Has anyone had to have the heater core replaced on their '04+ yet? I ask because I think that mine is going out, if I turn the knob anywhere but the coolest position I smell coolant.

How much of a pain in the ass is it to change?

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12.3 @ 108 w/ 1.7 60'

It should be the same as this except the plastic cover, the screws in it, and how to remove the console
do-it-yourself-f12/heater-core-replacement-97-03-t23894.html

-- Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:49 pm --

This is it for the console

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Dthreap wrote:

Yeah make sure your O2 isn't behind lazy, you want nice up and down.

Planeboy18 wrote:

^^Pro tip for more than just O2 sensor signals

mine went out last winter.... when it was below 0*F. Was a fun swap..lots of sarcasm.

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OVERKILL
P4 Perilli Tires
ZZP Pacesetter Headers
Custom Cold Air
ALT 104
3.5MPS Pulley

Total pain in the ass to change. I've never thrown so many tools before in my life. Instead of putting screws or bolts, they used plastic rivets that have to be drilled or cut out. There in the dash where you can't see them directly and are very hard to reach. AND, there are a bunch of them to remove. I spent 2 days upside down reaching up into the center part of the dash trying to get that damn thing out.

That post that Jake made doesn't tell you anything about that job. If you follow the complete instructions, you have to pull everything out of the front including the seats.

Here are better instructions

http://sm.gpona.com:9001/si/showDoc.do? ... llId=48203

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

I was just showing the steps to remove he center console, because it's different than earlier grand prixs

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Dthreap wrote:

Yeah make sure your O2 isn't behind lazy, you want nice up and down.

Planeboy18 wrote:

^^Pro tip for more than just O2 sensor signals

Wasn't taking a shot at you, I just have horrible memories of changing out my heater core and I didn't want him getting flase hopes of an easy job by reading that little picture you posted. lol!! Believe me, I wish it was that easy to get that damn thing out.

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

haha, I did my moms 98 and getting the plastic cover out was the hardest part of the whole thing (or strategically placing the screws, because I lost 2 or 3 of them). And there is less room in the 04+

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Dthreap wrote:

Yeah make sure your O2 isn't behind lazy, you want nice up and down.

Planeboy18 wrote:

^^Pro tip for more than just O2 sensor signals

Then you know my pain...lol!!

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

Thanks for the replies, so it sounds like I want to make sure that I have a few days to waste just in case....

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12.3 @ 108 w/ 1.7 60'

The actual procedure is not hard, it's just where the damn thing is located that makes it a PITA job.

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

Let us know how it goes and if you discover any tricks lol

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Dthreap wrote:

Yeah make sure your O2 isn't behind lazy, you want nice up and down.

Planeboy18 wrote:

^^Pro tip for more than just O2 sensor signals

The link doesn't work for me, is there another or can you email me the intructions?

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12.3 @ 108 w/ 1.7 60'

Just search for Document ID: 978133 in the service manual ^^^^^. I'm pretty sure that was the link Blackwood tried to post.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

For the plastic rivets that have to be cut or drilled out, do they need to be replaced with something?

-- Tue Aug 30, 2011 11:03 pm --



Thanks, that helped!

-- Tue Aug 30, 2011 11:09 pm --

I think for the short term I may just bypass the heater core until I have time to spend on this POS. I already purchased the heater core from Rock Auto which it should be here by this weekend but I'm not sure I want to spend Labor Day weekend laboring on my car.

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12.3 @ 108 w/ 1.7 60'

You are correct sir. The sevice manual moved to a new server since I made that post. That's why the link didn't work.

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

How about the plastic rivets that had to be drilled out, do they need to be replaced and if so where do I find them?

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12.3 @ 108 w/ 1.7 60'

Yup screws, just like the ones that hold the actuator motor onto the heater box. Beside each rivit youll see a little indent where the screw goes, just pust the screw into it and it goes through and catches.
I used quite a few screws when I did my dual Climate conversion

^^^^What he said.

I think the screws came with the new core IIRC. It's been a few years.

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

Cool, just have it bypassed for now to stop it from leaking inside the car...

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12.3 @ 108 w/ 1.7 60'

Just got finished doing the heater core swap myself. I have a copy of the service manual and found the mentioned document, followed it to get this thing swapped out. Only tip I would offer for someone trying this would be to use a drimel tool with rouer bit to grind out the heat stakes/plastic rivits or whatever you want to call them. GM recommends using a small chisel to remove them but that is futile. The dremil got them out fairly easy.

One other thing I fould out was the replacement heater core I bought had larger pinch welds for the hose stops. They wouldn't fit through the firewall because part of the plastic heater box interferred. Once again I turned to my trusty dremil tool and ground out the part of the heater box that was interfering. Then the new core fit fairly easy.

I did not replace the heat stakes/rivets. it seemed that the bolts were sufficent to hold the heater box up. The stupid bolts were 5.5 mm bolt heads (or 7/32") so hopefully you have a very small socket set. I used a 1/4" drive set and have a universal joint that came in very handy. I also took out the glove box and On-Star box to give myself a little more room to work. I did have to take out the entire interior - console, seats, carpet. I had my lovely wife shampoo the carpet while it was out of the car (Thank you very much Mary). IT was very dirty from the 7+ years of service and 213,000 miles my Comp G has covered. All done now and car nice and toasty warm, just in time for winter.

This took me from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon to get this all done. Not a simple task. Cut my head a couple times on the sharp metal up under the dash. I'd like to give the GM engineer who designed this a turban wedgie.

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'58 Cushman
'66 GTO Hardtop 428HO Auto
'69 GTO Convertible 4sp 400
'75 Honda CB550
'95 Grand Am - gone to the boneyard
'04 GTP Comp G

Damn that experience sounds familiar!! Only difference is that I didn't have any trouble with the firewall. Mine fit just like the original.

BTW, sounds like you drive just as much as I do. I also have 213,000 miles on my 04. It would be more, but it's been sitting under my carport since May with a busted transmission.

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

Why did u guys replace it? Did it leak? Or u just didnt have heat?

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Never argue with an idiot, he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Mine was leaking. Started to get a strong coolant smell in my air vents. I eventually ended up with coolant water dripping from under the dash.

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3.5" MPS, 1.84 Rockers, 3" DP, Frt PEM, 39lb Injs., PowrTuner, Wizair
14.07@ 98.85mph 2.180 60'

Same here... Still haven't got around to replacing it yet, it just really doesn't get that cold here in Southern California.

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12.3 @ 108 w/ 1.7 60'

I was getting antifreeze in the passenger compartment, just a few drops and I was getting the smell so I bypassed the core till I got to replace it. Once I got the core out it was obvious there was a pinhole leak in one of the core tubes. I thought it would be where the inlet tubes went into the manifold but it actually was one of the tubes leaking. It gets pretty cold here in the winter so I've got to use the heat.

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'58 Cushman
'66 GTO Hardtop 428HO Auto
'69 GTO Convertible 4sp 400
'75 Honda CB550
'95 Grand Am - gone to the boneyard
'04 GTP Comp G