Gotta do a heater core- jetta a2

[monst]

hey,
  Damn cold today..... Just ordered a heater core....
I got the bentley book..... but, anybody out there
give some tips and tricks.......
  Bentely is say lower the steering column......
I don't want to do that if I can help it........

[bvolks73]

There are 3 or 4 nuts and the heater core hoses that have to come out from under the hood. The rest is done from inside. I've done 3 so far and I've never had to drop the steering column nor take the dash pad out. You have to take out the stereo, headlight switch, defroster switch, hazard light switch, and the trim piece around the instrument cluster. The tray under the glove box has to come off. Blower motor has to come out. Controls for the heater have to be unhooked. A couple heat ducts have to be moved. Can't exactly remember what else but it wasn't a big job. I was able to take 2 out and put one back in in about 4 hours. The Haynes manual I had was also quite vague on what had to come apart to get at it.

[anarchyx34]

Depends on if you have A/C or not. I did it on mine when I first got it. It's a time consuming, but not terribly complicated job. Yes, the whole dash has to come out, and you have to separate the heater box from the a/c housing. That was a little tricky. There's some good writeups on vwvortex about this procedure.

[jtanguay]

good luck changing it, and good thing you have the bentley!  very very good information in it.

i'm sure glad i dont have any problems with mine...  i'll be sure to sacrifice something to the diesel jetta gods...

[LeeG]

There is a VW recall bulletin that gives step by step instructiions on how to do it without touching steering or dash.  About what bvolks73 describes above.  I think it dealt with AC, but I don't have that so I didnt pay any attention.  Bentley makes a big deal out of this and is missleading.

I have a hardcopy I could PDF if you are deperate, but I found it with google and it was on a US federal recall repository site.

[monst]

thanks for the tips...
I see if I can get that pdf...
I think it may be on vwvortex as a link....

[monst]

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/results.cfm

I believe this is the recall notice with nice pics for R&R.
of the heater core 87-91 jettas.......
Thanks again.

[AAZJetta]

Hello,

I hope I can help out, now that I've got so much help from all of you.  There is a factory recall out that is still in effect for the '85 to '92 A2s.  All you have to do is take it to the local VW dealer, tell him this, give him your VIN, and he'll do it for free, just like he did for me just last month on my 1985 Jetta with air conditioning.

[LeeG]

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/results.cfm  

Ok, that gets you close.  
On that site, search for NHTSA Campaign ID number :  92V050000
Once that opens, look for a link at bottom 'document serach' and it will lead you to the PDF

Currently the PDF is http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/Artemis/Public/Recalls/1992/V/RC-92V050-NN.PDF
But that seems to change as I had a similar link from a year or two ago that doesnt work anymore.

Once you get the PDF, you will only be interested in pages 12-24

 local VW dealer, tell him this, give him your VIN, and he'll do it for free

I tried that and they ran my VIN and said there was no outstanding recalls for me     Following the procedure in PDF I think I did it in about 4 hours and the heater core was only $50-ish

[AAZJetta]

There were about 650,000 defective heater cores in VWs from '85 to '92, and mine was one.  I guess running the VIN would tell you for sure if yours was one of them.  I lucked out last month and the dealer did it for free for me. Try calling Volkswagen Customer Relations at 1-800-822-VWUS and ask about Recall Campaign SD, "Replace Heat Exchanger," issued in May, 1992, which is a safety recall still in effect.  It saved me some time and bucks.

[fatmobile]

I think the recall goes from '85 to '90.

[bvolks73]

The local dealer wouldn't replace the heater core in my 85 Jetta in 98 nor in my 92 year before last nor my brother's 91 Golf this summer so you might be out of luck.

[jtanguay]

if it was a recall, shouldn't they have to replace it? i'd be taking it further if they wouldn't do it.

maybe i should lookup some factory recalls on my vehicle

[Patrick]

1) I'd be surprised if the recall is still in effect this long after the date of manufacture!

2) I've done this on a 92 with air, don't think it's possible without pulling the instrument panel and dash, have a full day available when you tackle it!

[jtanguay]

maybe there is a time limit on recalls... i guess its one of those things where you have to be aware of the recall, and then find time to get your car in to get it repaired...