How to with photos, BG5 heater core replacement... (LHD)

Linke here - http://beergarage.com/SubyHeaterCore.aspx

 

BeerGarage.com

Pictures of how I removed the dashboard and replaced the heater core on the Subaru Legacy Outback.

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My wife said the heater smelled sweet. The heater core was leaking coolant.

[*] There's the red heater hose that I used to bypass the heater core to check if the smell went away. It did. That's how I diagnosed it.



[*] To replace the heater core you have to take out the dashboard. The entire car is built around the heater core. They start with a heater core, then bolt every piece on top of it. The heater core is the exact center of mass of the Subaru.

Here we go. Screws by the parking brake to remove this plastic cover.



[*] Cup holder, big screw on each side.



[*] If you pop this top part off first, the bottom plastic may break. @#$!@%^@$&%!!!



[*] Unplug the emergency lights switch.



[*] Then 2 screws hold on the ashtray / change drawer, and the bottom plastic with the lighter comes out.



[*] The little clip in the middle is not connected to anything, and the screwdriver extension is short enough to take out the ashtray.



[*] Lowered the steering wheel.



[*] Four screws hold on the instrument panel cover.



[*] Connectors.



[*] Four screws hold on the instrument panel.



[*] Five electric connectors on the instrument panel.



[*] Pushed these tabs in to let the glove box open all the way out.



[*] And unscrewed these on the bottom to remove the glove box.



[*] Removed these screws and plastic tabs to get the back cover off.



[*] All these 10mm gold screw bolts hold the dashboard on.



[*] Hey, there's an airbag in there.



[*] Maybe I should unplug the negative battery cable so it doesn't go off in my face.



[*] Little plastic tab reveals another gold screw bolt.



[*] Popped this cover off, three metal tabs hold it on. I pried as close to the tabs as possible so not to break the plastic.



[*] Then two gold bolts under here.



[*] Unbolt a bunch of these... Gotta unbolt the airbag too. It comes out with the dash.



[*] There's a couple more under here...



[*] One little connector over here. It's the airbag or computer or something. It has a sliding lock to click open before it will come apart.



[*] Do I have to take the radio and climate control out? I don't know. I'll do it.



[*] Four screws for the climate, six for the radio.



[*] Plug and antenna connector on the radio.



[*] Antenna and two connectors I think.



[*] Some nuts in there hold the dashboard in.



[*] Ugh, I think I gotta take this center plastic outta here too. Two screws in front and two in back.



[*] Three screws inside here.



[*] Two big screws and some metal tabs pop this cover off.



[*] Have to unplug this blue one and this little black one by my pinkie on the drivers side. I'm holding the antenna with my thumb.



[*] Oh sweet Jesus.



[*] There are four of these. Tan, white, black, & blue below.



[*] What's back here?



[*] These wires are hooked around the fuse box. Unhooked them for a bit more play.



[*] Looks like a dealer installed keyless entry. Black wire into the black connector, red wire.



[*] Orange wire into the other wiring on the white wire.



[*] Then I tried to pull the dashboard out, but I was scared I would break the plastic around the steering wheel. Four screws from underneath and it comes off easy.



[*] Still a real pain. I bet I can lower the steering column. Two bolts hold it up.



[*] Sorta hanging half way down. Seems fragile.



[*] Unbolted the steering column inside the engine bay near the firewall. I hope I remember to reconnect this. Is this really necessary?



[*] Gave the steering wheel a yank, and down it goes, all the way to the seat. Dash came out easy.



[*] Yep, no dashboard in here. What the hell that took forever. Some guy said he did the whole thing in three hours. Just getting the dashboard out took three hours. I need a beer. My back is killing me. This sucks. Wah wah wah.



[*] Follow the link for Heater Core Replacement Part 2!

[*]Then I finished my beer.