I cut the bottom plastic from the dash and slipped the dash up, and to
the right of the steering, being careful not to break the flasher
signal and wipers controller arms (tricky.) Ignore the scratch on the
bottom of the dash in the picture below, it was there before. The
speakers didn't need to be removed, I simply disconnected them from the
back once the dash was loose. |
dash off. |
the opposite angle, notice the retaining bars on the passenger side, I
removed them because otherwise I couldn't have taken out the heater
box, visible in the center, on this below photo, I still hadn't removed
the rear heater ducts, they are under the carpet, shaped like a reverse
Y. |
a closer view of the heater box. Not too bad shape for an 18 year old
truck, hardly any rust, in fact, in an alarming reversal of fortune, I
was surprised to find NO seized screws or bolts! |
the blower motor box, I need to remember and vacuum out the leaves that
are in there. Notice the crack at the top. I'll probably put some glue
there for good measure before I close this mess up. Ah, there is also
visible the original SUZUKI alarm system w/remote start. It still works!
|
An alarmingly C3P0esque view of the naked steering column. Argh...
|
the center with the rear heating duct removed, I simply cut the carpet
along the center, I'll velcro it back in place, actually, I'll just
flap it there, it shouldn't move once the center console is reinstalled
as it will hold it in place.
|
a closeup of the spot where the heater core comes in through the
firewall. |
a view from the engine compartment, showing the passenger's side bolt
(removed) that holds the heater box into place. |
the driver's side bolt (removed.) I'm still amazed at how clean this
Sidekick is. Definitely worth the effort to replace the heater core. |
draining the coolant, in retrospect I should've done that first, took a
LONG time. |
The box, removed, upside down view of the actual heater core, you can
see that it leaked, part of the firewall insulating material is stuck
to it. At first I couldn't find the retaining screw to remove the core,
it was hidden under some of the melted insulating material. |
a view of the center of the cockpit, with the box removed, again I'm
amazed at how clean it all is. You can see the carpet where I cut it.
|
he core, partly out. This side looks clean. |
But the other side is a different story. you can clearly see where it
leaked and trapped bugs, shrubbery, dust and wound up corroding more.
|
And finally a close up of the culprit. I'll post other photos of the
reverse process once I receive and install the new part. I expect the
reassembly to be 100.000.000 times more difficult than the disassembly. |