L400 heater are re&re advice

Mitsubishi Delica L400 production commenced in 1994 -- After much anticipation, the L400 arrived on Canadian Soil in 2009!
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L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by macro »

Hey all,

So I'm finally going to tackle the heater core replacement. Anyone have some advice before I get to it? I have read that it's doable from under the dash after removing the glove compartment, all its supports, the heater fan, moving some AC ducting and then the core is there. I would rather do that than pull the dash. If anyone has done this helpful threads/pictures/word of encouragement would be great!
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by Big-Bird »

the dash only needs to be loosened. It has a pivot point near the wind shield that will allow you to lift the dah assembly up without actually removing it. The entire center console, radio, heater controls, gauge pod thingy, instrument cluster, glove box, dash speakers , Passenger Air bag (or junk tray) all need to come out! Its also advisable to remove the passenger seat from the floor to get better access.( easy item: 4 bolts and a seatbelt warning buzeer wire)

And those little plastic trim bits near the small trainagluar windows also need to come out or the dash pad won't lift up enough to get the HVAC box out ....and yeah the whole HVAC box must come out in order to remove the heater core. I live that pain 2 years ago....You will slice yourself open at least once with all that sharp metal in there too.

have fun!
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by macro »

Oh my goodness.... That sounds awful. Out of all that I've taken everything out before except the side trim pieces under the triangle windows and the speakers. Any special tricks to those? Is there anything specific that needs to come undone to tilt the dash or does everything else hold it in? Does the under dash bit under the steering wheel need to come off? I guess if the speakers need to come out it does.... Did you follow any write ups for this or did you just wing it? (With a name like Big-Bird....har har har!!!)

I'm planning on repairing the heater core myself (silver soldering any holes or cracks), is there anything else I should look at while I'm in there?

Thanks!
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by Big-Bird »

I did the job myself and used a small butane torch to solder repair the pinholes madein my heater core by the steel holding plate which is about the size of a twonie coin.

lots of plastic clips, 10 and 12mm bolts/nuts and screws. if I had to do it again this job would take 8hrs.just take your time.

the side trim by the windows have lock clips that require release from below. similar to a tab/slot attachment.
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by macro »

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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by macro »

This damn cooling unit attached to anything in the engine bay?
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by macro »

Whoops never mind. That stays.
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by macro »

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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by Big-Bird »

So you survived? Is your leak the same as mine at the hold down clamp? I had to use my compressor and a rubber tipped blow gun to pressurize my core under water. Tiny pin hole leak.

And yeah its a bitch totally agree. Put a rubber layer on the clamp before you put the core back in...good prevention measure.
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by macro »

Weird that my pictures didn't link properly, they show up fine on Tapatalk... Anyways, yea it was a hassle!!! Trying to lift the dash with my shoulder while using both hands to pull it forward and down. The thick wire bundle that runs behind that metal bar gave me trouble. Once I got that out of the way it was a little better. I couldn't find any obvious leaks (using my lung compressor) so I dropped it at a rad shop, hopefully they can find any small leaks and fix 'er up.
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by thelazygreenfox »

My one bit of advice is "replace the core if you have it out." If there was any question about lack of heat output then the core is plugged and needs replaced.
good luck
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by macro »

So driving around with the core gone is super weird. All the noises and hisses and clatter and rattles of the engine coming through the hole in the firewall is.....disconcerting. Speedo is back in and the hazard button (signals don't work without it) but that's it until I get the core back in.

After plugging the speedo cluster back in, my gear indicator lights now no longer work. Yay! Another weird thing, I have HIDs and the right side was out for few weeks. Started the van up and both headlights work for a couple days. Now, the LEFT side is out. WTF???? There's some discolouration on the metal outer cover on the EGT probe wire as well, looks like it's been shorting out against the body. I'm wondering if I have a bad ground connection somewhere and pulling and disconnecting things fixed it for a bit causing my headlights to work properly again. Anyone know where to start looking????
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by macro »

Core can be fixed, it's not leaking at the clam oddly enough but at the top of the fins in a few spots. $150 for them to replace it with a new core. Unfortunately they can't get one with fin that's as tight as it is on the stock, but that's better than the $550 I was quoted for a new one!
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by macro »

All done! Just waiting for it to heat up to bleed the coolant system... It's taking awhile though.
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Re: L400 heater are re&re advice

Post by macro »

IT'S ALIIIIIIIIIVE!!!! AAAAALIIIIIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!
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