Change Heater Core

[VW VR6]

DIY Change HEATER CORE in VW Golf MK3 VR6 with pictures:
So I decided to replace my heater core.
There are a lot of steps involved here but the work isn't difficult.
First disconnect negative or positive or both from batteries.
Remove radio/cd/tape player :

Carefully remove plastics around steering wheel :

Remove lower glowebox :

Remove ashtray and cigarette lighter :

Carefully remove plastic around heater/air-con control :

When you take out there is 3 plastic clips on the top and one at the bottom. You need to remove them to disconnect all cables from switches :



Carefully with screwdriver remove two small plastics parts on the right sine from stereo, and after that unscrew two bolts :

Carefully with screwdriver and fingers remove headlight euro switch and plastics with ABS and airbag lights. Disconnect all cables carefully :

[VW VR6]

Remove foam under lower glowebox. There is 2 or 4 bolts:

Carefully with screwdriver remove all 4 plastics for ventilators:

On the passenger side remove 2 bolts under plastics (next to speaker) :

Remove 4 bolts where is stereo :

Remove tacho (2 bolts) :

Remove 4 bolts under euro light switch :

[VW VR6]

Remove plastic cover around handbrake. There is 2 plustic nuts 10mm and two bolts :

For easy removing plastics just remove 2 nuts 13mm for hanbrake, but first deactivate handbrake :

Unclip all plastics with fingers or just a little bit help with screwdriver:

Remove 3 plastic nuts 10mm :

Thre bolts for removing passenger airbag :

[VW VR6]

Carefully disconect airbag. Mine connector is broken because light for airbag is on all the time :

Blue one is for plastics removing around fuses and relay, and red one for dash :

Now going outside to remove wipers 13mm and after that 2 pieces of plastics with screwdriver and fingers :

Remove 3 nuts 10mm for easy access to nuts for dashboard :

10mm nuts for dash :







Spy 10mm nuts under metal shield :

[VW VR6]

First unclip plastic which hold polen filter, and second remove 2 plastic nuts 10mm to remove all plastic. Will be surprised how many dust and rubbish around :





Red one is for dash and blue one for lower glowebox :


Carefully take out all dashboard.
You need to unclip all plastics cable holder around stereo, and 2 connectors for left and 2 connectors for right speakers :



Blu bolts is for removing metal barrier:

[VW VR6]

Disconnect air-con next to blower :

Remove metal gold clips all around (about 10 clips) to separate heater and aircon :

Unclip all cables :



Unclip vacuum hose from aircon to heater :

[VW VR6]

Remove 2 plastic nuts 10mm which hold white "BASKET" :



Remove side plastic trim for easy pull off metal bar :

Pull out metal frame about 10-20cm :

Go to engine bay and remove two nuts 10mm and one in the middle with allan key to disconnect aircon :

[VW VR6]

Remove all 3 metal clips with screwdriver and after that move little bit left or right to remove metal for adjusting heater/aircon :

[VW VR6]

Disconnect vacuum hose from heater core from engine bay, but carefully I broke mine :



Back to car and disconnect jack on right side heater core and remove with screwdiver :

[VW VR6]

Now with screwdriver (around 4-5 bolts) separate blower from air-con.
After that take blower out slowly because is small foam gasket between blower and aircon unit.
Separate aircon unit from heater unit (small metal gold clips), there is another foam gasket - be carefully.
Take out first aircon unit (bigger one on passenger side), and after that heater unit.

[VW VR6]

Now is time to rest :

[VW VR6]

Clean all inside car and all plastics parts.
Replace foam around heater core.
Remove old foam and clean well :




Use some foam and double sided tape :






Finished :

[VW VR6]

Fixing broken plastic connector at heater core beetween engine bay and interior.
Old heater core and hole when should be plastic connector:

Plastics black connectors 4mm 10 pcefrom Bunnings Warehouse (around $5):

New heater core with new plastic connector :

[VW VR6]

Be carefull when order new heater core. I was order 6 months ago from Germany and send me LHD - which is a little bit different than original - plastic for hose connectors is not long enough. Now I am waiting for normal RHD from GOLF LOON.
Mine original is "Valeo" from France 1H2 819 031 A and new one 1H1 819 031 A
I already order at same time all hoses from heater core to engine and polen filter :

[VW VR6]

Bought months ago brand new "ONIX" (with remote control) car CD MP3 Player with SD card slot and USB connection from "ALDI" for $89, and all connection for cables at back for speakers and +, - ground etc. is 100% same like VW stereo original :