How to Install a Heater Core in a '93 F-350

The heater core and blower motor work together to warm the cabin area of your F-350 during winter months. Much like the radiator, the heater core circulates hot coolant through it by way of inlet and outlet tubes. Damage to the heater core happens most often from one of its tubes having a clogged or restricted opening. When coolant fails to circulate properly through the heater core, pressure continually builds within it that leads to rupturing. Signs of a damaged heater core include no heat, coolant on the passenger floor area or a coolant leak near the center, underneath the truck. Installing a new heater core in your 93 F-350 should take 40 minutes to do, and can be done right at home.

Instructions

1

Raise the hood on the F-350 and remove the radiator cap. Place a coolant drain pan underneath the radiator on the drain cock side. Open the drain cock on the radiator and allow the coolant to drain for exactly two minutes and then close the drain cock securely.

2

Loosen the retaining clip bolts on the heater core hoses on the left side of the firewall with a socket wrench. Slide the retaining clips back on their individual hoses and then use a pair of scissors to cut the top off an empty 1-gallon milk jug. Place the milk jug down into the engine compartment below both of the heater core hoses. Then, one at a time, pull each hose off its heater core tubes and place the hoses into the empty milk jug.

3

Open the passenger-side door and lower the glove box. Remove the push pin on the left side of the glove box by squeezing it together with a pair of pliers and simultaneously pushing it through its mounting hole. Then simply lift the glove box off its track and set it to the side of your work area.

4

Remove the bolts from the black plastic cover on the right just behind the glove box mounting area. This is the heater core cover. There should be seven total bolts between the top, bottom and sides of the cover. With its bolts removed, take the cover off the heater core and lower it from beneath the dashboard.

5

Remove the heater core from its housing by pulling it toward you slightly and then carefully lowering it from under the dashboard as well.

6

Install the heater core by reversing the removal steps exactly. Tighten the heater core hoses with a 1/4-inch-drive torque wrench set to 18 inch-lbs. and then properly refill your radiator with fresh coolant.

7

Pour any coolant collected in the milk jug directly into the coolant drain pan. Fill two empty coolant bottles evenly with the drain pan's coolant then take the bottles to your nearest recycling center to dispose of them.