Chrysler 200 Heater Core Replacement

How to replace a heater core on a 2011 Chrysler 200. The customer complained of having no heat. After making sure that all other heat related issues/components were functioning properly, replacing the heater core was the next step. This heater core replacement is a bit of a hack for the actual job. But the hack works just fine and will last for years.

[@ThePeriphery]

This method worked for me, too. As a Minnesotan who had to drive in below zero weather for four hours minus heat, I'm incredibly grateful you shared this tutorial. 🙏 Heat works like a charm.

[@EmerickDee]

Thank you!!! This saved me almost $2,000! The part was under $200 and with a little help from some good friends I have heat again! My old heater core was trashed with gunk filling the passenger side. I’m so thankful to you for sharing this “hack” on KZbin!

[@pjhorn5307]

Glad it helped ya

[@SaintsAndShepherds]

I’m having this exact issue 😟

[@tibork3845]

I just completed this on our 2011, one extra step, the kick panel under the steering wheel goes over and behind the center console side panel so had to loosen the center console. Four bolts on the bottom of the console compartment then lift up the back end of the console, this allows an easier removal of the kick panel. You do not need to disconnect the hoses on the firewall, just put a large plastic garbage bag open under the pipes where you cut them, it catches the coolant and really there isn't much coming out at all once you drain the coolant. My replacement core was also slightly bigger than the original so the last couple of inches had to use a wood block and rubber hammer to fit it in but other than that this worked, we have hot air coming out both sides now. A bit more work than I thought, totaled 3 and half hours for me. Thank you!

[@gazilliongraphics]

This was great!!! I love this idea. I'm working on a 2012 Chrysler 200 with the same issue. This WILL save so much time and the customer, I know, will be happy with the saved money. Thank you so much!!!

[@jeffo6131]

Just did exactly what he described / worked like a champ. Heater back in business. Thanks for the video.

[@beckiann2447]

Did you have heat again?

[@seanhorgan6774]

My dude I do not even own this car and I was invested. Good job on the video if you get a 25$ 2k boroscope for your phone you can get all the interesting static camera angles you want... with a bright light!

[@borimex5844]

Just came upon this video. OMG!!!! Dude you are the man. This is definitely the way to go on a job like this. Thanks 🙏 a million times over. 👍

[@kingdavid4u1588]

You can also disconnect the Lines that are going straight into the heater core, just pry the Metal/Aluminum back some and the Pipes/Lines will disconnect that easy, and then pull the old heater core out and slide the new one in and then put the old lines back into the heater core and then press the metal back down around the lines and wahlah, just make sure when you press the metal back down around the lines, that you do a good job that way there's no leaks at all.

[@graybenyo6735]

How would you recommend prying and reattaching?!

[@johngiffen6652]

PJ ! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you brother. It worked like a charm. I have the V6 engine and decided not to remove the hoses from the engine compartment. Too tight. So I just put a small container under the tubes when I cut them. Took me about 2 hrs start to finish. The dealer had quoted me $2k to do it.

[@pjhorn5307]

Awesome man. That’s why I try my best to put this kind of information out there. Glad it saved ya the $2k.

[@Oden-Heinrich]

Was the hose size the same in the 3.6? & after cutting the 2 metal lines, does the heatercore just slide out? Thanks for your help

[@Bonbonbon739]

Hey man, thank you. This is a great idea. I think something is wrong with my heater core (I already replaced $1000 worth of stuff on my Chrysler 200 this month) All of the sudden two days ago now I have some wetness where my gas pedal is and my windshield keeps fogging up, almost like a vapor coming out of the dash vent. And then I was in the Home Depot parking lot and I was like “ Oh, I’ll just bypass the heater core. I live in Florida” and I just connected the hose like a circle near the airbox. Car was still overheating and I noticed that it runs from the heater core to the oil cooler. So I couldn’t do that! Worst car design ever.

[@daggwood78]

Great video!!! Thank you so much. I have to replace one this weekend and this is definitely how I'll be doing the job!!!!!

[@naseembaluch4244]

Good job, my friend you’ve done it. You made my life easy.

[@johnbarry3953]

Great video man, you definitely saved me some cash on this one!

[@tibork3845]

thanks, I also need to get this done soon!

[@speed1826]

U are the best. Great help

[@dannypalmer7701]

Great Job!!! 👍

[@johnburwell6609]

This is a harder job on a V6. The air snorkel from the air filter to the intake will need to be removed to access the heater hoses to pinch them off. Also I don't know if it's this way on all the 200's but on a 2012 that large trim piece under the steering column isn't that easy to remove since the right side is under the center console with two clips that are difficult to get out. There was no way to get it back in without removing the console. I didn't want to do that so I just cut them off. It then slipped right back in place and the console holds the right side in just fine.

[@pjhorn5307]

Yeah the 2012’s might be a bit different. And if you are working with a v6 model that makes it difficult to get to the heater core hoses in the engine compartment, you don’t need to remove those hoses from the heater core lines. The only reason I removed the hoses was to empty out the antifreeze from the heater core. You could get by with just having a drain pan and towels inside the car when you cut the heater core lines to catch the antifreeze. It will be a little more messy but it would save you from disconnecting the lines in the engine compartment.

[@johnburwell6609]

@@pjhorn5307 I drilled holes in the hard lines near the core which let a lot of the coolant out into a container before cutting the lines. Once I started cutting it let air in and more coolant came out. I was surprised how little came out, the old core must have been more clogged than I thought. Also you need to be careful on the upper line to make sure the clamp installed doesn't interfere with the mode door right in that area.

[@gimmeyalunchmoney]

What did you use to cut the lines with?

[@johnburwell6609]

@@gimmeyalunchmoney A Dremel motor tool with a small cut off wheel. Get a multi pack of wheels since you're bound to break some. So far so good, no problems so far. Put some lubricant on the metal tubes when installing the hoses to help them slide on easier.

[@803nigel]

I’m having a hard time putting the hoses on both ends not sure if there is a certain way to do it.

[@mojicabear]

Thanks man

[@patrickstewart4620]

Excellent!

[@royquesada5295]

Really clever!!

[@captndeel5960]

احسنت الفكره جيده جداً و عمل رائع

[@randyrodriguez916]

Just had a quick question. I have the 2013 chrysler 200 touring. I’m finding coolant on my floor mat under steering wheel. If I did this would that fix my leak ? Because it’s just the heater core failing and leaking itself right ? Not the hoses deep into the firewalll?

[@pjhorn5307]

It could. You”ll have to get in there and find out for sure where the leak is coming from.

[@randyrodriguez916]

Thanks for replying brother, do those 2 hoses you pulled out in the beginning to drain core. Those are the tubes I need to clamp together to bypass the heater core right ?

[@pjhorn5307]

Right, if you connect those two rubber hoses together that will bypass the heater core all together. But if ya leave it that way you won’t have any heat inside the car.

[@neilblue5730]

I have both heat and cool air my passenger side keeps flooding with water I was told it was because of the heater core what should I do

[@rondellschuyler7074]

Everyone do yourself BIG favor. Stop using HOAT antifreeze. Switch to OAT style antifreeze and install a coolant filter. HOAT antifreeze silicates get caught by the heater core and forms a gel or paste type crud. I own a 2012 Chrysler 200. OAT antifreeze contain NO silicates.

[@mattmoneyrg4l]

What did you use to cut the pipes?

[@ronwalker2238]

PJ do you know a similar hack for the evaporator coil? Great job on heater core

[@pjhorn5307]

Sorry, I don’t

[@ronwalker2238]

@@pjhorn5307 thanks anyway

[@michaelfallesen6887]

I need to do this exact project. Is it possible that you could have a leak at where you used the hose clamps?

[@pjhorn5307]

Oh sure it’s possible. But the system runs less than 20 psi. So just make sure the connections fit correctly and securely and you should be good to go.

[@michaelfallesen6887]

@pjhorn5307 thank you sir, I understand. Thanks so much for showing this option.

[@tomlaroche123]

I hope this works for my 2015 v6

[@zbarie22]

Wonder if u could use like a shark bite type fitting?

[@pjhorn5307]

It would kinda be over kill and a waste of money. Radiator hose would be much more serviceable and cheaper.

[@chrisd9961]

Videos great

[@Nathaneldridge895]

I have a 2003 does it work Chrysler Voyager LX 😅

[@ItsToya-]

My Chrysler 200 when I’m sitting with car running the heats blows perfect but once I start driving the coolant gauge starts to go down and eventually the heat stops blowing out do you have any suggestion to fix that ?

[@pjhorn5307]

First check the coolant level. It may be low. If it is ok you may need a new thermostat

[@ItsToya-]

@@pjhorn5307 it was low I filled it and the problem continued , so a thermostat you say maybe I’ll look into that . Is it possible to self check or would I need to see a mechanic?

[@pjhorn5307]

If it was low there is a reason it was low. Either you have a leak somewhere or the engine is using it. If you know where the thermostat is and how to change it then you can do it. But if not you should take it to a mechanic. It’s a simple job but if you are unfamiliar with how to do it you could make things worse by doing it incorrectly.

[@ItsToya-]

@@pjhorn5307 ok . I may just take it to my local mechanic thanks for the advice!

[@ayyelmao5372]

@@ItsToya- I just changed my thermostat not too long ago. First time changing one and it is honestly not that bad of a project. Not sure how much a shop will cost but I’d look up a video on how to do it first and then you can decide if you think you can do it yourself or not👍good luck

[@alvantebenton3548]

Nice hack! Any leaks you know of?

[@pjhorn5307]

Nope, the customer said everything works great. The amount of pressure that runs through the cooling system of an engine isn’t very much. You’re talking something like 15 to 17 psi. It’s basically just enough to keep the fluid moving through the system. So as long as the hoses and clamps are fitting properly there shouldn’t be any leaks.

[@jackshilatos7327]

thanks

[@craigscorpio8335]

As opposed to the 5/8 hose to join the splice, what about a 5/8" conpression fitting?

[@pjhorn5307]

I don’t know if that would work just because those aluminum lines are pretty soft. But you could certainly try it and let us know. The worst thing that could happen is it doesn’t work. And if the lines get damaged from the compression fitting, you’ll just have to cut the lines back a little further and use a longer piece of hose to connect them.

[@craigscorpio8335]

I guess my big concern is leakage, as the tubes dont have that flange type end, though, are the tubes close enough once assembled that its,a non issue? Any issues thus far with this car that you did?

[@pjhorn5307]

There’s not enough pressure in the system for it to be an issue. Just make sure the hose clamps are tight and you’ll be good to go. The customer who’s vehicle I did this to went without heat for over 2 years because she didn’t have the money for what it cost at a dealer. Since I did this job for her I haven’t heard any complaints and she has heat.

[@craigscorpio8335]

Thank you. I will give it a shot...too bad they dont make em this way...

[@tomsmith3987]

How do you know which is inlet and outlet from underneath?

[@pjhorn5307]

I couldn’t tell you which one is which. You don’t need to know in order to do the job. Just reconnect the new lines top to top and bottom to bottom

[@jessehall9885]

Are you in the Pa area.stroudsburg to be exact?

[@pjhorn5307]

No I’m not sorry

[@kevinhamlett1400]

i will be doing this exact same trick on mine i dont want to pull the dash.

[@Tashbrookk]

What did you use to get a clean cut on the piping?

[@pjhorn5307]

A pipe cutter

[@TheFriendlyCorgi]

@pjhorn5307 do i need to disconnect the battery when pulling panels?

[@pjhorn5307]

It’s a good idea

[@BlackburnMedia]

im having problems getting the 5/8 hose on the heater core hoses. is there a different size that i can use or does it have to be 5/8?

[@pjhorn5307]

Use whatever size hose that will fit correctly. If it’s too big it will leak. You can use a small amount of lubricant in the hose to help install it. But don’t over do it. Too much lubricant will contaminate your antifreeze. Try using vaseline. And just a little bit.

[@BlackburnMedia]

@@pjhorn5307 what was the technique that u used to get them on? U made it look so easy.

[@pjhorn5307]

Like I said, if you have trouble you can use some lubricant. But just use it sparingly. Slide the hose all the way onto each tube. Then install the heater core and slide the hoses onto the heater core tubes to make the connections.

[@kimberlypurdy3110]

How long does this last? Is it something that can be permanent or is it just temporary?

[@pjhorn5307]

If it’s done correctly it should be a permanent fix. I’ve done it a number of times and haven’t had one fail.

[@kimberlypurdy3110]

How long does it take to do this job?

[@pjhorn5307]

Like 3 or 4 hours.

[@MariaRodriguez-en5uo]

I have 2014 Chrysler 200 and at first it only had some heat on driver side, and on passenger side it was cold. I did this method everything in video and now it’s running cold on both sides. What could have i done wrong?

[@DaveSender66]

You need 2 remove all air from the HC. Park the car on an extreme up angle. Open the radiator cap, allow the car to run and heat up and the air will escape naturally!!

[@tiamachacek2232]

Help!! I'm trying to do this in my 12 dodge avenger and I can't get the floor vent removed. Mine for some reason has a little tab that holds it in place at the top and I can't quite reach it to remove the vent. What do I do??

[@pjhorn5307]

There should be a screw holding it. Or it just snaps on. If there’s no screw then try prying on it a little bit

[@neptuneplanet6450]

Dealership charged me $2500, 8 hour job. Whole dashboard was removed.

[@Ttcw89]

They robbed you

[@mclarenscca]

I'd rather do it the right way for a customer. If it was my own vehicle, heck ya!

[@chrisd9961]

I've got a 2013 200 same?

[@chrisd9961]

What did you cut with

[@pjhorn5307]

A die grinder. But a small pipe cutter would work as well

[@montyslight6698]

Can this cause the car to over heat?

[@pjhorn5307]

It’s a never say never type of situation because I’ve seen cars do weird things. However it is very very unlikely that a bad heater core would cause the car to over heat. The engine’s cooling system doesn’t need the heater core to operate properly. So if your car is over heating it is most likely that you have other problems

[@austindoud273]

what did you use to cut the lies

[@pjhorn5307]

I just used an angle grinder with a cut off wheel.

[@jaysel9682]

What did you use to get such clean cuts on those lines ?

[@pjhorn5307]

Just a die grinder with a small cut off wheel. The lines are aluminum so they cut easily. If you don’t have a die grinder you could use a small pipe cutter. That would work too.

[@srutrack617]

I have a 2011 chrysler 200. no heat. i dont have anything leaking or no funny smells. chrysler said heater core. should i just have someone do a reverse flush? i dont wanna spent 1,200 for a heater core job. i do know my blend door was knocking & i changed it. wondering if it got stuck on a/c. I will say, my car will somewhat defrost the outside of the windshield though

[@pjhorn5307]

Sounds like it is the heater core.

[@srutrack617]

alright thank you. what city/state are you in? because if you are close to me id like to schedule an appointment

[@connormason7907]

@@srutrack617 First try flushing it out with a garden hose

[@deserteagle2209]

Doesn’t those pipes connection to the core is removable? It looks you could unscrew those ends.

[@pjhorn5307]

No they’re not made to come off. If you try disconnecting them you’ll have leaks

[@Dr._Diag]

@@pjhorn5307 I’ve uncrimped the lines from old core, and new core, reused the original tubes, and recrimped the new heater core flanges to the old tubes using new o-rings SEVERAL times with no issues. Mus better repair than cutting the tubes, and using hoses to reconnect the smooth tubes that don’t have a flare to ensure hose clamps stay secure. Coming from a seasoned Chrysler tech.

[@gomez199021]

@@Dr._Diagso you can uncrimp those lines directly from the heater core and crimp back on without any leaks?

[@helpingmovethecarolinas6034]

what did you cut the pipe with?

[@pjhorn5307]

Just a die grinder

[@NerdsAtNightOG]

just do the job the RIGHT WAY. wow lol

[@reedthis1985]

Wow. It’s funny that your comment says to “do the job the RIGHT WAY”, but your channel doesn’t have ANYTHING car related on it. It’s always more than one way to fix a car, especially a job like this one.

[@NerdsAtNightOG]

@@reedthis1985 that’s because I don’t do car related content online. But I am a master tech and I’ve worked on plenty of cars, if you’re working at a dealer or any normal shop, the right way wouldn’t involve cutting anything or “jimmy rigging” anything together.

[@marcush5670]

Yeah the dealership just told me it would cost 2400 mostly due to labor

[@marcush5670]

No thank you

[@Ttcw89]

@@NerdsAtNightOG the ‘Right Way’ is going to drain your pockets or cost you a ton of time. This is proven to work with no issues. This is one of those good ol examples of how *Work smarter not harder* works in your favor tremendously

[@shanemills1464]

What did you use to cut the metal tubes under the dash

[@pjhorn5307]

The easiest tool to use in that confined space is a pipe cutter

[@kameronmarshall99]

What did you use to cut the piping?

[@pjhorn5307]

A pipe cutter