Dodge Ram Diesel heater Leak

[Canyon707]

I have an 03 3/4 ton Dodge Ram and I beleive it has a heater core leak. I turn on the defroster and the windows fog up. I smell coolant also. Has anyone had this issues? Has anyone done a change out I dont even know where to look for it. I assume its under the passenger dash but I dont really know. Any help would e great.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

The dash has to come out to get the heater box out. Major pita

 

[Canyon707]

I watched it on youtube it looks like a big project. I could only imagine the cost to have it done.

 

[rscurtis]

While you're in there, replace all the doors with HeaterTreater parts. (www.heatertreaterweb3.com) I had the local dealer do my '03 about a year ago, labor was only $445, and I supplied the doors. The tech had done at least 100 of them and did a perfect job. He didn't remove the dash, just disconnected the right side and laid it on the passenger seat. I would have done it myself but didn't have the second person if I needed help, which it looks like I might have.

 

[Pistol Pete]

I paid around $900 to have the heater core replaced in my '02 a few years back. It was winter time, I tore down my old shop was in the process of building a new one and the prospect of doing the core in the driveway was not an attractive one.

That said, after reading the fsm, I'm fairly certain I'd still pay to have it done today.

Pick your battles wisely Grasshopper.

 

[64BEL]

Pick your battles wisely Grasshopper.

Sage advice. I try to do everything myself, but there are times I just farm out some of the jobs on the "newer" vehicles because I know it'll turn into an ordeal without all of the right tools or a good place to do it - or it'll take me way longer than I have time for since I've never done it before. Fortunately, I have a good mechanic nearby who's old school and very reasonable in price. He's by himself and gives good advice even if I'm doing my own work. Removing the dash for HVAC repairs on a newer vehicle is one of the things I've been reluctant to tackle.

 

[Moparsmitty]

Sage advice. I try to do everything myself, but there are times I just farm out some of the jobs on the "newer" vehicles because I know it'll turn into an ordeal without all of the right tools or a good place to do it - or it'll take me way longer than I have time for since I've never done it before. Fortunately, I have a good mechanic nearby who's old school and very reasonable in price. He's by himself and gives good advice even if I'm doing my own work. Removing the dash for HVAC repairs on a newer vehicle is one of the things I've been reluctant to tackle.

Agree 100%. I've never done a heater core in one of these trucks, but a friend of mine is a mechanic in one of the best independent shops in our area. He's done lots of them and he hates doing them. This is not a good job to try yourself unless you have lots of experience. Too many things can go wrong. You don't want to spend all day working on it just to get it back together and find out somethings not working. Dodge Dakotas and a lot of other new cars and trucks are like this. Made to be easy to assemble but not to repair.

 

[65-440]

Very easy job, You can have that dash laying on your front seat in 20min ( or at least I can ! ) ... If you were closer I would help you knock it out on a Saturday morning. The HVAC box is very simple, just pay attention and make sure it goes back together smooth. If you have to fight it, you have a door off a hinge. I say go for it !

 

[Canyon707]

Well I went and had it done. 780 complete. It wsas more than I wanted to deal with and its been raining since last Sunday so it would still be sitting. undone. Got it back today works great. It was more than I wanted to spend on that truck but its my only daily driver so I just had to pull the trigger.

 

[64BEL]

Yeah, well, now it's done and you don't have the hassle. Sometimes that's worth forking over the dough you would rather not spend. Whenever I pay someone else to work on something of mine, I remind myself of the thousands and thousands of dollars I've saved over the years with all of the jobs I did handle myself. I don't see how people can afford to pay a shop to do all of the work on their vehicles. I guess they make more money than me, that's how.

 

[Canyon707]

your 100% correct. There are times when you need to address the issue of whats the right thing to do based on your experience.

 

[Sixpaksteve]

Thank you all for your very useful posts on this subject. I've got a 2001 Ram diesel and so far (knock on wood) my heater is still working just fine. Your comments here taught me something today, and that's part of the reason I joined FBBO.

 

[rscurtis]

The 2001 uses a completely different HVAC system than the third generation. Yours is vacuum operated, while the newer trucks use stepper motors, which could overpower and strip the splines in the plastic doors.

 

[Sixpaksteve]

Thanks for that info. on my 2001 RECURTIS. So does that mean that I could replace my heater core (reasonably easy) myself when the time comes? Or should I too bite the bullet and shell out the $700 - $1000 for the dealer or other shop to do it who has done it before?

 

[rscurtis]

I can't really answer your question, as when I had my '95, I never had any HVAC issues other than a failed pressure line on the AC. I don't know if the AC system has to be discharged/recharged to reach the heater core. If you have the equipment and possibly a helper, I would attempt it myself.