Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: 93 Escort Heater Core replacement, heater core replacement, 2 nuts

Question
My heater core is definetely leaking.  I have a Chilton's manual that says I have to remove the instrument panel.  Its pretty unclear - is it referring to the whole dash?  I did one of these once on an old chevette years ago and remember it being an all day job.  Any tips?

Thank you in advance.

1993 Escort, Auto trans.

Answer
Once again you have an ALL DAY JOB ahead of you. YES, You have to remove the "whole dash".

However, Sometimes you can get LUCKY and only unbolt it without pulling all the wires and cables and junk and it will come back just far enough to be able to remove the heater box.

NOTE: I have found that on SOME Ford models.,:

They install the heater core in the interior plastic housing and mount it on the firewall with the studs protruding thru the firewall then they put on the NUTS from the engine compartment side onto the bolts to hold the assembly onto the firewall.

Then when they mount the engine compartment housing OVER these same studs that protrude thru the firewall and then they install a SECOND NUT to hold the firewall compartment on.

So you have 2 nuts on the same bolt. Therefore you have to take the engine compartment side housing side off FIRST and then you will see the set of NUTS that hold the interior housing onto the firewall.


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