Volkswagen Passat Heater Core Replacement - THE FAST WAY

Welcome back to ‪@AutoScholarwithMrB‬, and don't forget to subscribe!
Today we take on one of the most hated jobs on these 1998-2005 B5 or B5.5 Passats, the heater core replacement! Mine was clogged, but yours may be leaky, causing steam or fog on the windshield and coolant loss to the floorboard. The cool thing, is there is a shortcut to this job. If you do it the way the service manual tells you to do it, book time is around ten hours. The way I do it in this video, you should be able to get it knocked out in about four hours! You can do this job alone, but it helps to have another person when shifting the dashboard in and out of position.
One thing I want to reinforce is the shifter area needs to be protected from scratches and other damage. If you have a nice shift knob, I would remove it. I got so wrapped up in filming, that I forgot this step and took a chunk out of my otherwise flawless wood shift knob... BOOOO.
Anyway, if you have any questions, please ask in the comments. This isn't the easiest job to film, but I did what I could with it.
Check me out on Facebook and Insta under "Auto Scholar with Mr. B" and good luck with your repair!
#passat #heatercore #b5passat

[@kitkat53ftw]

Thank you man. I’ve been needing to repair mines, been terrified to do it. But this just boosted my confidence, thank you so much

[@byronarriola4304]

Did you replace the heater core? How did it go?

[@DavaiSeni]

I did this my self. Now i understand how painful this job is...

[@robertwolfiii8711]

Thanks you are the man

[@adamkorekach9936]

Thanks for this! Love my B5.5!

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

Thanks for watching Adam!

[@adamkorekach9936]

@@AutoScholarwithMrB Can you show a gauge cluster replacement or rebuild, Mr. B? I have 180,000 miles now and my Speedo cluster has a slight rattle at highway speeds. Know of anyone who rebuilds them?

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

@@adamkorekach9936 look up on Facebook, clusters by litke, he is the authority on this.

[@adamkorekach9936]

By the way, we’re you able to pull the dash alone, or did you have a helper? Just wondering how heavy it will be when I do it alone.

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

@@adamkorekach9936 I did it alone, but an extra person is helpful.

[@darrenhamlin9428]

Screw all this . Soon to be a new door for the core in my firewall😅👍👍

[@scotttreadwell3308]

NGL I plan to keep my Passat forever. And I wouldn't be opposed to a boltable plate for access 😂

[@onepcwhiz]

Very nice. VW dealer wants $3500 to replace my 2004 VW Passat heater core and temp sensor. I know it's a big job but that's outrageous! I'm thinking of bypassing the heater core. I've seen a video on that and it seems very easy.

[@adamkorekach9936]

It is very easy to bypass!

[@federicocamacho9848]

Hi, does anyone have a video on how to bypass the heater core? My mechanic just told me it will cost $2,200 to replace my heater core :-(

[@gwaddy4746]

@@federicocamacho9848 you just get a piece of u bend rubber hose and disconnect it from the cooling system, and the coolant doesn’t go into the heater core. Just means the heater core is disconnected from the system.

[@jazz4life]

@@federicocamacho9848 I bought a "heater core bypass kit" that contitech makes. Super fast to bypass. I'm doing this repair this week but have had it bypassed for about 3 months now.

[@colinchandler6516]

thank you

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

Thanks for watching Colin!

[@apanoiu]

I am diy-ing this for air conditioning evaporator. Will also replace the heater core. rotate the steering wheel half turn to see the nut, is a little bigger than stated. I did not find the bolt above the windshield wiper motor. Car is made in 2000.

[@apanoiu]

Thanks man, very useful clip.

[@colinchandler6516]

great video wish you could do my car

[@bigwaves2824]

just did this not too bad but know my key is stuck in ignition car cranks and runs good and turns off but cant get key out any ideas

[@ProjectswithChaz]

Any trick to getting the bolt out of end of steering shaft? I took off the 16mm nut and using a T-50 star bit on bolt head; won’t budge. I assume it rusted, currently putting penetrating oil on it. It’s the last thing to disconnect after spending all day tinkering. Thanks for the video!

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

Yeah maybe trying heat? Just be careful!

[@gwaddy4746]

Cool video. Shame you skipped the part of replacing the actual heater core though, even if it is a simple replacement…..that was the purpose of the video.

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

Couldn’t fit the camera back there to get a usable shot.

[@gwaddy4746]

@@AutoScholarwithMrB fair enough. Thanks for effort with the video. Does the AC system need to be disconnected from the firewall though? If the HVAC assembly remains in place…..I don’t have my air con machine yet to evacuate the system.

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

@@gwaddy4746 yes it does. Sometimes shops can do it for you fairly cheap and then evacuate/recharge when you are done.

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

And thanks for watching!

[@matthewsuryan6035]

Appreciate the videos. I have a Passat 02 with no heat.. no leaks.. could this be that it isn’t bled right or would I be better to try and flush it before replacing the core??

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

Flush it first for sure, but it could also be a blend door issue.

[@filipbajora1378]

I cant find that 10mm under wipers. Have everyone has that screw?

[@jasonhamilton1727]

How to remove that dam bolt for the steering column

[@LemonMan_Man]

about to dive into this tommarow morniong anyone know what the hex bolt size was is it a 8 or 6mm by chance?

[@LemonMan_Man]

The clutch pedal is a 5mm

[@morrisonshamoy1147]

How you bleed it

[@monteevans2874]

Yeah that looks easy but once everything was loose , I still had to take the heater box loose , from the dash assy. because there is not enough room to get the core out of it , as it hit's the windshield , the only wires I had to take off was the bottom row of Red and Black , cut the zip tie and it will come out far enough

[@Snowdog216]

I saw on another video that they had the dash in tilted, so the left side was in driver's side floor and the right side was up. So maybe that was to get enough angle so the heater core can clear the windshield?

[@jefflittle8381]

I’m replacing mine in a couple days. (Saturday) what tools did you use? Just so I can make sure I have everything.

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

Torx set, hex socket set, screwdrivers, pliers, sockets and ratchets…just mostly basic stuff. I can’t recall everything, but nothing used here is special.

[@jefflittle8381]

Awesome that’s exactly what I was hoping for thank you very much!!

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

@@jefflittle8381 thanks for watching my friend!

[@jefflittle8381]

@@AutoScholarwithMrB You’re welcome! I’ve watched it quite a few times to try and soak in as much as I can to be as prepared as possible for when I change mine.

[@ccright8285]

@@jefflittle8381 how'd you make out?

[@bigbrothapete666]

I'm guessing this procedure can be used to replace the evaporator as well?

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

More disassembly, because the hvac box has to come apart, but it can be done

[@bigbrothapete666]

Okay, thanks. Gotta give this a shot in a few weeks. Wanted to see what I was up against! I appreciate it!

[@nickbadgio]

Looks like I have a project to do

[@nickbadgio]

I still haven't done this yet

[@bostonmacosx]

Aren't there a bunch of wires which are connected to the 30AMP and 75AMP load reducer which need to be removed as well?

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

Sometimes yes, but on this one no. It depends on what exact car it is.

[@bostonmacosx]

2003 PASSAT B5 1.8T MANUAL@@AutoScholarwithMrB

[@frankcerbantes9429]

Mayor work I ain’t doing it

[@frankcerbantes9429]

You never show the heater core it self

[@federicocamacho9848]

Does anyone know how to bypass the heater core? I don't want to pay $2,200 to repair it on my 2005 VW passat, please help

[@bmartinot]

Just connect the two pipes that go through the firewall together with a u shape bit of pipe.

[@jjsiegal1]

Is this AKA; ---- *'AC Evaporator Core ?'*

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

No this is the heater core. The evaporator is different.

[@floydpots]

OMG> Is it this bad for all cars??? OR just these German cars? This seems ridiculously intricate for the heater core.

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

This is typical for most modern cars. Thanks for watching!

[@Snowdog216]

Its standard. Seen on Chrysler mini vans and a Trailblazer, etc.

[@vwb5.5]

No instruction of showing the heater core or replacement. That’s intelligent.

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

I could not fit my camera in that area, but it is two screws and lifts out.

[@cultusgti]

Sorry bro that's only 10cents not a euro . 😅

[@bigfish7493]

Thanks, I did this job years ago, on a 58 Dodge, then later on my 93 Crown Vic, and now I'm looking at this B5.5 that has befallen to me. That's 60 + years of evolution! Truth is, the designers/ engineers really screw up on the building of this "heater" function into the chassis. Doesn't anyone understand that these crummy coils do rot? Why not locate it forward in its own service enclosure? Just dumb, dumb, dumb. Thank you VW. German Engineering again. Build 'em solid enough so that they can't be repaired! Duh!

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

It is maddening sometimes! Thanks for watching, Big fish.

[@johnkoops8541]

How on earth was this car worth the repair?

[@adamkorekach9936]

The car is definitely worth it, John. These Passats are great cars if properly maintained. I’m working on 200k miles with mine. If anything, he’s using his B5 wagon for educational opportunities.

[@RJenkins6586]

I agree with this comment but in this market if that's all that's wrong a 1500 repair bill is still cheaper then 3k on another car with unknown issues.

[@wilsmith3898]

It doesn't have to be "worth" the repair... Its usually easier to repair than to replace the entire vehicle... Not everyone is able to go buy a new vehicle at the first sign of trouble

[@mikebelanger]

They are addicting. I have an '04 and a '04 4Motion. They are a joy to drive everyday and built solid. They are worth keeping and the 2.8 engine is bullet proof.

[@byronarriola4304]

Totally worth it! I love my 2000 Passat 1.8T. They are easy to work on, but can be scary sometimes, but I rather finance and pay up to $4K for something I can't trust myself to do instead of getting back into another $60K + car loan 🤢...

[@barendborrelworst3850]

Why should i like this video? I still know nothing. I perhaps gonna replace my interieur radiator, but lots op people say 'you don't have to remove the whole dash'... I am gonna search further, there must be an easy way (so, without removing the dash)... Plus; you don't finish the whole thing in this video... What a waste of my time, i regret saying that, but it is true!!! Maybe explain everything in 1 simple movie, cause this is worthless... I now know how to remove a dash from the VW Passat B5, but only partially... I still don't know everything. I can remove a dash from that car. Maybe even faster or more easy, but i'm not looking for that. I simply wanna replace the interieur heater, that's all!!! Removing the dash? I don't mate.... Just show me how to replace that bloody thing, without removing the dash at all... This is just wasting my time.....

[@AutoScholarwithMrB]

I’m sorry that this video is not up to your standards. I know how frustrating it can be and understand that everyone’s time is valuable. I have performed this job so many times in my work as a VW tech and I have never been able to find a way to remove the heater core without going this far. If you find a video that can access the core without removing the dash and doesn’t cause permanent damage to the vehicle, drop a comment and I will put it in the description of this video. Thank you for your constructive criticism, as I depend on comments like this to make me a better instructor and KZbinr.

[@Snowdog216]

You have to remove the dash. And I would say this video is for an intermediate to advanced mechanic. Its a lot of work, But it is really not that complicated. Its more just taking your time and going through all the steps. And making SURE you do not break any wires by not disconnecting them.

[@luketanner7638]

The reinstall would’ve been helpful🫤 Can’t get this bastard back in