Front

The heater core is located in the distribution housing, which is attached to the HVAC housing, behind the instrument panel. It is a heat exchanger made of rows of tubes and fins. One end of the core is fitted with a molded plastic tank, which includes integral heater core inlet and outlet ports. Removable heater core tubes attach to the ports by use of a sealing plate secured with a screw to the heater core tank. This removable heater core tube arrangement allows the heater core to be serviced without removing the HVAC housing from the vehicle.

Engine coolant is circulated through heater hoses to the heater core at all times. As the coolant flows through the heater core, heat removed from the engine is transferred to the heater core fins and tubes. Air directed through the heater core picks up the heat from the heater core fins. The blend door allows control of the heater output air temperature by regulating the amount of air that is flowing through the heater core within the HVAC housing.

The heater core cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.