How to replace a heater core on a 1996 Pontiac grand am?

Answer 1

Its a heck of an adventure. The heater core is located inside the car in the middle of the lower dash, in front of your console. Part of it goes through the firewall so look at the middle of the floor and follow it up, its behind the sound insulation. You have to detach the drain tube,there will be some coolant spillage then disconnect the heater hoses from the core tubes (these are right by the firewall, near the manifold, we broke mine, junk plastic). Remove the center console, if you have one. Unfasten and remove the sound insulators, console extentions and/or steering column filler, as required, Its mostly the console then the lower part of the dash you take apart. Remove the floor and console outlet ductwork and hoses. Remove the heater core access cover, I think there are six bolts or screws to remove, some will be hard to see. Remove the heater core mounting clamps and bolts. Its a pain to get it out with the covers, you need to take it out at an angle, same with putting it in. Make sure the core tubes line up inside the case that its in before you try to install it, we had to bend the aluminum tubes a little (I don't recommend doing this if you crease the tube you are screwed). The hardest part is getting the screws and bolts you can't see and also taking it out and putting it back in. Good luck