I’ve got a 2000 Saturn SL1 and I’m doing pre-emptive research on the heater core. Every once in a while I get the faintest hint of the smell of radiator fluid but nothing is leaking and the fluid isn’t going down.
Can the heater box be pulled apart without disconnecting the A/C? I’m off to get a manual tomorrow but if anyone has input on this I’m listening. I’ve cut open heater boxes before to get to the cores but it looks well tucked up under the dash at first glance.
Also, does disconnecting the battery deactivate airbags?
Yes. It’s a reasonably easy procedure on this vehicle. It requires removing some dash and console parts, but basically comes out from under the dash and is separate from the A/C evaporator case.
Not necessarily. The official procedure to disarm the airbags includes removing the airbag fuse and disconnecting the wires to both of the bags. In some systems, there is a residual charge in some airbag components that makes it possible for them to deploy even if power to the system is interrupted. My info doesn’t specify whether that applies to your car, but the safest bet is to both interrupt power and disconnect the bags (in that order).
Thanks. One more question, is there a preferred brand of after-market heater cores or is the factory unit the best? It never ceases to amaze me on the quality differences of parts and it’s not always price related.
I don’t know the specific brand name, but I’ve found the heater cores from Carquest stores to be of good quality while often less expensive than factory ones. I’ve had some problems, mostly with proper fit, when trying other (usually cheaper) brands.