How many labor hours listed to replace heater core on 03 Buick Century V6 and is it a knuckle scraping job.?

Is this job real difficult and will it get me upset for starting the job. Only have done very few heater cores and they can be real hard to get too. What will this particular one be like?????How many labor hours listed to replace heater core on 03 Buick Century V6 and is it a knuckle scraping job.?2003 Buick Century V6-3.1L VIN J

Vehicle Level Engine, Cooling and Exhaust Cooling System Heater Core Service and Repair





Service and Repair





HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT



TOOLS REQUIRED

J 38185 Hose Clamp Pliers



REMOVAL PROCEDURE





For a 3.8L engine, remove the fuel injector sight shield. Drain the coolant.

Use J 38185 in order to position aside the heater hose inlet and outlet clamp at the heater core.

Disconnect the inlet and outlet heater hose from the heater core.

Remove the vacuum tank.

Remove the floor carpet.

Remove the rear floor air outlet duct from the holes in the floor reinforcement.

Disconnect the rear floor air outlet duct from the heater core outlet cover.

Remove the bolts from the vacuum harness bracket and position bracket aside.

Remove the screws from the heater core outlet cover. IMPORTANT: Position the heater core outlet cover downward and rearward in order to disconnect the cover from the rear area floor duct assembly.

Remove the heater core outlet cover.

Remove the screws from the heater core cover.

Remove the heater core cover.

Remove and discard the seals (1,2) from the heater core cover.

Remove the caulk (3) from the heater core cover.

Remove and discard the outer seal (5) from the heater core.

Remove the screw (1) from the heater core support bracket.

Remove the heater core support bracket.

Remove the screw (2) from the heater core pipe retainer clamp.



Remove the heater core from the HVAC lower case.

Remove the heater core pipe retainer clamp from the heater core pipes.





Remove and discard the lower seal (4) from the HVAC case.



Remove and discard the center seal (3) from the HVAC case.



Remove and discard the upper seal (2) from the HVAC lower case.



Remove and discard the side seals (1) from the HVAC lower case.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE





Install the side seals (1) to the HVAC lower case.

Install the upper seal (2) to the HVAC lower case.



Install the center seal (3) to the HVAC case.



Install the lower seal (4) to the HVAC case.



Install the heater core pipe retainer clamp to the heater core pipes.

Install the heater core to the HVAC lower case.



Install the screw (2) to the heater core retainer clamp. NOTE: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions. Tighten Tighten the screw to 1.5 N.m (13 lb in) .

Install the screw (1) to the heater core support bracket. Tighten Tighten the screw to 1.5 N.m (13 lb in) .

Install outer seal (5) to the heater core.



Install new seals number (1) and (2) to the heater core cover.

Install the caulk (3) on to the heater core cover.



Install the heater core cover.

Install the heater core cover screws. Tighten Tighten the screws to 1.5 N.m (13 lb in) .



Install the heater core outlet cover.

Install the screws to the heater core outlet cover. Tighten Tighten the screws to 1.5 N.m (13 lb in) .

Install the HVAC vacuum harness bracket.

Install the screws to the HVAC vacuum harness bracket. Tighten Tighten the screws to 10 N.m (89 lb in) .

Connect the rear floor air outlet duct to the heater core outlet cover.

Install the rear floor air outlet duct to the holes in the floor reinforcement.

Install the floor carpet.

Install the vacuum tank.





Connect the inlet and outlet heater hose to the heater core. IMPORTANT: Reposition the heater core hose clamps in the indicated location.

Use J 38185 in order to reposition the heater hose inlet and outlet clamp to the heater core.

For a 3.8L engine, install the fuel injector sight shield.

Fill the coolant.



2008 ALLDATA LLC.How many labor hours listed to replace heater core on 03 Buick Century V6 and is it a knuckle scraping job.?Myself I think that make of car is not too bad to do but I bet the book states at least 6 to 9 hrs . Personally I think most heater cores are a pain to replace but for me I've found a do it yourself auto wreckers helps me alot bec it offeres the chance to actually learn just how a certain dash etc comes a part hands on.

On my car for example its a Intrepid , I had to take a part 3 different Intrepids dashs just to even find one really good heater core. But to be safe I had it pressured tested and tested over night to make sure it was in fact a good heater core for 15.00.It turned out it was the best used heatcore the wreckers I took the heat core to have tested that they had ever seen.

I knew the job wou;d be a real pain bec of the experience taking a few out so I looked around and waited till I found a cheap garage father son that did it for me as I was on vacation and the weather was getting coller and I had no time to do it myself.

They said they'd never do one again unless paid triple lol was in fact I was right to let someonelse to the job lol

Only problem was I knew they'd crack something or forget to connect something or mess something up. In fact they did all 3 boo boo's lol but the book states 9 hrs for that job, that's at least 1,000 all in all at alot of shops and at least 600.00 min, and I got it done for 200.00 and in fact most shops wouldn't even dare to attempt the job.



Hope that helps and best of luck , by the way don't forget to reconnect the radio, antenna etc lol