the motor is to the right.The air is in the middle.the heater box is behind the radio.the heater box comes out where the glove box would be.

 

I just replaced the heater core on my 92 4Runner using shaeff's post. As I went along I took many pictures to help me put it back together. I have them uploaded to my Facebook page if you want to take a look or to use so you do not have to take pictures as you go along to remember where and how everything goes together. I took about 60 plus pictures, but it does not cover everything. The one piece of advice I have after the whole experience is to leave the 4 controls cables attached to the a/c control console (They control the temperature of the air, the ducts the air goes through, the fan speed, and the air intake.) I found out the best way to get this obstacle out of the way is to detach the cables at the end where it is attached to each device the control operates. The end to remove has a eye. I broke 2 of the ends attached to the console and it cost me an extra $30 to fix. Luckily I actually found the 2 parts pulled from a guy in Addison, instead of having to go to a junk yard.

see pictures here:
http://s978.photobucket.com/albums/a...Heater%20Core/

 

Thanks dude!

I don't have A/C, but you shouldn't have to. The HVAC system in the Pickup is similarly set up to that of my MKIII Supra which has A/C, and there's no need to have the system discharged. It just makes it a bit more challenging, but is easily done with patience.
I assume you mean the third to last pic? This one: http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...uctremoved.jpg

The heater core is located in the center piece, right behind where the stereo would be. You can see the top of it in the picture, along with the pipes going through the firewall. The second to last picture is a close up of that black box there the heater core is located: http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...dstripping.jpg

Cool. Yeah, I forgot to mention that the cables should be left on the HVAC unit, and disconnected from the heater box vents and the heater valve (on the firewall in the engine bay). By the way, your pics say "temporarily unavailable."

 

what reasons would you replace a heater core for? I replaced a heater core because it was leaking...but my truck takes a long time to heat up...i'm wondering if its partly due to the heater core being clogged. Not sure???

 

Its funny this got revived. I have to remove my dash this weekend and this thread came up on the search.

Great write up!

 

well if you're thinking it's clogged, you can TRY to back-flush it, BUT, that's what I did, and then it sprung a leak, lol, so attempt at your own risk


granted, after flushing it, the heater worked AWESOME for about a week or so... then on my way to work one morning, I was left sitting in a fine mist of antifreeze pouring from the vents in my dash...

 

I was getting a film of greasy anti-freeze residue on the windshield when using the defroster. I didn't wait to replace it- I didn't want to have coolant pouring out inside the truck. By the way, it's been two years now since I replaced it (and made this writeup) and it's still operating perfectly.

Thanks! (now give me your old bed! LOL!)
Yeah, same thing happened to me on my '71 Chevy c-10 stepside about 7 years ago. I backflushed the 'core, it had fantastic heat for about 3 days, then the 'core literally popped. There was more coolant in the cabin of the truck than there was in the motor! (I was very thankful for the rubber "carpet" floor mat. I just opened the door and it all ran out.

 

I have located all my pictures to photobucket instead of facebook. I updated the link in my original post but here it is again just in case:

http://s978.photobucket.com/albums/a...Heater%20Core/

 

title needs to be changed to " '89-'95 "

 

i have to replace mine :/. Windows are turning green lol

 

Quiet, you! LOL.

 

It is well worth it!

 

I have a question about the AC. Why does it make it harder? Do they actually run the ac core and stuff inside the truck also? I don't know much about how the AC works on these trucks, but I'm hoping it doesn't get in the way.

 

The A/C evaporator (what the fan blows against to make cool air for your driving pleasure) is located to the right of the heater core, in one f the large white vent boxes. The way Toyota assembled the vent system, the A/C evap box partially blocks the heater core box from being easily removed. You need a fair amount of finesse and patience to wriggle the heater core box free.

And don't damage the extension pipes on the heater core- if they're out of round you'll get leaks.

 

Nice write-up, hope I never need it though.

 

Great write up!!! I am fixin to do this on my friends rig. This will help for sure!!

 

Thanks, all. It's really not as bad as it sounds/looks, though. It gives you a good chance to clean out all that built up dust!

 

haha, according to shop key/all data they say that its 1.9 hours of work...
i want to call bs. haha

 

Maybe if you've done it a few times, but definitely not for a first timer.

 

Revival #3!!

I'm trying to get to the blower motor and airbox, without the intent to change my heater core.. I'm getting poor heat transfer from the core (which gets hot) to the air passing over it. I believe my core is caked in a layer of dirt and grime which is not insulating the core instead of allowing it to exchange heat to the air.. Seeing how dusty and gimey the outside of the dash is, which gets cleaned once in a while, I can only imagine how dirty the inside of the vetillation system is.

My question. Do I need to remove the upper part of the dash and the lateral brace to get to the heater box and faces of the heater core?