Fix It

Explore » home» 10 » 1997 » a » blazer » core » heater » how » on » replace » s » the » to » How to Replace the Heater Core on a 1997 S 10 Blazer

---

How to Replace the Heater Core on a 1997 S 10 Blazer

There are few things more uncomfortable than getting into your Blazer on a cold winter morning and realizing that you have no heat. Because you have to remove the dashboard to replace the heater core, it is often a costly repair. If you have time and patience, you can replace the heater core in your Chevy Blazer in an afternoon.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery prior to starting any work. You need to do this before performing any repairs on your Blazer to reduce the risk of shock or electrical shorts while you work.

2

Locate the heater core on the engine compartment side of the firewall. Disconnect the inlet and outlet heater hoses from the heater core and plug the open end of the hoses to prevent debris from entering the hoses while you are working.

3

Remove the lower dashboard panels from both the left and right sides by turning the retaining screws counterclockwise to remove them and then depress the clips to release the panels.

4

Locate the pivot bracket under the dashboard at both ends of the dash. Turn the bolts on the pivot bracket counterclockwise to remove them from the dash assembly. Turn the Torx screws on the pivot brackets counterclockwise to remove them from the bracket.

5

Lower the steering column from the dashboard by turning the four nuts counterclockwise to remove them from the firewall bracing.

6

Find the steel rod brace located just to the right of center at the bottom of the dashboard. Turn the bolt at the end of this brace counterclockwise using the appropriate socket to remove it from the dashboard.

7

Use a flat screwdriver to pry the speaker grilles and the defrost outlet out of the dashboard. This will expose a series of bolts that are hidden behind the grilles. Turn each of these bolts counterclockwise to remove them from the dash.

8

Hold the dashboard and allow it to tilt towards the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Disconnect the main electrical plug and the radio antenna.

9

Remove the steel rod brace from the heater core. Once this brace has been removed, use the Phillips screwdriver to remove the six screws that secure the heater core cover to the housing.

10

Remove the screws at the top and bottom of the straps attaching the heater core to the passenger compartment side of the firewall counterclockwise to remove the support straps.

11

Remove the screw from the center of the strap covering the tubes leading to the engine compartment. This is located at the top-left of the heater core. Once this screw is removed, you will be able to pull the faulty heater core from the firewall and install the new one.

12

Reverse all steps to install the new heater core.