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        General >> Off Topic Subjects >> Easiest Heater Rad Change
        
(Message started by: Dave2302 on May 9^th, 2007, 1:26pm)

Title: Easiest Heater Rad Change
Post by Dave2302 on May 9^th, 2007, 1:26pm

Hi,

Having changed my Cossie Ultima one last year, I was absolutely dreading doing the one on my 1996 Pontiac Firebird V8.

Well I just did it in about 45 minutes, slightly fiddly but the only one I've ever seen that was easier was the old mk 3 and 4 Cortina's.

Basically, take out the passenger glove box lid, unclip the lower dash footwell panel and there is a cover held on the heater / A/C unit by two 7mm screws. Under this is the heater rad held in by a spring clip with one 7mm screw.

Dive under the bonnet and undo the 2 hoses and one more 7mm screw holding the pipes down, back in the car and slide it out into the footwell. You dont even lose more than a cup full of coolant and bleeding it was a matter of starting it with the rad cap off and topping it up as the level dropped.

Why cant all motor manufacturers design things like this to work on................ ;D ;D

Mind you you should try changing the number one plug on these V8's, right under the A/C pump, you can change the other 7 plugs quicker than this one, its a right wotsit :o

Dave

Title: Re: Easiest Heater Rad Change
Post by big_neil on May 10^th, 2007, 10:32am

i can remember when manufacturers used to fit a removable panel in the wheel arch to enable you to change a clutch plate in situ on front wheel drive cars, nowadays the whole cradle has to be removed! i can also remember a mate of mine fitted a plate in his front dashboard fascia panel to enable the removal of his ford ohc camshaft as it slid out from the rear, saved removing the cylinder head.

Title: Re: Easiest Heater Rad Change
Post by petehull on May 10^th, 2007, 11:26am

I had a Wartburg for 13 years, it had a removeable hatch inside the car to enable work to be carried out on the gearbox and linkage etc, the whole front panel including headlights and grill etc were removeable by undoing four nuts to aid access to the engine. I think that nowadays, cars are designed more with safety in mind, the integrity of the safety zones would be compromised if panels were made removeable.

Pete