Dodge Journey Heater Core Replacement

[@victoriasmith9736]

This was the exact video I needed. I was asking my boyfriend to change it and he told me to look up how much went into it. I said I was sorry and never mind lol. Thank you for the time lapse

[@sandyboone8413]

Thank you very much for the detailed video. WOW the amount of work just to get to where you need to go is amazing!! I guess mine needs to get changed as we now have Zero Heat!!

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Thanks for watching! Unfortunate that the necessities often have the poorest design

[@LinkSquish]

When I hear horror stories of replacing these things they are right. You're a God when it comes to this. I'm going to do it the other way you mentioned but I'm not going to cut any hoses. Going to decrimp it directly from core.

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Thank you and thanks for watching, thankfully more than one way to skin this cat

[@LinkSquish]

@@BustedtoBuilt I end up back flushing it, I just finished doing it. It worked but I don't think it's 100% maybe 80%. Before it was like 10%.

[@BustedtoBuilt]

That's some significant improvement at least!

[@twaunsaint001]

There are many vehicles out there that you have to remove the entire dash just to get to the heater core, I did not know my wife's Dodge journey was one of them.. I've done so many heater cores in my lifetime that required the removal of the dash, I'm just tired of it.. The way I'm going about this repair on my wife's Dodge journey: I'm cutting the tubes as far back as possible in the interior as well as on the new heater core.. on both sides of the heater core, there are stress dents on the bends to make the bend easier, and if you put tube and clamp over these this will cause a continuous slow leak.. so what I do is use RTV to fill in the areas of these dents to make The tube the same diameter and level all the way around, I let it cure and then I take the hose and attach it on the part of the tubing that comes from around the back of the Hvac box on both tubes, then I bought 2 sets of 5/8" triple sealed quick disconnect heater hose connectors I hit the ridges of those with a little RTV and allowed it to cure, and I clamp those onto my hoses, This will make it easier for heater core replacement in the future, I also place fat 5/8" in o-rings and a few places over this side up the tubing, All the way up into this point I use permanent crimp band clamps.. now on the new heater core I cut the tubes as far back as possible leaving enough lip for the tubing to securely attach to, just like I did on the other side I filled the stress dents with rtv so it's the same diameter and level all the way around.. now I install the new heater core and cut the tubes to length, I then put on a piece of 1" heat shrink tubing on both tubes starting far back of the HVAC box to the ends of the quick disconnect fitting on the side not attached to the heater core, This is going to act like a catch If there is any leaks the o-rings that I put on earlier The tubing will shrink over them creating a seal, now I attach the tubes to the new heater core, I use the screw type band clamps to tighten the tubes onto the new heater core.. now I refill the system and test it for leaks, once it reaches operating temperature and there's no leaks I then Open up two or four permanent crimp band clamps and place it on the side of the heater core attaching the tube to the heater core and I install them, and of course remove the screw type band clamps, I just like the more permanent look you can use either clamps.. after all this is done I then go ahead and shrink the 1" in tubing This tubing shrinks down below 5/8" so it will create a seal on the o-rings, with tubing this type of heat shrink tubing you have to use a heat gun, a blow dryer won't work.. That's how I do it, One side is permanent The other side is temporary so you can install a new heater core if you ever need to in the future..

[@kanuckelwolfe4490]

Wow! That is impressive. I just replaced the heater core in my Subaru Tribeca using the cut-the-tubes method without removing the dash. It is setup very similar if not exactly like the Journey. My daughter owns one and just msg'd me telling me she has no heat. So here I am searching youtube. I do believe I will be doing the same cut-the-tube job on it also. I'm quite certain that I would never be able to get the dash back together properly after taking all that stuff apart! This is a great video showing the proper job though.

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Thanks for watching! Definitely pretty involved to pull the whole dash. The tube cutting is a great work around! Hope your repair goes well!

[@TsunwoDere]

GF got this car from a dealer and I thought nothing of it until her heat went out and I checked the coolant and it wasn’t brown but it wasn’t looking the best. I was really hoping a new thermostat and coolant would fix the issue but unfortunately it needs a new heater core. Can’t wait to use the warranty!

[@BustedtoBuilt]

This one was definitely really really bad, most of the time the coolant will still be pink but super cloudy when the issue starts. This one was very poorly maintained. Thanks for watching!

[@thecontraguy5536]

Just did this job at the shop thanks for the video. Not a bad job honestly. Only took me like 8 hours ish. For a DIY guy this would be a total shit show lol. It was nice that they let you pull the skeleton with the harness on it

[@juanbarrera9155]

I know this is an old video but i was wondering if you remember if you have to discharge the AC system in order to pull the box out to replace the core?

[@terrencemason2266]

No you don’t

[@BigScreenLife]

I'm looking to buy a 2011 journey, should the first thing i do to it be flushing the coolant and replacing it with higher quality stuff. It has 190k kms on it.

[@BustedtoBuilt]

I would absolutely recommend it!

[@BigScreenLife]

@BustedtoBuilt thanks. I'm hearing mixed things about journeys. Some people love them and some say they're nothing but headaches. Hard to find put what's true. What's your opinion?

[@BustedtoBuilt]

I dislike all chrysler/dodge/jeep/fiat vehicles. I honestly beleieve their construction is very poor as well as quality control. Here in the rust belt where I am they all rust away long before many other makes. Just my $.02.

[@bigaz72]

@@BigScreenLife just my 2 cents. I like my journey good power, rides nice, battery is in a weird spot, brakes are easy. But now I gotta do a dang heater core

[@amarciniak1978]

Dont think its just coolant. our dodge journey the heater core goes out every year with new coolant in it. It runs for the winter we replace it then next winter its out again .

[@ostn8iv]

If one notices that it's not heating up or just not hot like it used to be, can one have the coolant changed out before one has to have it changed?

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Wouldn't hurt to try

[@yohan2516]

This was the V6 model have you ever done one in the four-cylinder is it the same do you know

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Same

[@davidoylear7472]

Now I see why people don’t replace the heater core!!!

[@ashtond9111]

God damn this is so much work!

[@shownooblackbird3670]

how long did this take? you probs said it in the video but I'm just commenting for public thought

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Approx 4-5 hours, thanks for watching!

[@scottsitzberger1040]

Can the power steering be damaged when changing the core?

[@BustedtoBuilt]

If something were to be mishandled maybe it would?

[@nickrogers6364]

Good video I appreciate it but you shoulda explained what you were doing in the voice over. Like how did you get the steering column down…

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Sorry about that, this is just a very large job and turn around time is everything on customer repair jobs for me and just cant always put the camera right on what I'm doing. remove the knee bolster and column shrouds , disconnect electrical connectors and there are 4 bolts that hold the steering column in and one pinch bolt at bottom that will allow intermediate steering shaft to separate so that column can be removed. Thanks for watching!

[@al_aghbarihisham9605]

How much it cost to replace heater core

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Most shops would likely charge somewhere between 6 and 10 hours here in the U.S.

[@kenkab2]

A detailed dash removal would have been great

[@BustedtoBuilt]

I agree 👍

[@broderickalmy3658]

You earned it

[@philcasogonzo14]

I’d just cut the lines and pull from driver side. Don’t have to take the dash off. Slap some heater hose on and that’s it.

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Amen

[@terrencemason2266]

You could’ve just pull the heater core out from under the pedals? Without taken the dash off

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Sounds good

[@philcasogonzo14]

Yea you could have! Would have to uncrimp or cut the lines. Be an easy fix with heater hose tho. Compared to taking the entire dash off. These journeys will never go back the same

[@andriignatiuk7619]

Can you send me the full video?

[@BustedtoBuilt]

I recorded in time lapse mode so this is all the content I have

[@MelvinZoopers]

Holy crap that is a lot of work! I am pretty sure that is what mine needs. 🤢

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Yeah they are quite the p.i.t.a that's for sure

[@bobdunkin5767]

just redid ( second time now) the core on my dakota (2004), absolutly INSANE amount of work, dodge should be ashamed of themselves for these designs ,now the wife's 2013 journey is leaking,,,, CRAP . At least there is a DIY shortcut on that one ,there isn't on the dakota.

[@BustedtoBuilt]

100% agree very poorly designed

[@sandyboone8413]

I'll Absolutely Never buying another Dodge just because of stuff like this!

[@Plus8Precision]

Every vehicle that I have replaced a heater core is roughly this level of disassembly. The first core I replace was on a 1978 Ford Fairmont. Heater core replacement sucks lol lots of disassembly. Mike - Plus8Precision

[@darrenrogers4760]

Wow!!! No way would I tackle a job like that now days. I'm not that hungry 😂

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Lol, nobody is

[@Nilpez]

Wow that's a huge job! Thanks for the detailed video. I've watched a few of these now and cutting the aluminum lines instead and joining with ⅝" rad hose looks like it would save hours and no need to remove the dash. This is the right way to do it though.

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Very welcome and thanks for watching! Always more than one way to skin a cat

[@ashtond9111]

Dude it would save multiple hours

[@arellanojorge91]

But you wouldn’t get heat?

[@Nilpez]

@@arellanojorge91 yes the heat worked fine doing it this way. Just be sure to tighten the hose clamps well since they are smooth and not much to keep them from slipping off.

[@tman4915]

That was totally preventable. If only people would maintain their vehicles properly it would save you thousands in the long run if you take care of it.

[@malestrom1969]

I think..No, they should provide the name of the moron at Dodge, who designed this. I mean so much work and so much money for something so simple.

[@cleven269]

Iv seen a few videos floating around showing the dash doesn’t have to come out

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Correct, if inlet and outlet tube are cut you can replace and splice back with heater hose and not remove dash.

[@Fastford011]

That was the biggest waste of time what you just did! All you have to do is bend the tabs back on the lines that go into the heater core on the driver side tuck them back pull the heater core out and reuse the same lines! This video is nonsense!!!

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Thanks for watching and for the comment!

[@tyronlassiter5015]

That's what I did

[@sandromarsili5601]

don't need to do that at all......don't know what the hell this guy is doing....

[@BustedtoBuilt]

Thanks for the kind comment!