 

I sure hope its not the heater core. But heater core does fail just like the radiator.

 

yes ite is the heater core. The coolant went allover the floor and it happened all at once. Usuall you get a small leak first but not this time.

So everyone agrees that you have to take the engine out. If that is the case I think I will buy one of those little heaters you plug into the lighter . The are only about $30. Don,t think a little heater will do much good but maybe it will keep the windsheild clear.

 

Start shopping for the shop manual. You can rent a chery picker (Engine lift) at autozone or pepboy free of charge (they return your money once you give it back). Or maybe paying someone else to do the heater core exchange.

On a Corvette (84-89) I think they cahrge $700 to change the heater core. It's my toy so I take my mine and change it myself It sure take a lot of day to finish this job.

BTW, how many miles is your car? Did you work on the vicinity of the heater core recently? Changing hoses?

Good Luck