1994-1997 Dodge Ram Heater Core replacement pt1

Heater core replacement and dash removal on 1994-1997 Dodge Ram pickups that don't have the passenger airbag (old square dashboard models). 1998 (late 1997) and later model pickup dashboards remove in the same way, but with one exception; they have the passenger airbag and is more bulkier to work with. So, if your heater core goes out, which truck will you be safe working on?

[@spawnofsteve]

This may be the greatest vehicle repair how-to of all time.

[@201pitbullpride]

7 years ago and you still helping people!! Watched countless videos and you were the only one who included ALL the critical steps to popping the heater core right in. “I’m just going to cut the lines and splice them together with rubber hose, then bury it under the dash again.” YEAH OK GTF OUT OF HERE.

[@DisOtherworldlyWTBeatz]

Great video, I appreciate the fact that you didn't talk the whole time, anyone doing this job should be able to figure all the small details out like socket sizes and everything. Short and simple. The best part was at the end when you threw that piece of garbage on the ground 🤣, I'm MAD cuz they couldn't just make it accessible through the glovebox like sensible people.. they just HAD to make us detach the whole dash! 🤬

[@vincentenk4449]

The BEST one I've found! No Hillbilly cutting of tubes! Thanks guy, I owe ya big!

[@37304lb68]

I could work with this guy all day long. Good video and very helpful.

[@chrisalberts504]

This video helped me out so much it was the easiest heater core replacement I've ever done

[@utscav]

Mr10 Alpine! thanks for the instructions. I just finished my water pump and heater core. I didn't think I could do it without disconnecting the A/C lines, but I had just enough play in the hvac box to get the core in. I disconnected the a/c line clips along the side of the engine compartment to give me a little more play, and the core tubes just barely cleared. Your video was awesome. Muhas gracias amigo y que Dios te bendiga!

[@Ricky-pi9kk]

Awesome Video...No BullShit just straight to the point...Nice Job.

[@moparnut91]

Great job man, very informative, not looking forward to doing this job in Montana winter weather but having heat is kinda nice. Procrastinated 2 years to many. Thanks for putting this up on KZbin, hopefully you do more.

[@GlennD108]

Good Job, Thank you. But you took apart much that wasn't needed. Also didn't show how you cleared the metal heater core lines out of the firewall holes; as the camera angle needed to be either above, straight on, or to left of where H.Core lines going thru firewall.

[@VernePomraning]

I didn’t hear you once swear about how FUCKING shitty of a design Dodge did for the heater location! I loved the toss of the heater core at the end. Great video!!

[@Mr10Alpine]

Ha! This is the easiest heater core replacement yet. The era of one airbag, and no touchscreens. Love these 90's era trucks. Try doing a post-2008-09 truck. Now those suck! Post COVID heater core replacement will probably be even worse.

[@GeorgeFinchJr]

Your video helped me and saved me time. Thank you for your work to make and post this. For me, my issues were my 22 year old dashboard cracking and falling apart, but I managed to get it back together. Also, I didn't need to remove anything under the hood except the hoses. I cut out the old core (at tubes) and used a replacement that had pivoting tubes to make it possible, challenging, but possible, to get it in without loosening the air box. THANK YOU!

[@Mr10Alpine]

Thanks for watching. Those pivoting tubes made me nervous at first, but to this day, they still don't leak. Glad there's many workaways around.

[@alcyr5655]

I watched part 2 first, then this one. Really good videos. Good job on showing all the hidden bolts and screws. I think my blend doors are FUBAR, lots of howling and growling sounds. Going to replace the HVAC system with the one from sisters truck, that got side swiped. I'm not looking forward to pulling that whole assembly out. This weekend is supposed to be just below freezing, so I got to act fast.

[@Mr10Alpine]

Haha. Good luck, and the wind makes it more worse. Thanks for watching.

[@jeffgibson4783]

I watched your video, I'm 53 years old and have spent most my life turning wrenches on many cars, my 70 road runner, 68 super bee, my first car was a 68 charger, I had a 2 chevy's a 67 ss chevelle 396 4 speed and a 63 impala ss sb 3 speed in the floor both were black back then we had no idea that these cars was gona be worth alot of money my chevelle was the fastest car at school in the 1/4, but I want to say this Mr 10 Alpine you know what your doing, you grew up with a male role model that was a mechanic right, bet he got you to hand him tools til he thought you could do it yourself, my first project was putting a new clutch & pressure plate throw out bearing in an old ford pick up 6 cylinder 3 on the tree.. but you are thin and have long arms and a good back, but you don't want to do this for a living, do it for yourself only... people become friends with ones that can fix there car right, we'll if they want some free work done ask em if they will help u roof ur house or move.. I hate that shit my x boss still owes me for putting brakes on his truck and wifes car

[@Mr10Alpine]

+Jeff gibson Actually I didn't know anything about cars back then, just the fascinations about how they worked, Even though I have taken classes on automotive repairs I am still learning, as in this Dodge 3/4 ton truck. Sure this truck is really easy to work on but there are some things I haven't yet touched, like the rear wheel axles and the clutch. Those are 'new' to me. The only thing I have done to this truck is head/intake gaskets, fuel injectors, and fuses (still got to work on some electrical problems this truck got, like no dash lights or corner lights; funny thing is, turn signals, reverse, brakes and even the main headlights all work. Might be a problem with the half***** trailer wiring it has.) On a side note, I wish I still had a good back, threw it out a few years back, when I was working as a welder prior to working on cars.

[@RonnieChance-c1y]

Thank you for your I was trying to replace a heater core and could not find the two bolts that were behind the electronic box on the left of the air conditioner

[@garyrichmond7857]

It looks like a lot of fun I got one myself I have replaced

[@harrisondanner2650]

How do you manage to move the venting to get the heater core in??

[@timswain11]

I just did mine today and mk ninin's opinion is BS there is no way its coming out by just removing the glove box unless a sawsall is involved... It is impossible to remove the top cabin side heater box mounting nuts on the inside of the dash without separating the dash from the firewall. The only trouble I had was after the box was loose I couldn't get clearance for the core tubes to clear the firewall. the air con, lines couplers were hung up on the firewall. I enlarged the line hole slightly and the couplers cleared. All in all in all excellent video that allowed me to do the job in about 3 hrs. Thanks!!! And for Mkninin's post its obvious he has never changed a core in a 97 Ram!! The dash behind the glove box is molded in a continuous piece you cant gain access!!Posting BS just wastes good peoples time!!

[@nunyabidnis5407]

I did this and it took 3 weeks of pure frustration and anger. Instead of sending people to prison they should be made to do a few of these.

[@keithmyers1454]

You did a great job, when I did mine the dash top broke into a million little pieces none no bigger then a quarter, then I had to replace the dash top, it was a lot of work but well worth it, 1994 2500 with a 12 valve Cummins, a half a million miles and still going strong

[@petebowl7946]

I’m going to attempt to replace my dash soon. And change my heater core while I’m down there. Where did you buy your dash replacement? Geno’s Garage or LMC Truck?

[@keithmyers1454]

@@petebowl7946 Gino's garage, it's easier to take the dash out to replace the top

[@keithmyers1454]

@@petebowl7946 Gino's garage dash is a Mopar dash but is guaranteed for life, new plastic formula

[@petebowl7946]

@@keithmyers1454 damnit. If only I knew how to work the stupid phone better I would have seen this! I went out and bought the dash from LMC. But partly because I also bought everything for a 99-02 sport bumper from them also. Going to attempt to throw the sport bumper on my 97 12v

[@keithmyers1454]

@@petebowl7946 get the replacement plastic push in nuts for the dash and get the dash reinforcement tabs, it will save your new dash from cracking around the screws, I also got both of them from Gino's, Also get replacement felt tabs from LMC they keep the dash from rattling

[@trippleslots]

A really good video no talking just showing How long was your actual time of repair start to finish

[@Mr10Alpine]

This took me nearly 6 hours, mainly fiddling with the camera, and trying to figure out how the box removes. Actual time is approximately 3.5 hours, if I recall book time, not including filling and bleeding system though.

[@trippleslots]

Thanks, I am going to have to do mine so I will allow a day . I'M old lol

[@pacogarsia8501]

Man much better buy an other truck.jajaja ...

[@jrboi1960]

Thank you for the info.

[@ryanmckenna5254]

Nice video! Laughed how you tossed the old one, like: "piece of shit" lol

[@DisOtherworldlyWTBeatz]

Yeah it's the best part 🤣

[@mikeb6389]

Thanks!

[@jays106]

i know this is an older video but the ecm and all that has to come off to get to the heater core that is inside the truck? i'm planning on replacing my dash and doing heater core while i'm there on my 95 ram 1500

[@burner6884]

I dont have a dash,so I guess that saves me time.

[@allennance949]

#1 lay new heater core in driveway. #2 remove entire truck piece by piece from old heater core. #3 re- install entire truck piece by piece to new heater core. # voila! Job done. Easy as crap.

[@mikemar13]

You do not need to replace the heater core!!! Save a ton of cash and a lot of your time and effort. The fix is cheap and can be done in a couple of hours. I have a 2007 Jeep Liberty and the heater core was leaking and had the terrible coolant smell in the vehicle when driving. I constantly needed to add coolant to the reservoir. This is what I did to fix my problem. I disconnected the rubber hoses that are connected to the heater core. I then did a thorough reverse flush to get all the crap out. Then I went to Lowes and purchased a cheap sump pump. I believe it was a 1/2 HP model that cost about $99. I previously purchased Bar's Radiator Stop Leak, Professional Strength Formula. The package has six large tablets. I recommend this brand because this formula was used professionally by GM for many years under a different trade name. I then proceeded to connect the appropriate fittings from the pump discharge to the heater core inlet. I placed the pump in a five gallon bucket of hot tap water with the appropriate number of tablets dissolved (I used one tablet per gallon of water) and ran a hose from the heater core discharge back to the bucket. I kept the bucket at the same elevation as the heater core. I then ran the pump for about 20 minutes in this configuration. After that, you just remove the pump and blowout the remaining liquid from the core, reconnect your radiator hoses and you are done. Now turn on your car and let it get up to temperature and turn your heater on and run it for maybe 15 minutes. My heater core no longer leaks, and I am a happy camper. Do NOT make the mistake of putting the radiator stop leak in your radiator as suggested by the package instructions.

[@modestaarau]

Cuál es el precio de ese tablero ya con la base

[@tbriglia01]

Good video! I'm about to do one on a 96 laramie slt 2500 diesel. Thanks.

[@Mr10Alpine]

+tbriglia01 Really easy on these trucks. Thanks for watching.

[@fishanhunter]

I don't see why he had to take all those interior pieces out...at all

[@Raggesvenne]

don't you need to drain any coolant?

[@nelvitagutierrezmorales3758]

Les vy agradecer sus comentarios

[@kaino411]

How where you able to get the black housing inside the truck to pull back enough to put the new core in

[@Mr10Alpine]

There are four little nuts. Remove them, and the heater/AC box simply slides away from the firewall. No need to disconnect AC lines. [Maybe this video needs to be taken down for subtitles.]

[@tulsacrew3164]

Where are the four little nuts located to be able to get the housing away from the firewall? Are they what you were undoing on the engine side of the firewall when the camera was looking at plastic conduit for a while?@@Mr10Alpine

[@ethangreen2286]

This looks like my home town Omak wa!

[@nelvitagutierrezmorales3758]

Qiero saber xq mi carro se apaga cuando ba sirculando así de la nada será qe me pueden ayudar

[@joeydelmarsjr.646]

how do you get to the evap coil?

[@modestaarau]

Cuál es el precio de ese tablero

[@modestaarau]

Mercado libre

[@nelvitagutierrezmorales3758]

Y xq no prende la marcha se escucha qe manda chispa pero será el solenoide qe esta fayando o xq será alguien me puede ayudar

[@msteen6407]

You don't have to pull dash apart . Remove the whole piece

[@lionhead_nhd3055]

Hay bro nice video do you no where I can find that hole entire dashboard and instrument panel from for my 96 Dodge Ram pickup truck all of it is cracked up and broken all around the radio area in on the passenger side where the AC vents go all that needs to be fixed do you know anyone is selling that whole middle console

[@Mr10Alpine]

+antwan brown Good luck finding one in a decent shape these days, as they are very hard to find. I got lucky when I bought this truck. However they do sell one online like LMC truck, but its a little costly, and its only for the top pad. You really have to check out places like the junk yards outside of your town to see if they have one in decent shape, otherwise, most of them I see have minimal cracks, especially the ones from down here in the southwest, where the heat kills everything, even the dash.

[@lionhead_nhd3055]

Lol I hear it look to me like I'm going to my this guy I no just customize fabricate me one for a up graded look also probably put something like a iPad for the radio touch screen and change up a the ac vents to new style one

[@motormayhemthevideos]

So you did this with a stock heater (fixed tube) and didn't bleed down the AC?

[@Mr10Alpine]

+motormayhemthevideos The stock heater core was junk. It leaked and the replacement came with adjustable tubes. And the AC didn't need to be bled down, just remove the clips so that the fittings clears the firewall when pulling the HVAC box in toward the cab. Just be careful so that the AC tubes will not pop apart as the clips have been removed.

[@motormayhemthevideos]

+Mr10Alpine but you were able to remove the fixed tube type without bleeding down the ac it looks like? I have a fixed tube one to install and was holding off till the ac was bled down but it looks like you can get it out (and therefore in) with the air box loose and the ac clips pulled.

[@Mr10Alpine]

+motormayhemthevideos I got the box far out as I could to clear the fixed tubes from the firewall, also while trying to be careful with the AC tubes so that they won't pop. But yeah, the AC doesn't need to be bled down. But I did this so that most DIY'ers (and new people who are entering this field) will be able to perform this, without special tools.

[@meowbark574]

Wait what? I just did the same in the video so I didn't have to do all that work ?

[@larrycarpenter7719]

Have to admit thats the filthiest truck I've ever seen. 👏

[@ELViejito100]

This is like ASMR to me..

[@mattk970]

At 5:25, center of screen, looks like a wasp nest..lol.

[@Mr10Alpine]

+Matt K LOL. That is the diagnostic port for the OBDII connector. But yeah, it does look like it could support a colony there.

[@ronbonick4265]

Good Yob

[@nelvitagutierrezmorales3758]

En español xf xq yo no ablo inglés

[@johnoyler6028]

you need to talk

[@tulsacrew3164]

Better just seeing the process without all the "Hi guys how's it going" blah blah blah, pulling silly faces, juggling tools etc etc

[@aliciavelazquez1532]

Solo la desmadrastes la camioneta.

[@minervamartinez4159]

Esta re dea esa camioneta ami no me gusta esa mierda

[@pooler6969]

your so wrong i just put one in my 1997 ram .and it comes out under the dash just fine all you need to do is remove the glove box

[@driverbob]

i hope that is right. I have a 96 and the core is leaking. I was not looking forward to removing the entire dashboard.

[@DaltonsTechTalks]

Yeah that works if your blower motors bad not your heated core. There 2 different things. Maybe you need to do some homework before you comment on something you have no idea of. It just makes you look stupid to everyone else

[@driverbob]

+Dalton Allen Why not give the guy a respectable correction, instead of name calling?

[@dougpalmer290]

Dalton Allen no fuck yard they are one unit and even a dealer mechanic will tell you it's under the dash.and we laughed at this dumb fuck for waisting his time