I'll be replacing my heater core here soon and was wondering if anybody has some tips or tricks to make my first time changing one easier and if I should replace anything while the dash is out besides that part for the ac?

 

Get some foam tape in multiple thicknesses. You can seal everything off and it makes a huge difference. Check out one of my Jeep builds I did. I did a decent write up when replacing the heater core.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/pr...40930/index14/

 

You evidently have a 2000 ; I recently replaced the heater core on my 2000. Here's a few thoughts. I'm sure other folks may add.. Or differ
in no particular order.
-Before you do anything disconnect battery
--probably want to replace evaporator while you are in there
-soak the 5 studs/nuts that hold the hvac box to firewall with Kroll oil for a week before you start. Get a 7/16 (11mm) flex head ratcheting end wrench for the nut behind the head.
-i didn't take out the seats
-dont't need to remove steering wheel, just tilt it down before dropping steering column
-When you split hvac box do it very slowly and carefully so that weird little plastic flap inside ( not the blend door,that's easy, the other little loose flap )stays in place so you don't have to figure out where it goes
you will need to discharge the a/c so if you don't have the gear etc to do that you need to arrange to have that done.
Take your time plan 2 days . you don't want to need to do it twice.
like most things on here....
Mechanic A says
Mechanic. B says

Multiple choice.. Who is right
A
B
Both
Neither
(for those of you who have taken those tests)

 

^^^ That's all good advice, though I took my seats out to handle some other while-you're-in-there projects. My biggest tip is don't do it in the winter, but it's too late for that now. I did mine in January, which is why it's funny.

Also, if you need to replace that mesh stuff on the downstream side of the evaporator core, it's called reticulated foam in case you want to buy some more. More info here. https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/bla...r-core-214838/

EDIT: Also, get some replacement foam to seal the HVAC box to the firewall. You're going to pay for it, but there are still Mopar foam kits available. The last thing you want is water leaking into your footwell from the engine bay. You can fabricate the foam around the heater core inside the box, but this one you don't want to screw around with. There's one piece that seals around the heater core and evap core pipes, one around the blower fan motor, and one around the A/C drain at the bottom.

 

X2^^ replace the evaporator too ^^

 

I hear people say this all the time, and I assume it's one of those while you're in there things, but mine looked great and I didn't want to risk replacing it with some crappy aftermarket one that didn't come with all the molded foam on it. Do the evaporators corrode, clog up, or otherwise deteriorate like heater cores do?

 

I replaced my evaporator also while I was in there. It was cheap and just a feel better thing for me. Didn't seem to be anything wrong with the one that was in there, but why not. Some people also replace the blower motor because it is easier to do with the box out than moving things around in the firewall to do it later, but that is all just personal preference. Inspect all of your vacuum lines and wiring while you have it out and repair anything that looks questionable. Like others said, get some new foam and seal the crap out of it while you have that opportunity. Most importantly, take your time and go slowly. You are working with aged plastic and those tabs and other parts can break easily. (Ask me how I know) Don't force anything. When reassembling, double check EVERYTHING. Last thing you want is to get everything back in and the dash installed to find out you forgot something. Also, check all of your grounds really good after reassembling the dash, and if you have electrical problems after getting it back together, then those are the usual culprits. Good luck.

 

If this problem ever arises for me I’m just going to loop the heater coil hoses together under the hood and call it a win.

 

That solved my problem for about 6 months. Then it got cold outside.

 

whenever I take a dash apart, I take sequential digipics, and the occassional video.

I noticed I sound like a retard when talking about wires and screw locations, but its saved my bacon more than once

you can only take too few pics, never too many

 

Nobody needs to listen to the videos but you!! Great idea.

None of us sound the same in a video as we do resonating our voices through our own head.
I found that out out doing YouTube videos.

 

Nobody needs to listen to the videos but you!! Great idea.

None of us sound the same in a video as we do resonating our voices through our own head.
I found that out out doing YouTube videos.

 

Nobody needs to listen to the videos but you!! Great idea.

None of us sound the same in a video as we do resonating our voices through our own head.
I found that out out doing YouTube videos.

 

Heater core obviously, the ac part, blower motor and hvac foam kit. Anything else I should get?

 

The only other thing you'll likely need is some of the adhesive foam to seal the heater core inside the HVAC box. It also comes in handy to fix/seal some of the other places warm air can escape. I used some where the tube thingy that feeds the rear seat heat vents connects to the heater box.

Here's what I bought. The black stuff on the right worked great around the heater core. It expands and seals.