2000 S80 T6 Heater Core

azroundboy · Post by **azroundboy** » 17 Dec 2011, 12:32

Alright guys I need some help here I have this project half way apart and stuck on the pipes that go into the heater core.

I have followed the exact volvo instuctions except removing "the mounting brackets for the pipes" where are these brackets?

the only other thing and I haven't gotten here to know if mine is a candiate for the steering wheel being dropped but looking at it I only see two bolts holding the column up, my question here though is how much space do you gain by lowering the steering wheel? As it appears that you would need to remove more dash vs. just the lower panels.

As always you guys come through any picstures or help here would be great,so I can get momma's car back on the road.

thank you,

Corey

retcoastie · Post by **retcoastie** » 17 Dec 2011, 16:30

I did a 99 recently. Maybe my experience will help you.
The alum tubes were the most difficult part of the job. The 99 has plastic tabs high on the pleneum that support those pipes. I ended up breaking off the latching piece of plastic on the rear tab. This allowed the pipes to be lowered about 1/2 inch and let them wiggle farther aft. That extra wiggle from the broken tab was enough to let the core slide out.

The 99 required the brake light switch to be removed, but the column cleared. Brake light switch has a latching tab on top exactly like the one the bottom. Be careful. There is a discussion with a picture in the post entitled "1999 S80 Heater Blowing Cold Air" farther back. The last entry was 26 Nov 2011, so look for that date.

Let us know how you fare?

Ken

azroundboy · Post by **azroundboy** » 19 Dec 2011, 16:03

Thank you Ken for the reply, I will check for the tabs holding the tubes in place would they not be able to just slide back? But at this point I will break something to get it done. sometimes what appears to be a simple job according to instructions never is. Darn Volvo Love hate relationship with this car

azroundboy · Post by **azroundboy** » 19 Dec 2011, 17:15

went back out to the car and the pipes just easily moved out of the way dumb luck I guess. Now its defeinately bumping into the steering wheel. the question is do you just have to remove the 4 bolts and move to the drivers left it appears you only gain maybe a half inch. Or do you have to take additional dash pieces apart for this to happen. All I have removed at this point is the lower panels as described in the volvo instructions. Please help I am hoping this project doesn't take all week long.

lotus4s · Post by **lotus4s** » 19 Dec 2011, 19:29

According to the instructions I have from a poster on another forum you need to:

1.) Disconnect battery and remove from vehicle.
2.) Remove under-panel sound barrier along with driver's console side.
3.) Remove driver's airbag, turn signal lever module/clock spring assy.
4.) Remove shiftlock cable from ignition tumbler.
5.) Remove wiring guide from bottom of steering column.
6.) Remove steering column assy.
7.) Remove driver's carpet (pretty easy).
8.) Remove brake light switch assy.
9.) Disconnect heater hoses at firewall (replace them with new when finishing).
10.) Remove clips for pipes at heater core.
11.) Remove torx screws holding heater core in place.
12.) Slide out heater core.

I don't think you'll be able to move the column enough by just removing the 4 mounting bolts but it may be worth a shot. I need to do this job on my wife's car but have been putting it off and have bypassed the heater core for the time being. Weather is getting cooler though so I'll need to do it soon so be sure to post a follow up on how it goes.

azroundboy · Post by **azroundboy** » 20 Dec 2011, 05:30

These are the exact instructions right out of vadis for my vin number, so I must be missing something here.

Heat exchanger, replacing
Removal

Heat exchanger – left-hand drive
Remove:
-the heater hoses in the engine compartment. Use special pliers 1158957
-the seal and the plate.
Remove:
-the soundproofing panel. See Replacing the soundproofing panel
-the brake lamp switch. See Switches RTI (road traffic information), replacing
Remove:
-the tie strap for the pipes
-the screws for the heat exchanger
-the mounting brackets for the pipes.
-Position plenty of paper under the heat exchanger and around the pipes
Drain the coolant into a suitable container.
-detach the pipes and position them out of the way
-pull out the heat exchanger.

I will keep looking at it as I really don't want to have to remove the steering column all the way out to replace the heater core.

retcoastie · Post by **retcoastie** » 20 Dec 2011, 19:47

That looks like what I did. In removing the core, I pulled down rather hard and bent a few of the alum fins at the bottom of the core. Looking at it once it was out, I figured I would push the new core in. If I didn't bend many more fins on the way in than on the way out, I could live with it. It actually seemed to go in much easier. I doubt the fins suffered much. A lot easier that removing the column.

Good Luck

Ken

lotus4s · Post by **lotus4s** » 20 Dec 2011, 20:40

Yeah, Vadis doesn't say anything about the column but after trying to remove mine, it only comes about half way out before it hits the column. I don't think there's any way to get it out by forcing it unless you bend it in half...

I asked the mechanics about it at my local Volvo dealership and they confirmed that on the 2000MY the column must be removed and even printed out the instructions for me.

I may try forcing the old one out but I just can't see it happening at this point.

retcoastie · Post by **retcoastie** » 21 Dec 2011, 06:59

Hey, if the old one is trash, pull it. It can't hurt anything. It is going in the garbage and you are going to replace it any way.

Ken

azroundboy · Post by **azroundboy** » 03 Jan 2012, 11:43

wondering now if I can just unbolt the 4 bolts holding it and lower it to the floor would that work and be enough room to get it out. Reason I ask is someone said if you don't put the column back in the exact spot you need some diagnostic tool to realign the column is this true or am I over thinking this project?