Rear Heater Core Location

[DPDISXR4Ti]

I've been told that the rear heater core is located on the driver side, behind the rearmost trim panel. I've taken a look at a few junkyard Astro vans, and all I ever find is either nothing or an A/C evaporator core. Am I looking in the wrong location?

I actually need one just as a fitment template, hence the reason I don't want to bother springing for a new one.

Thanks...

[timelessbeing]

It's right behind the driver's seat, on the floor behind the panel. You can see the coolant lines going to it from below the van too.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

It's right behind the driver's seat, on the floor behind the panel. You can see the coolant lines going to it from below the van too.

Dang, no wonder I haven't been able to find it!

So just to be clear, do I need to remove a horizontal panel in the floor or a vertical side panel. Would you happen to recall if it's fastened with Torx or Phillips-headed screws?

Thanks!

[DPDISXR4Ti]

I got a chance to look at a junked '99 Safari today. Unfortunately, there was a bunch of heavy junk in the back, so I couldn't peel the floor up behind the driver seat to look for a heat core. Still not sure if that is where it's located. Yes, no, maybe???

Is there any tell-tale evidence that will point to whether a particular van has the aux heater or not? This one is on the ground, so I can't see if it has any hoses underneath. Perhaps there are some additional vents somewhere? I see a vent underneath the driver seat, but I bet that's part of the primary circuit.

['cudapaul]

On 1995 and earlier vans there is a "Rear Heat" switch located with a group of switches above the radio faceplate. That would be the first tip-off. On 1996 and later there are three switch locations to the right of the radio. One of them wil be labled "Rear Heat."

The rear heater core is on the driver's side and is approxiametely 18" from the driver's seat base where it attaches to the floor. On 1995 and earlier there is a plastic cover that has a fixed grille for the heat to exit. On the 1996 and later there will be two or three small (2" x 5") adjustable louvers in the side plastic.

Basically, if you find the rear heat switch, or you see something behind the driver's seat that has louvers, then you have found a van with the rear heat unit.

Or you can look in the glove box (95 and earlier) or the passenger door (96 and later) for RPO code C36 (auxilary heater).

As far as accessing it, I believe you will have to remove the entire verticle driver side plastic panel to gain access to it. This is the same trim that goes around the windows. It may be possible on the 1996 and up to seperate the lower panel from the upper panel.

Does that help?

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Does that help?

Yes. Perfect!

[DPDISXR4Ti]

On 1996 and later there are three switch locations to the right of the radio. One of them wil be labled "Rear Heat."

So if they're all filler panels like this, no aux heat, huh?

Or you can look in the glove box (95 and earlier) or the passenger door (96 and later) for RPO code C36 (auxilary heater).

But just to be sure, I don't see a C36 code here either....

['cudapaul]

No switch=no rear heater; you found the right panel blanks however.
Obviously, not on the RPO sticker either!

Now go find that switch panel labled "REAR HEAT" or RPO C36!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW, what are you up to with this little project?

[DPDISXR4Ti]

BTW, what are you up to with this little project?

Nothing terribly exotic - it's just been suggested that the Astro rear heater core is very close in size and orientation to the stock Merkur XR4Ti core, which happens to be "import only" with plastic end-tanks. It's also very prone to clogging.

Even though they're only $75 new, I can't bring myself to buy a new one just for fitment verification, hence the reason I'm looking for a junkyard donor. As it turns out, the local FD was just cutting one up for drill purposes, so that's where I grabbed the pictured bits from.

[GSA_Van]

Hi folks!

We have a 2001 Chevrolet Astro AWD LS van. (USA, 4.3L V6)

Does anyone know of any how-to videos for either charging the rear heater core or flushing the fluid out of it?

Thanks.

[Big_kid]

Take the hoses off, run water through it with a garden hose (coolant will drain from the rest of the system). If it's clogged, try running it the opposite direction, it might unclog. I did this on a Rampage once, it worked. Let the water drain from the heater core, put a hose back on and then fill it with antifreeze or a 50-50 mix before reinstalling the second hose.

Or just put the hoses back on, top off the coolant, and drive with the heater on for a while. When you get heat from it, the air has been purged.

[The Drummer]

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll18 ... erCore.jpg