BFG3: Crown Victoria Blend Door Actuator and Heater Core Speed Run - Remove and Replace in an Hour!

For your Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, or Marauder, here is how to painlessly replace the heater core and blend door actuator, completing the job in under an hour! This ten-minute video runs you through all of the removal steps - it's that easy! Don't forget to drain the coolant first!
For this job, you don't need to remove any accessories. Here is a list of what you need to remove:
* Remove the windshield defroster trim piece.
* Remove the three 7 mm screws along the windshield.
* Remove the headlight switch.
* Remove the one or two 7 mm screws on the dash trim panel below the steering column (some cars have a Christmas tree on the right side instead of a screw).
* Remove the five 10 mm screws holding the crash plate below the steering column.
* Remove the four 13 mm nuts holding the steering column to the dashboard.
* Remove the two 13 mm nuts and two 13 mm bolts holding the dashboard to the transmission tunnel.
* Back out, but don't remove the 15 mm nut behind the headlight switch.
* Remove the 15 mm bolt behind the driver's kick panel.
* Remove the three 10 mm screws holding the ground wires behind the passenger kick panel.
* Disconnect all electrical connectors (including the radio antenna) in the passenger footwell and behind the passenger kick panel (these can vary based on the model, year, and trim of your car).
* Remove the 10 mm (might be 11 mm on some cars) nut above the three-screw grounding point behind the passenger kick panel.
* Pull the dashboard away from the firewall to access the heater core and blend door actuator.
* Remove the four (sometimes three) 8 mm screws on the blend door actuator.
* Remove the three 11 mm nuts (one on top, two on bottom) holding the heater core box to the firewall.
* In the engine bay, remove the two coolant hoses connected to the heater core.
* Alternate between gently pushing the aluminum tubes through the firewall and pulling on the bottom of the heater core assembly to move it away from the firewall.
* Remove the five 8 mm screws holding the plastic cover on top of the heater core.
* Shimmy the heater core out through the top of the assembly.
Assembly is the reverse of disassembly.

[@jayjay7160]

After watching all the videos I could find on this and my parts came in (heater core & blend door actuator) I tackled this job yesterday in less than 3 hours and I'm not a mechanic but do work on my own cars when I can. Honestly wasn't bad the one bolt next to the heater core pipes right behind the blend door actuator was a pain in the A$$ that alone took my like 30 min to get back in place and bolted on 😂 other than that I saved $1100 on labor for "7-8 hours" of labor 🙄

[@thatguy9470]

This is incredibly helpful thank you. A shop was going to charge 1200 for the job and I only paid 1100 for the car

[@danielmcqueen1024]

The Best video I've seen to get at the blend door actuator! It's a Son on the Beach to get at thru behind the passenger airbag!

[@jayjay7160]

Haha that's why I replaced my actuator since my dash was goin to be off anyway 🤣

[@drevildruid]

Quickest ratchet in the west. Awesome video!

[@wadepatton2433]

Thanks. I've worked on cars all my driving days but this is the first heater core I've needed to replace. Picked up a new 2011 today and it reeks (my nose is sharp for coolant leaks-not as sharp now after a 4-hour drive in the leaker). Your vid should save me a bit of time.

[@adrianlastname4864]

i love this video, straight and to the point. no extra bullshit fluff. super useful

[@richardramon2175]

Thank you for posting this. Your video is the best I've seen on this job. And thanks for the step-by-step instructions on removing the nuts and bolts. I will be tackling mine this weekend. I have a 2000 grand marquis. Going to replace the blend door actuator and some display lights such as the lights to the right of the speedometer while I'm in there, hopefully

[@MarauderV8]

Glad it was helpful!

[@richardramon2175]

@@MarauderV8 So my new heater core looks small compared to your Crown Vic. The dimensions are 6" wide by 9" tall and 1 3/4" thick.

[@richardramon2175]

Sir. I am having a hard time prying the heater core housing away from firewall. It is coming out just about 45degrees. Almost as if it is binding somewhere. Any suggestions?suggestions?

[@richardramon2175]

​@@MarauderV8I think I missed the top screw that holds the heater core housing to the firewall.

[@Nightcrawler__01]

I am not a certified mechanic but I do know these crown vics well. Thank you good sir I tackled this job in just a couple hours. From start to finish I'd say it took about 4 hours. All data said it would take a shop 16 hours 🤣🤣🤣 yeah i wasn't paying that labor bill...

[@jimkleiss1020]

Thank you so much for posting this. I knocked out my blend door motor in about 2.5 hours, and 30m of that was R&R of the forward screw on the motor. I never would've attempted to pull the dash until i saw this video, but it's really no big deal, and so much easier than trying to do it through the airbag hole.

[@leonardpeters3266]

Incredibly useful. Thanks a bunch. Getting ready to do my blend door actuator. I prefer this method. Really glad I found your video.

[@jgemmell2823]

Awesome video. Thak you for posting it.

[@marvinhaagsma9177]

Thanks for your consideration regarding camera positioning getting priority over your eyeballs!

[@Derfwashere]

Thank you kindly

[@thomaslee7684]

Great video! Tackled this myself last fall and it took me waaaayyyy more than 1 hour lol. But after doing it once, I can see how the time could be cut down. 1 hour is impressive!

[@andresmith4957]

How long did it take you? Mine need replacing. Money is tight so if I could do it myself I'll give it a shot if it will save money

[@thomaslee7684]

@@andresmith4957 ohh boy it was days for me, but to be fair that was largely my fault. I took it really slow and had the benefit of owning a second vehicle. I probably spent 15-20 hours total, but again that was because I took it very slow and over the course of multiple days. That being said, in hindsight I could've done it way faster. Definitely get a helper if you can.

[@andresmith4957]

@thomaslee7684 appreciate the quick response. I will do that. I'm far from a mechanic, but if I can do it myself I rather spend a few hours than some money

[@thomaslee7684]

@@andresmith4957 oh yeah it's 100% doable. You got this! Change out your blend door actuator while you're in there!

[@Pristine_Auto_Works_LLC]

I got it out no problem. The problem is getting it back in and aligning the tubes back through the holes with the heavy ass dash in the way.

[@Snowlep337]

That's crazy how you manage to get the box to come back. So far I can barely get my heater core out.

[@MarauderV8]

You have to move it back kind of evenly or it'll get caught up on the studs it's bolted to.

[@Snowlep337]

@@MarauderV8 I was able to do everything but I must have knocked a connector loose or something because now none of my windows work.

[@Snowlep337]

@@MarauderV8 ah well turns out of you don't tighten the bolt on that electrical connector your blend door and windows stop working, easy fix.

[@agapitoadal8937]

I have the MGM. I understand the CV, MGM have very similar build. I seen when you removed some nuts holding up steering column and it dropped. In the MGM there’s a string attachment of sort. Does that need to be removed as well? I wish I knew if part name. But it sits right between the front two nuts. TIA

[@MarauderV8]

That's probably the shifter cable. You don't need to remove that; you're only dropping the steering column enough to be able to swing the dashboard out.

[@DustinWilliams-po1sc]

Installed by steering column back in place and now my wheel clicks and is stiff when turning. Any ideas? Also managed to swap the heater core, thanks!

[@MarauderV8]

Check to make sure the steering shaft is fully engaged. It extends and retracts, so it might be extended too far

[@Dark-fb8sp]

Hello, how are you I want to replace a heater core for my Grand Marquis. Do you recommend any specific high quality heater core? And what is the name of the company

[@MarauderV8]

I don't have a specific recommendation but I got mine from RockAuto and it's the APDI brand. It was a perfect fit and I haven't had any issues since installing it back in November.

[@xXEvangelXx]

My car has the center console/floor shifter, so most of this wouldn't be applicable, right?

[@MarauderV8]

The console shifter assembly isn't attached to the dashboard. You may need to remove the tray with the cigarette lighter to swing the dash out, but it might be doable without it. Either way, you don't need to do anything to the center console.

[@kotonarimasu6597]

Do you have to deflate the airbags before doing that type of job

[@mikec81]

are you serious lol

[@MarauderV8]

Do you mean the safety airbags or the air suspension? Either way, no, you don't need to touch either of those things for this job!

[@Chaos_]

@@MarauderV8 I think he saw the airbags hanging out of the steering wheel and passenger side dash.

[@danielmcqueen1024]

I always make sure My Air Bag is in the house out of my way... I mean the Wife :)

[@danielmcqueen1024]

Just make sure the battery is disconnected! That'll make sure you don't get a Big Bang in the face!

[@PapaJohn_21]

What year was this? I have a ‘98

[@MarauderV8]

It was a 2003, but it's the same process for 1998-2011. The only difference might be the size of a few of the nuts on the passenger side, but that's it.

[@user-zq4pm5bs7m]

Putting it back isn't just the same as taking it out in reverse. Putting it back is an absolute mother f*****g nightmare. Lol

[@MarauderV8]

How so? I've done this ten times or so now and It's super straightforward.

[@lamontseals3351]

So leave steering column in?

[@MarauderV8]

There are multiple ways to do it, so I guess it depends on what you prefer! I'm going to make a short video that just focuses on the different ways to disconnect the steering column, so stay tuned for that soon.

[@jayjay7160]

Drop it it makes it way easier. it's just four 13mm and a 7mm for the lil gear selector string thing.

[@NGGPeter]

@@MarauderV8 I don't know about Panthers, but whenever I've taken a dashboard out as an assembly, I leave the steering column bolted in and just remove the one small pinch bolt for the steering shaft U-joint

[@buckyboy2000]

Yea right would like to see this person put all those screws back tossing on the floor. It would be good idea to get some small zip locks and label with sharpie so you know where they go. Good vid overall thanks much

[@MarauderV8]

I kept magnetic trays on both sides when I did it in my car and dumped them in. All of the 7 mm screws are identical, so it doesn't matter where they go. Everything else is specific to its location, so you can't really mess it up.

[@evancrosley2857]

@@MarauderV8good to know. Thanks man

[@delmonte30]

Omg I can’t get the box the heater core slides into mounted

[@MarauderV8]

There are some studs below the air box that are hard to see. Aside from that, you might need to aggressively wiggle it so the floor vent lines back up. I'm not really sure why you cant get it mounted, but unless you broke something you'll be able to get it back in.

[@delmonte30]

@MarauderV8 I'm aware of the two post on the bottom. I couldn't get the black box to move less than an inch. This is really hard to see what's blocking it from mounting back in?

[@MarauderV8]

There's a post on top as well. Aside from that, if you can't get it to mount flush to the firewall, the only other thing I can think of is something got wedged between the box and the firewall. The floor vent tube can get in the way of moving the box, so that may have gotten jacked up somehow. You might need to pull the whole dashboard out so you can get in there and see what's blocking it. It's pretty easy to do and if you followed the steps in my video, the only thing you have to do is fully remove the nut holding the left side, disconnect the HVAC vacuum lines, then pull the dash all the way away from the firewall. I hope you get it figured out!

[@delmonte30]

Man how can call this dude?

[@jimjones4405]

lkq greenville sc

[@itstheoz1]

it takes 2 people to pick up dash and put it in place

[@MarauderV8]

No it doesn't. I have completely removed the dashboard from my car and reinstalled it alone. Just doing the heater core is even easier because you only swing the dashboard out, so all you do is swing it back.

[@albertdenkenberger5511]

I did everything you did and I still don't have no heat

[@danielmcqueen1024]

Same here... But you got to purge the air out of the heater core and Viola... Heat! Mine's an 2004 Vick LX

[@adrianheras8892]

Can’t get the heater core out for some reason everything came out fine………………

[@MarauderV8]

Did you unbolt the HVAC box from the firewall and pull it away?

[@adrianheras8892]

I’m not sure I thought I got everything the bottom is prying open but the top is still completely on

[@delmonte30]

I’m stuck. May day

[@Ovrlordz]

Where is the Marauder, Marauder V8?

[@MarauderV8]

She's hiding.

[@TheMainMan.]

Ugh. My Chevy truck was so much easier than this. Why can't engineers design something with the mechanic in mind? Over complication of things seems to be the norm anymore.

[@fastfingersfranky]

1 hour my as s… helpful but no

[@MarauderV8]

Aside from the gaps from me walking around the car to the other side or repositioning the camera, you saw me do the removal in real time, and the installation is just as easy. I bet I could do it in 45 minutes if I was hustling.

[@andresmith4957]

Would it be easier with a second person? Ive heard diffrent comments from diffrent people saying it took a day with just one person, and a few hours with 3. Obviously you was able to do it in a hour by yourself, but someone like me that doesnt know much, was just wondering what you would recommend? Great video by the way

[@MarauderV8]

I don't think a second person matters. You only remove one side of the dashboard, then pivot it, so putting it back is easy. Even moving slowly it should only take a couple hours as it's really not that complex.

[@andresmith4957]

@MarauderV8 appreciate the response and information. I'll definitely tackle this sooner than later. Appreciate you