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DIY- Replacing the Heater Core

21K views 2 replies 2 participants last post by  Balyon85 
#1 ·
Hey guys and gals,

My heater core has needed to be fixed for, oh I don't know, about a year now so since it's still scorching hot out here I decided to finally address this issue before the cold months arrive. Proactive, right? :biggrin: Anywhoo, the heater core replacement job is quite intensive and is chalk full of knuckle-scraping moments in which you will undoubtedly swear up a storm. BUT hopefully this guide will assist you in some capacity during this painful procedure ;)

--It may help to familiarize yourself with the heater system beforehand: Sentra Heater diagram

1) Position the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position.

2) Turn the ignition switch OFF.

3) Disconnect the negative (() battery cable; then, the positive (+) battery cable.

4) Remove the driver’s side SRS and steering wheel by performing the following procedure:
Remove the lower lid from the steering wheel and disconnect the driver’s air bag module connector.
Remove both the left and right side lids from the steering wheel.
Using a tamper resistant Torx® wrench (T50), remove the special bolts from both side of the steering wheel.
Carefully, remove the air bag module and store it face up.
Disconnect the horn’s electrical connector and remove the steering wheel nut.
Using a steering wheel puller, press the steering wheel from the steering column.

5) Remove the passenger’s side SRS by performing the following procedure:
Remove the glove box door and the glove box.
Disconnect the front passenger’s air bag module connector.
Using a tamper resistant Torx® wrench (T50), remove the 2 special bolts.
Remove the 4 passenger’s air bag-to-instrument panel nuts.
Carefully, remove the front passenger’s air bag module and store it face up.

6) Drain the cooling system into a clean container for reuse.

7) Discharge and recover the air conditioning system refrigerant.

8) Working in the engine compartment, disconnect the heater hoses from the heater core tubes.

9) Remove the instrument panel by performing the following procedures:
On the driver’s side, remove the 2 lower panel-to-instrument panel screws and the lower panel.
Remove the 2 lower reinforcement panel-to-instrument panel screws and the lower reinforcement panel.
Remove the 6 steering column cover screws, the cover and combination switch.
Remove the 2 cluster lid “A” screws and the cluster lid “A”.
Remove the 3 combination meter screws, disconnect the electrical harness connector and remove the combination meter.
Remove the ashtray.
Remove the cluster lid “C” mask, screw and the cluster lid “C”.
Remove the 8 audio and air conditioning control assembly-to-instrument panel screws, the electrical connectors and the audio and air conditioning control assembly.
Remove the transmission shifter finisher.
Remove the rear console mask, the 4 screws and the rear console.
Remove the 4 front console screws and the front console.
Remove the front pillar garnish.
Remove the lower dash side garnish.
Remove the instrument panel mask.
Remove the instrument panel-to-chassis nuts/bolts and the instrument panel.

10) Remove the air conditioning housing assembly by performing the following procedure:
Disconnect the refrigerant lines from the air conditioning housing assembly.
Disconnect the thermo control amp.
Remove the air conditioning housing assembly.

11) Remove the heater unit.

12) Remove the heater core from the heater unit.









To install:

1) Install or connect the following:
Heater core to the heater unit
Heater unit

2) Install the air conditioning housing assembly by performing the following procedure:
Install the air conditioning housing assembly.
Connect the thermo control amp.
Connect the refrigerant lines to the air conditioning housing assembly.

3) Install the instrument panel by installing or connecting the following:
Instrument panel and the instrument panel-to-chassis nuts/bolts
Instrument panel mask
Lower dash side garnish
Front pillar garnish
Front console and the 4 front console screws
Rear console, the 4 screws and the rear console mask
Transmission shifter finisher
Air conditioning control assembly, the electrical connectors and the audio and the 8 audio and air conditioning control assembly-to-instrument panel screws.
Cluster lid “C”, the screw and the cluster lid “C” mask
Ashtray
Combination meter, connect the electrical harness connector and install the 3 combination meter screws
Cluster lid “A” and the 2 cluster lid “A” screws
Combination switch, the cover and the 6 steering column cover screws
Lower reinforcement panel and the 2 lower reinforcement panel-to-instrument panel screws
Lower panel and the 2 lower panel-to-instrument panel screws, on the driver’s side

4) Working in the engine compartment, connect the heater hoses to the heater core tubes.

5) Install the passenger’s side SRS by installing or connecting the following:
Front passenger’s air bag module
4 passenger’s air bag-to-instrument panel nuts
2 new special bolts and torque to 11–18 ft. lbs. (15–25 Nm), using a tamper resistant Torx® wrench (T50)
Front passenger’s air bag module connector
Glove box door and the glove box

6) Install the driver’s side SRS and steering wheel by installing or connecting the following:
Steering wheel to the steering column
Steering wheel nut and torque the nut to 22–29 ft. lbs. (30–39 Nm)
Horn’s electrical connector
Air bag module
New special bolts to both side of the steering wheel and torque the bolts to 11–18 ft. lbs. (15–25 Nm), using a tamper resistant Torx wrench (T50)
Left and right side lids to the steering wheel
Lower lid to the steering wheel
Driver’s air bag module connector.

7) Refill the cooling system.

8) Connect the positive (+) battery cable; then, the negative (() battery cable.

9) Evacuate, charge and leak test the air conditioning system refrigerant.

10) Operate the engine to normal operating temperatures; then, check the climate control operation and check for leaks.

..and now you're golden, pony boy :biggrin:
 
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