The heater core is awkward, takes 4-5 hours if you work slowly and carefully, can be done in 3. My procedure for it is linked below.

Radiator is a couple hours. I suggest doing the core and the rad at the same time because you'll have to drain the coolant to do the rad and a quart or so comes out of the heater core. Get big aluminum basting pans to catch the coolant and dispose of it properly.

You'll do the upper hose when replacing the radiator. It takes <5 mins and is a cheap part, so $77 for that is a rip off. Since you're doing the core, replace the heater hoses from the engine to the core. Then this stuff is done for a long time, maybe for good.

PCV valve is a 2-3 minute job. Maybe put on new hoses as the old ones will be soft and goopy.

Serp belt isn't hard, but you need to make a tool to hold the tensioner in compressed position. If you have no idea when the tensioner was last done it's not a bad idea to just replace it, along with both pulleys. These are well-known failure points on a 9K, so it's best to do it all at once if you can. The savings on labor more than pay for the parts.

E-brake cables I haven't done, but you have to drop the gas tank for the left one. If you do it, replace the straps since you're there. The straps are known to die. Suddenly.

Tie-rods are cheap but since you should do an alignment when they're changed, maybe pay the alignment shop to do this. My indy can keep the alignment right when he swaps tie rod ends, but not all techs can do that.

Battery posts require a $3 terminal brush from the auto parts store and 2 felt washers. And 5 mins of your time.

PS fluid. Use a turkey baster to suck the old fluid out of the reservoir and put in new. Do this 3X over the next month and you'll have mostly new fluid.

Brake fluid needs a pressure or vacuum bleeder. It takes an hour or so, and a bleeder is ~$50 if you can't get one on loan or rental from an auto parts place. The caveat is that you can break off a bleeder screw. Not a bad job to pay someone to do, but $220 is way too much.

Figure on a full weekend, maybe a bit more, but this is all pretty easy stuff. Go for it!

Noel's heater core procedure

->Posting last edited on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 07:08:54.

• Lots of repairs needed, what can I handle myself?, WB, Wed, 24 Oct 2012 20:08:39
  • Question about blower fan, WB, Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:41:32
  • Update, WB, Sat, 27 Oct 2012 15:34:58
    • Re: Update, eEuroparts , Sun, 28 Oct 2012 08:33:38
    • Make sure car is worth fixing:X-C trip w coolant leaks?, RayF, Sat, 27 Oct 2012 15:47:05
      • Well, not sure but..., WB, Sat, 27 Oct 2012 17:32:23
        • Sure yu can do it........., danah, Sat, 27 Oct 2012 19:43:09
  • Lots of repairs all right. All needed?, RayF, Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:06:04
    • More on Ray's answer, Bill Homer , Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:37:11
  • Re: Lots of repairs needed, what can I handle myself?, Chris G, Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:22:19
  • Re: Where are you approx.?, DanaH, Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:58:20
  • Re: Lots of repairs needed, what can I handle myself?, turbosaab , Thu, 25 Oct 2012 07:30:18
  • Nothing hard here, just takes time., Noel, Thu, 25 Oct 2012 06:55:28 <-- Viewing This Message
    • PCV valve question, WB, Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:55:57
      • Re: PCV valve question, Noel, Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:48:35
        • Lots of good answers, PT, Fri, 26 Oct 2012 07:43:17
  • Re: Done it all for around $400 in parts, davidk, Thu, 25 Oct 2012 06:42:52
  • It's doable, Vicsaero95, Thu, 25 Oct 2012 04:39:23
  • Re: Lots of repairs needed, what can I handle myself?, Shawsheen, Wed, 24 Oct 2012 21:24:41
    • Re: Lots of repairs needed, what can I handle myself?, WB, Wed, 24 Oct 2012 21:59:24
  • Re: Lots of repairs needed, what can I handle myself?, Erik919kt, Wed, 24 Oct 2012 20:37:48
    • Re: Lots of repairs needed, what can I handle myself?, WB, Wed, 24 Oct 2012 21:48:34
      • Re: Lots of repairs needed, what can I handle myself?, Erik919kt, Thu, 25 Oct 2012 05:38:38
        • HG follow-up, WB, Thu, 25 Oct 2012 07:18:36
          • Re: HG follow-up, Erik919kt, Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:01:25

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