Tools:
• Socket wrench
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Flat head screwdriver
• Pliers
• Coolant drain pan
• Funnel
• New heater core
Instructions:
1. Park your car on a flat surface and turn off the engine. Allow it to cool down completely.
2. Disconnect the negative terminal from the car’s battery. This is a safety precaution to prevent any electrical shocks.
3. Open the hood of your 1997 Corolla.
4. Locate the coolant drain plug on the radiator. Place the coolant drain pan underneath the radiator and open the drain plug to drain the coolant.
5. Remove the heater hoses. There are two hoses connected to the heater core, one on the top and one on the bottom. Use a wrench to loosen the hose clamps and disconnect the hoses.
6. Locate and disconnect the heater control valve vacuum hose. Using pliers, gently remove the vacuum hose from the heater control valve.
7. Remove the engine under cover. There are several bolts that hold the engine cover in place. Use a socket wrench to loosen the bolts and remove the cover.
8. Locate the heater core support bracket. It is situated towards the back of the engine, between the intake manifold and the firewall. There are several bolts that secure the support bracket to the firewall and the intake manifold. Use a socket wrench to remove these bolts and remove the bracket.
9. The heater core is now exposed. There are several bolts that hold the heater core to the firewall. Use a socket wrench to loosen these bolts and remove the heater core.
10. Remove the old o-rings from the heater core and transfer them to the new heater core. Then, reinstall the new heater core in the opposite order as above, making sure all connections are secure.
11. Close the hood of your car and reconnect the battery’s negative terminal.
12. Refill the coolant system. Use a funnel to add coolant to the radiator.
13. Start your car and let it run for a few minutes. Check for any leaks from the heater core or the hoses.
