1996 Heater Core

Replacing a heater core is pretty easy. Never done it on an S-10, but it can't be much different than almost any other car. You may have to remove some of the lower dash, and the heater shroud may be a pain to get out and back in. But, if you take your time and don't try to force anything, you should be able to get it done in an afternoon without breaking any of the plastic parts.

I just got back from the Library and they have the Michel's repair guide online. You have to remove the entire dashboard to get to the heater box and RR the core. (just like on my 89 Mustang)

On my 89 S-10 it's like 4 screws and the front of the box pops off. Why WHY can't they design these things so they are easily fixable!!!

Cause people were complaning the old design (pre 92) was old, out dated and boxy. so they redesigned the sheet metal, lowered the hood line, narrowed the front end and shortened it as well, and that required moving the heater core and its related box out from under the hood. Blame it on the idiots that want a car masquarding as a truck.

Whitelightning

I'm really in a quandary. I like my 89 with 175K miles on it. But the 96 is just "nicer" overall. But the 89 is so easy to work on and has no complicated stuff to go wrong. The 96 has ABS and Airbags and the central point FI which I hear can be problematic at times, and fixing the heater core will be an 8 hour job. And it's only got 98K miles. With a little luck, someone will way outbid me and solve the problem.