Old Library

Hi guys,

I am still trying to replace the heater core on my 97 gti vr6.

Finally took off the instrument panel.  Now I am stuck taking out the heater box.  It moves around freely
but I can't seem to get it out or angle it so I can slide out the heater core.   Do you have to take out
the blower (located on the passenger side) to be able to finish this job?

Thanks in advance,

Jorge

I don't know what u mean by BLOWER but when I replaced my heater core which I hope were talking about the
same thing which is the interior radiator, then u have to disconnect the 2 aircondition pipes found at the
engine compartment at the air filter side just beside the fuel pipes coming from under the car . The 2
aircondition pipes run into the car and usually are covered with a plastic cover and they run to the
passangers side through the fire wall.
Yes all all the gas will run out and youll have to fill in the A.C with new gas later.
Also you have to release the steering pole from the safty pole which runs from the right side to the left
of the car right under the dash and its held with 2 screws each side found by the doors stoppers when u
open the front doors. The screws are stars and not regular screws.

To remove the steering pole u have to use a shape ended screw to hit open the steering screws that have no
head at all ( broken for safty reasons against thievs)

U also have to remove the fuse box from its base BTW the base is the safty pole I was talking about
earlier running from side to side of the car and a brown wire found at the drivers sire has to be also
cliped of , if not the heavy safty pole will tear it because of its weight if wire not disconnected prior
pole removal.

Yes it's a big shitty job.

Good luck. I hope your battery teminals are disconected and that the air bags are also out of the car in a
safe place

Thanks for your help.  I have the Bentley manual for my car (97 gti vr6) and it makes no mention of
removing the steering column or the horizontal support bracket.  I will say that doesn't surprise me now
since the manual does not say to remove the bolts that hold the heater mixer to the firewall, nor does it
show them in any diagram.  I  guess it's intuitively obvious - what was I thinking.  I will let you know
how this turns out when I get it resolved.  Thanks again,

Jorge

If you haven't done the job yet, I actually did mine this spring. The horizontal support, I loosened
enough that I could pull it out about 3 inches on the passenger side. The heater box (I think that's what
it was called), I had to turn about 45 degrees and tilt a bit to get the heater core out. It took a while,
and I actually think my wife was the one who actually got it out. I didn't remove the steering column, or
the horizontal support, just everything that's listed in the library. Never did get everything back in, oh
and I broke the left side trim by the cup holders (doh!). In the end, fiddling with it finally got it out.
Also, I never got the clips (you'll know which clips I'm talking about) back in the back (front of car) of
the heater box. No way. Hope it helps if you haven't gotten around to finishing up yet.

Steve Houck
95 Jetta GLX -toasty, no more coolant on the floor edition

Well you are being replied by a lister who replaced his core recently.
I remember the steps quit clear as it was the second time I do this job on 2 different cars.
Drop me your car details not that I think its built differently but just to make sure as I've heard from
different listers on the Bentley not always every thing is true.
Well as a start its not only the dash which is a pita to remove that has to be removed, actually the ac
filter placed under the wipers section, the wipers and their motor has to be removed. In addition the
thick and thin aluminum hoses (connecting to the ac internal care) has to me removed entering the car from
the engine compartment. The steering column, fuse box and main horizontal thick piece of metal attached to
both sides of the car under the dash for accident safety reasons which is removed by removing the 2 screws
on each side of the car found by the door pivots.
Don~Rt freak out its possible to handle that.
Did I mention removing the airbags / steering wheel ?
Listen dood just write me back and ill give to the exact details as I promised a buddy from our list
though I didn~Rt hear from him later on, he was suppose to drop me a cal, ill be happy to help a vr6 mate.

Asta luego

This is where people start to have different opinions on how to tackle it. I most certainly did NOT do
anything with the A/C. I never had to have it recharged either, and my air works great. A little coolant-y    smelling, but the whole car does now, so no biggie. I also didn't entirely *remove* the horizontal main
support bar, but I did remove the 2 screws on either side and wiggle it around a LOT. Fuse box, nope,
didn't touch it either.

Good luck, let us all know if you need help, we're all willing to help, we've been there before ourselves
:^)

-Steve Houck
'95 Jetta GLX
-9 month old heater core Edition

 The inlet & outlet to the core is in the engine compartment. Remove 2 hose
clamps & pull hoses off. You're going to have to connect the two hose ends
some how. Two hose barb ends & another piece of heater hose is a suggestion.
 I did mine permanently wit brass parts bought at Home Depot. Two barbs, two
elbows, & a short center section. IIRC, it was about $40. I didn't need the
heater in S.Florida anyway.

-John