Man Ive been slaving away at this thing for the last few days using the non dash removal method. Anyway I finally got that bastard screw undone thats behind the heater box and go to remove the heaater core when what do I find? the core wont come out because the clutch pedal assembly is in the way!!! AAHHHHHHH!!!! Could someone please alter the tech article to mention that if you have a manual that the dash has to come out, I just wasted a lot of time screwing around with difficult access stuff for nothing, I mean it took about 4 hours of stuffing around just to undo that screw..... for nothing!....
Its easier to pull the dash. Before Christmas last year I pulled the dash to glue it and replace the core. Started at lunch time had it back together by 6.30. The non dash removal method is over-rated, fiddly and a pain in the ass.
thats a bugger... I dont want to rub salt in the wound, but the non-dash removal method in manuals was discussed heaps on the old forum.... but since all those old posts are currently not available, it doesnt really help you.. sorry gazza. The consensus was, that if you wanted to do the non-dash removal method in a manual, you also need to remove the clutch assembly... I guess it depends on whats more work, removing the dash or the clutch assembly.... but when my heatercore dies again (I know it will), I'll just be taking the dash out again.... its a solid 2 days work, but better than stuffing around trying to use other methods.... its times like this you wish you had an auto...
yeah but thats you graham.... hehehee, I've seen you work.. Us minions require a little more time.... Cheers
a little help Hey guys.. As you proabably know my heater core is stuffed too..Craig took all the parts out from under the dash (no problem)...but...we couldn't get the pipe off from inside the engine bay (that goes through the firewall)...does it have to be cut off and replaced?? We tried pouring boiling water on it to soften it..but that didn't even work..Any ideas?..If your unsure of what im talking about..i'll get some photos of it on the w/e.. Renee
The heater core hard pipes which enter the engine bay via firewall have a screw holding them in place. To quote Gazza The screw is accessed from engine bay, between the 2 pipes, with some difficulty.
And that screw promptly fell down the back of the heater box assembly. The engineers that designed this part of the car could have made the design so much more mechanic friendly geeze. As for removing nasty frozen pipes at the firewall, remove the hose clamps or push them off the hoses, then using a large flat bladed screw driver lever the hoses off using some timber or rag to protect the paint on the firewall lever point. You can spray some silicon spray on around the pipe, that stuff works wonders on rubber parts. Also unclip the battery cable and the other cables/pipes from around the area so you have the maximum amount of room to work with
heatercore recommendation.... ..just get those two luverly boys from QLD to do the job ... the 2 bens .. bloody brilliant .... and where are you lads .. we haven't heard from you for yonks ...???!!!!
Hey guys The pipe craig and I tried to remove wasn't a hard pipe...it was a soft black rubber one that just wouldn't budge... We removed the hose clamps for the black rubber pipe, then we tried to use a flat headed screwdriver to lever the pipe off, but that didn't work...and we had plenty of room to get to it, craig could wrap his whole hand around the pipe but it still wouldn't budge...that's why we tried everything like..pouring hot water over the pipe to hopefully losen the pipe..but that didn't work..any ideas.. Renee
Well after another solid day of trying to remove the dash Ive achieved jack squat besides a huge pile of trim parts. Removed every screw, bolt, panel etc and the damn thing wont come off (yes I got the bolts under the vents). Anyone know what the go is with the clips on the top corners of the dash that hold it on?. I had a look in the manual but it didnt say how to unclip the dash clips. I pulled on the bastard as hard as I dared and nothing, tried lifting and no good. Whole dash lifts up but wont let go at the top. Might go the other way and pull the clutch pedal out cause this dash removal is proving very risky in terms of breaking something very expensive by accident.
I had a similar problem.... when doug (red32) and I did my dash removal, we removed everything and got to the point where the dash had to come out.... we tugged, pulled, jolted (no not each other) and the bloody dash just would come out.... in the end we agreed to call my bro-in-law who was a mechanic.... he gave it a few firm tugs at the corners, and walla, the bloody dash came out..... mechanics just have a feel for these sort of things and know how much pressure to apply.... if you are certain you have removed every screw, then try jolting the dash from the corners.... the clips are quite firm... Cheers
Renee... Spray some silicon spray on that sucker while you try and pry it with a flat head screwdriver... eventually, the silicon lubricant will seep under the rubber hose and some twists will get them off.... yes, they are bitches to get off, especially if they havent come off in 15 years.... Cheers
Thanks Jeddi, I'll give it another go. I hate doing this kind of stuff, always waiting for something to snap!
If you are sure you have all the screws out. Just grab the bastard and pull the crap out of it. The clips in the front grab the dash pretty hard. You will know if you have all the screws out cause it will hinge slightly on the front clips. It goes back in easier than it comes out. Trust me I know. I have had 4 different ones out.
is that willy walla ..?? a relation of wally whollah ..?? also plays the voila, i believe .. sorry, bored watching the ordinary tennis at wimble-dee, wimble-dum.... !!!!
The pipes mentioned above are a bitch to get out (if their the ones im thinkn of - firewall on the engine side) but i sprayed WD-40 on them and just tugged at them and going from side to side til they gave way (mind u when they did my arm flicked up and wacked my face) But its preety strong in that area so dont b scared to give it force. Also can any1 lead me to a techy or post that explains the heater core job as i gotta do mine
