[jfjohn]

Hi,
Is anyone familiar with replacing a heater core in a 96 taurus gl? What would I have to do? Is it glued in or all bolted?

[91xltlariat]

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
Disconnect the negative battery cable.
Drain and recycle the engine coolant.
Remove the instrument panel.
In the engine compartment, label and disconnect the heater hoses from the heater core.
Plug the opening on the heater core inlet and outlet tubes to prevent coolant from flowing out into the passenger compartment.
Remove the four retaining screws and remove the blend door actuator from the evaporator housing.

Remove the metal cover and disengage the spring from the heater core cover and remove the spring from the lever.
Gently depress the locking ramp and remove the lever from the secondary A/C air temperature control door.

Rotate the primary A/C temperature control door shaft down, then swing the metal link and remove the pin.
Remove the three heater core cover retaining screws and remove the heater core cover and seal from the evaporator housing.
Remove the heater core from the evaporator housing by pushing on the heater core tubes.

To install:
Transfer the foam seal to the new heater core.
Install the new core with seal into the evaporator housing.
Position the heater core cover and seal into position and install the three retaining screws.
Install the metal link over the pin on the primary A/C air temperature door lever.
Install the secondary A/C air temperature control door lever-to-secondary A/C air temperature control door end.
Engage the spring on the heater core cover and secondary A/C air temperature control door lever.
Install the blend door actuator.
Connect the heater hoses to the heater core.
Install the instrument panel.
Connect the negative battery cable.
Fill and bleed the cooling system.

[jfjohn]

Thanks for the reply. My mechanic told me it's a 900 job to do the heater core. They say they have to dismantle the AC system to get the heater core out which means an AC recharge added to the bill too. Is that true?

[Poppy]

Here is a youtube of how to do it in a 2001 taurus.
It may be the same for you, I don't know.

Heater core shortcut - YouTube

Heater core shortcut - YouTube

[electro]

Originally Posted by jfjohn

... My mechanic told me it's a 900 job to do the heater core. They say they have to dismantle the AC system to get the heater core out which means an AC recharge added to the bill too. Is that true?

That's about right for a 1995 Taurus. However, in '96 the Taurus was downsized, which reduced the effort involved for heater replacement. 500 or 600 would be better numbers for a '96, as the HVAC box can remain in the vehicle and the A/C is not involved.