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99 Dakota heater core change - How hard is it? #596448
01/28/10 12:49 PM
01/28/10 12:49 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 571
central PA
M
mopartial Offline OP
mopar
mopartial  Offline OP
mopar
M

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 571
central PA
Have had some coolant leaks, now have antifreeze odor blowing into cab when heat is on. Is this a pretty good sign of a leaking core?

How hard is it to change? I know dash has to be dismantled, disable airbags, etc. Any special tools needed?

Any comments appreciated. Thanks.


If it aint broke, dont break it.
Re: 99 Dakota heater core change - How hard is it? [Re: mopartial] #596449
01/28/10 03:01 PM
01/28/10 03:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,909
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
I Win

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,909
Grand Prairie,Texas
I would have posted this in the truck section for quicker answers.

Re: 99 Dakota heater core change - How hard is it? [Re: stumpy] #596450
01/28/10 03:34 PM
01/28/10 03:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,063
Niles , Ohio
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therocks Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks  Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
T

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,063
Niles , Ohio
Sounds like the core.If you do it replace the blower motor and if A/C the evaporator.Its a job.The whole dash pretty much has to come out.Yes the air bags have to be disconnected.There was a Mopar tech here that was doing them at home for like 150 or so.Rocky


Chrysler Firepower
Re: 99 Dakota heater core change - How hard is it? [Re: therocks] #596451
01/28/10 04:53 PM
01/28/10 04:53 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,305
Lakewood, Colorado
herkamer Offline
pro stock
herkamer  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,305
Lakewood, Colorado
Entire dash needs to be removed. Column can stay in but needs to be unbolted so it can hang down. I'd remove the front seat also so the wheel can rest on the floor. From my experience, I would highly suggest getting the factory shop manual to do it, since it really does detail step by step how it's done. Have fun with the 2 nuts behind the back of the motor, they are a royal pain. I was lucky when I did mine having the front clip off which allowed for much easier access. For someone who has never done it, I would expect probably 10-12 hours from start to finish if you are mechanically inclined. I also did air bag replacement when my dash was out so I can't really give a good start to finish time.


Matt
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Re: 99 Dakota heater core change - How hard is it? [Re: herkamer] #596452
01/28/10 10:03 PM
01/28/10 10:03 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 286
Catskill, NY
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teflon Offline
enthusiast
teflon  Offline
enthusiast
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 286
Catskill, NY
It takes me 2 1/2 hours to do. If you got some skills I would say 4 hours for first time. Really is not that bad on Dakotas.

Re: 99 Dakota heater core change - How hard is it? [Re: teflon] #596453
01/29/10 12:32 AM
01/29/10 12:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,439
So Cal
Sinitro Offline
master
Sinitro  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,439
So Cal
Quote:

It takes me 2 1/2 hours to do. If you got some skills I would say 4 hours for first time. Really is not that bad on Dakotas.




2 1/2 Hours really..
Took me 6 hours, have to lift out the whole dash. And then we had to modify the inlet/outlet connections on the OE replacement core as well..

Just my $0.01..







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