Place a pan under the van and disconnect the heater intake and outlet hoses. Quickly remove and plug the hoses and support them in an upright position. Drain the coolant from the heater core into the pan.
CAUTION
When draining engine coolant, keep in mind that cats and dogs are attracted to ethylene glycol antifreeze and could drink any that is left in an uncovered container or in puddles on the ground. This will prove fatal in sufficient quantity. Always drain coolant into a sealable container. Coolant should be reused unless it is contaminated or is several years old.
Remove the heater distributor duct-to-case attaching screws and the duct-to-engine cover screw. Remove the duct.
Remove the engine cover.
Remove all the instrument panel attaching screws.
Carefully lower the steering column. Raise and support the right side of the instrument panel. Refer to for further details.
Remove the defroster duct-to-case attaching screws and the two screws attaching the distributor to the heater case.
Disconnect the temperature door cable. Carefully fold the cable back and out of the way.
Remove the three nuts from the engine compartment side of the distributor case and the screw from the passenger compartment side.
Remove the heater case and core assembly.
Remove the core retaining straps and remove the core.
Remove the steering column-to-instrument panel bolts. Lower the column carefully.
Remove the upper and lower instrument panel attaching screws. Remove the radio support bracket screw.
Raise and support the right side of the instrument panel.
Remove the lower right instrument panel bracket.
Remove the vacuum actuator from the kick panel.
Disconnect the temperature cable and vacuum hoses at the case. Remove the heater distributor duct from over the engine hump.
Remove the two defroster duct-to-firewall attaching screws below the windshield.
Under the hood, disconnect and plug the heater hoses at the firewall.
Remove the three nuts and one screw (inside) holding the heater case to the firewall.
Remove the case from the van. Remove the gasket for access to the screws holding the case together. Remove the temperature cable support bracket. Remove the screws and separate the case. Remove the heater core.
some heater cores are poorly manufactured. it is possible some damage occurred at the time of installation. incorrect coolant could cause a premature failure(would probably take more than 6 months). also the heater hoses get stuck to the core tubes, and during replacement the hoses often get cut and shortened causing tension on the fittings, or plastic core tanks.
As with all vehicles it seems the first part that they build around is the heater core. It is under the dash above the floor housed in a black plastic sealed box. Sealed with goop. Locate that box and start removing everything around it that is peventing taking the cover off. Of course disconnect the heater hoses under the hood a thefirewall.
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It will be the heater core. If you can smell it inside the car and it's steaming up the windows the core will need to be replaced. Remove the heater core housing and check to make sure its leaking from the core itself. You might get lucky and have a leak from the hoses running to core instead. Hope that helped.
WOW, sorry it has taken so long for someone to see and respond to your question. You've probably figured it out on your own by now, but if not, here is your answer. The heater core in your Caprice is located behind the glove box. To gain access, you have to remove the lower right dash insulator panel (below the glove box) and than the glove box. Remove any vaccuum lines ( mark their locations.) Then remove the lower instrument panel brace and then the heater core cover. Remove the heater core clamp bolt and clamp. Disconnect the heater hoses from the heater core on the left hand side of the engine compartment( looking at the engine from the front of the car.) Then remove the heater core.
Heater core is plugged or you have a air pocket. If you take off the heater lines and try blowing through them both ways. The fans will not move until the engine gets hot.
Yes he has to drain the system. It is located at the bottom of the dashboard. If looking into the engine compartment, you will see whre the hoses connecting to the heater core go into the cab at the back firewall.The heater core is just inside the cab.
It appears I was incorrect about removing the dash assembly, here are the instructions from a Buick owners club.
Under the passenger dash is an access panel that will allow you to remove the heater core, it really isn't that hard, there are lots of little dash screws and panel screws to remove before you get where you need to be but at least it is roomy. The AC evaporator is located by the heater core. I will give you a tip. I changed mine last year and the heater core that I ordered for my 92 Roadmaster was not correct, when I took my old one out and matched it in a book at the local part store, the heater core for my vehicle was listed as a 96 Caprice???? The car has been in my family since it was purchased new and the heater core had never been changed!!!! Explain that one!Oh yeah, one more tip, if your heater core is leaking, this access panel lowers towards you, if there is nasty sweet smelling water in there it will pour all over you, be careful! Caprice parts are the same as a Roadmaster,so if you ever need anything just look up caprices
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