Greetings all. I have an '02 Ranger Edge, 3.0L, 2WD, stock. The cab has been smelling like antifreeze for a week and the windshield is fogging up. I checked the coolant system and saw nothing leaking. Today, while driving, I turned on the a/c, and antifreeze laced steam poured out of the vents. It also started to overheat. When I got back to the office, THEN I saw the antifreeze leak under the firewall area. I strongly suspect the heater core needs to be replaced. Everyone I have spoken to said to "take it to a pro".
My question is this: is this something that can be done in an afternoon? How difficult is it to do?
thanks

I would say it is a good 3-4 hour job. How mechanically incline are you?

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Thanks for your response. I have pulled engines, rebuilt transmissions, water pumps, alternators, rebuilt carbs...but pulling dashboards is probably out of my league. The heater hoses go through the firewall on the passenger side. I have bypassed the heater core for now, but it seems to throw off the coolant temp as it runs much cooler now. I did replace the radiator cap and the thermostat, in hopes that this would help. It didn't. The local Ford dealer quoted me $700 to do the job. Winter in far south Texas is almost negligible, so I may try to leave it bypassed until $700 rains from the sky.
Again, thanks for your response and advice.

I've replaced several heater cores in 4 cyl Rangers and it is a all day job (4-6 hours). You have to remove the dash, right side inner fender wall and HVAC blower box. It's not that hard but very time consuming. Don't worry about the dash it's only held on by about 8 bolts, two by each door and a few under the windshield. let me know if you want to try it and i'll give you some pointers.

Thanks Tech. I'll let you know if I decided to do it!

HI I own a old ranger (93) AND MI HEATER CORE BROLE AND IM TRYING TO REPLACE IT.

heater cores are a no brainier job it takes about a hour. did my dads 2.3 in less then a hour. if your truck keeps over heating just disconnect the in and out hose's going into the firewall that connects to the heater core. and connect the two lines with a tube of any kind and make it your bypass in until you get the new heater core. dad did it to his 2.3 until i changed it out.

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-1995 ford ranger prerunner, 4.0, 4x4, 5-speed, 62k original miles, 2.5 radflo bypass front and 2.5 radflo triple bypass rear, deavers f23, 4.56 gears front and back, 07 seats, 07 mirrors, 35x12.50 bfg a/t, 4" fiberwerk glass front and rear, eagle alloy rims, 6k hid heads, two 8k hid off road lights, 34" led light bar, bed/roll cage/engine cage, 25 gallon fuel cell, cut and extended beams/radius arms
-2000 ford SVT f150 lightning -SOLD Lifted 2001 Ford Ranger EDGE, April's 2012 TOTM

Ranger Tech. It looks like I will need to replace my heater core on my 2001 ranger 4 cylinder. I know I will have to take the dash down. how do I deactivate the passenger airbag? Thank you in advance.

Martinez2001

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Jorge Martinez
2001 Red Ford Ranger
2.5 L 2 Wheel Drive
5 speed

disconnect the battery, wait 5-10 minutes. but honestly, you won't have to pull the passenger air bag from the dash.

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Krylon Fusion is for Amateurs.

Great. I am starting tomorrow in the am. Do you know if I have to lower the steering column? What about the my gear shift?

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Jorge Martinez
2001 Red Ford Ranger
2.5 L 2 Wheel Drive
5 speed

dash has to come completely out. column has to come out. taking the shifter arm off will make your life easier.

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Krylon Fusion is for Amateurs.

All that has to be done for the heater core in a 2001 2.3L ranger??

I thought it was just behind the glove compartment on the passenger side?

Thanks,
-Nigel

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2001 Ranger XLT 2.3L Auto: Bunch of misc mods.
Little lift: 4" Spindle Lift w/ 2" shackles and 2" oem blocks.OEM Ranger Sport Wheels: Tires=245x75x16

~NSG~

Only on the 94-older rangers

Sent from my HTC One X using FRF App so you can hate on my F150 no matter where I am

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2021 F150 5.0 Screw

Past:18 F150 2.7, 16 F150 5.0, 14 F150 5.0, 07 F150 5.4, 03 Ranger 4.0

Master Certified Ford Parts / Warranty Admin

ah yes, they changed the interior at about the same time they went to obdII lol

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1999 xlt 2.5l 5-speed Supercab 159k
83 diesel 2.2l na
06 F250 6.0l psd
{click for lol}

Damn!

Is there any true way of knowing if the heater core is going bad?

I ask only because I seem to be loosing just a little bit of coolant and there are no spills on the ground nor are there coolant going in the oil or anything of that nature.

My only guess would be perhaps a heater core as I was told if the passenger side foot well is wet that's a great indication, however the foot well is completely dry.

I know when I was doing other things in the engine bay I saw a tube sticking out towards the bottom with nothing attached to it inside the passenger side firewall... is this a drainage for the heater core?

I don't think I smell coolant inside the cabin but how would I make sure? I do have a smell but it smells like stink bugs or I should say dead stink bugs, which I did find a lot behind the dash for some reason...

I would just hate to buy a $40 heater core and take it all apart to find out that mine is fine.... Do these rot out after a while?

Thanks,
-Nigel

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2001 Ranger XLT 2.3L Auto: Bunch of misc mods.
Little lift: 4" Spindle Lift w/ 2" shackles and 2" oem blocks.OEM Ranger Sport Wheels: Tires=245x75x16

~NSG~