Removing Heater Box

[Mudd Duk]

Been trying for a while to remove the heater box from around the heater coil in my 90. I can get the lid off, and get the heater coil off too, but I've taken all the screws out of the housing that I can find and it still won't budge. I took out the glove box and couldn't see any other screws, and was told to look at the fire wall from inside the hood, but the only studs I see seem to be the ones holding up the a/c condensor. Any help?

 

[Mike]

I havent taken apart one of the early interiors but I do know that sometimes you just have to rip everything in that area apart. Do you have a service manual or a similar publication?

 

[Mudd Duk]

I havent taken apart one of the early interiors but I do know that sometimes you just have to rip everything in that area apart. Do you have a service manual or a similar publication?

Not yet, but plan on picking up a Haynes manual on the way home this weekend. I believe, but could be wrong, that the heater box and coil are the same on all 88-98's

 

[Mike]

What are you trying to replace?

 

[Mudd Duk]

What are you trying to replace?

The box that is above and sort of around the coil. Once you remove the actual lid, on the bottom with 6 screws, and remove the heater coil, the remaining part of that box that was directly above the heater coil. I'm redoing my interior now and that part actually has a hole in the front where someone jumped in one night and accidentally kicked it. The hole doesn't hurt anything but I want the interior to look new when I'm done with it.

 

[Mike]

Same thing happened in my truck and I just hot glued some black plastic to it and its nice and air tight and you cant notice.

 

[Mudd Duk]

Alright, got another question. Don't know if it belongs here, but its in regard to replacing the box. Since i already have gotten the heater coil out, should I replace it? Reason asked is because when i crank the truck up, if the temp is set to cold, and I adjust it to hot once it warms up, it only blows cold air unless i reach over and tap the box. Then it works fine. Only time it acts up is when I turn the truck off with the temp set to cold. If I turn the truck off with the temp set to hot, next time I crank the truck up, it works fine.

 

[Donald Mitchell]

That sounds like one of the actuators sticking. I think if I had my heater core out I would replace it.