Heater core gone bad

[kinneyfamily]

Has anyone tried to replace heater core on 02 journey... Easy job or take it to shop ? Thanks

[RKL]

Not too bad a job. Best to have two people. Search forum for diagrams of where screws and bolts are. Best advice is to loosen last two bottom bolts and tilt forward against a step ladder . It is raally heavy if you fully disconnect it. Also reattaching the wiper arms in the right position is the worse part. Take pics. And remember to ground the new heater core nipple with a hose clamp and wire to the frame. There is small voltage in the core which doesn 't help the corrosion issues. Since grounding, no problems in 11 years with replacement. While you are at it, put some napa hose shut of valves in the 2 lones for future leak issues. Then you can easily make a bypass connection if uou are on the road. Good luck. RKL

[movin-on]

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f101/2004...ns-136196.html

[kinneyfamily]

Is it on the passenger side right up front in the black box? And do you jus separate that box ? Thanks.

[RKL]

Yes. In the black box. Clips will fly when removing them. Put something underneath if on grass or gravel. Had to use some wire ties for the ones that launched into space. RKL

[grtharris]

kinneyfamily, Where is the leak? Check out the post below I carried a couple of the fittings for years. Went with coach when we sold it.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f101/jour...ixed-4906.html

[kinneyfamily]

Thanks for the info and I'm picking it up from storage next week so I will look at fittings first.

[Petesflhtk]

Just completed the heater core replacement on my 02 Journey. I should say my son in law did the work. He says its not that bad, cleanup of all the anti freeze was a pain as was on foam gaskets etc.. About a days work to complete..

[kinneyfamily]

Thank you very much! Gonna rip into ASAP....what was the guys name on here that showed pics of the job?

[charles tuit]

Originally Posted by kinneyfamily

Thank you very much! Gonna rip into ASAP....what was the guys name on here that showed pics of the job?

Battchief. He did a great job of documenting the task with instructions and pictures.

If he's still monitoring IRV2-Thanks You

[smlranger]

Originally Posted by kinneyfamily

Thank you very much! Gonna rip into ASAP....what was the guys name on here that showed pics of the job?

Using BattChief's excellent directions, I had to replace a heater core in our 2002 Journey twice over the 8 years we had it. On the first time, I hinged the front lower clip forward and rested it on a ladder. That was OK but still did not give excellent access. Several years later I decided to drop the Onan generator out of the coach for a full service and also replace (again) the leaking heater core. That time I just removed the front clip and the radiator core was pretty easy to change out.

I did posts with pics both times on this forum. I will see if I can find them and post the links for you.