i know this is a year old, but this has to be one of the best, to the point videos i seen in a while, not 20 minutes of gibber jabber and a shakey camera, but a good view of where stuff is. thanks for the vid
This video saved me the headache of figuring out the removal tricks on my own. My friend's mechanic told her $750-1000 to replace the heater core on her minivan. I paid $125 for the replacement part and some anti-freeze, 30 minutes later the job was complete. BRAVO!!!!
Thank you so much your video helped tremendously. I did my daughter in laws van, it's a 2006 so I had to move the brake pedal and the steering column but all in all not a bad job to do. I am 69 years old and did the job with some help from my daughter in law. Of course she made the job a pleasure because I love doing projects with her :-)
Wanted to say thanks to all you guys and gals that take the time to help some of us guys that Don't have the time to do a hit or miss job.great job guys and gals
Great video! A repair I hope that I never have to do but will be a lot less anxious about having seen this. For anyone that might be replacing the heater hoses under the hood, be aware that the 2003 Grand Caravan has a total of 5 hose sections and also a Variable Restrictor Valve. The reason for all the segments is the lines that lead to the heater core for the rear. These are all fairly small sections ( I think the longest was 14 linear inches at the most) but they're also specially shaped except for a small 3" straight section. AutoZone only carries 1 that is MOSTLY correct, a small 90 degree elbow that's still an inch too long on one end..it's also the hardest one to get to. Their system shows another hose with a 90 degree bend, a short section and a very long section. That item doesn't come close to matching ANY of the hoses that are actually there. I was in a rush to replace my hoses so I ended up getting 2 of the small elbows, the large one, 4 feet of 5/8" heater hose (in case I needed that much), and the variable restrictor valve to cobble together what I needed. One small elbow is essentially a direct replacement, the other small one and the large one were used (carefully) to form the more "hairpin" like switchbacks in the system; the legit bends are close to 130 degrees but with some careful tweaks I was able to get the elbows to serve as replacements with minimal or no kinks in the lines. Ultimately I only had to use about 12-15" of the bulk hose but for the price I still suggest getting about 4 feet in case your situation is different from mine. I had to replace my variable restrictor valve because the feed tubes for my old one snapped off like twigs when I was trying to remove the hoses. After 15 years, all of the hoses were very attached, one had even melted to the pipe so I had to scrape & sand the pipe clean. I'll add that it LOOKS like O'Reilly carries all of the legit hoses but they might not have them in stock at your store, so a ship to home or ship to store situation AND that's assuming their parts are correct. I didn't have time to wait on shipping and I'm hesitant to buy something like that online without confirming the size/shape. Also, while typing this and poking around, apparently Gates has a product called a Heater Hose Shaping Coil that I might would have tried if I had known about it. The odd thing is that it goes outside of the hose so while I can see how it works to shape a hose, I don't know how well it would prevent kinks, especially on sharper bends.
I have a 2007 grand caravan and it looks like this is going to be the same move. People were telling me I’m going to have to remove the dash and all that good stuff. Talking about 3 hours +. I will clock it myself and see how it goes.
Thank you for the video. I ended having to pull the steering shaft loose. Did anyone else have to pull it loose?? Again thank you for the video it saved me I don’t know how much time.
Okay I was just curious I tried every stinking way I could to try and get it out and it would not come out. It is no big deal it was just one bolt and the shaft is out of the way. Again thank you for the video it was a HUGE help.
Im trying to work on my car and i dont understand how you did this without taking your driver seat out to give you better access. And i ended up getting hose clamps to avoid having to drain down the fuids. I also am having issues getting the clip off the brake peddle due to the access issue.
Matt, what was your diagnosis of the heater core being at fault. I have an '03 Caravan SXT(not a Grand) that I smell coolant in the cabin every time I turn on the heater. Someone told me that the heater core goes bad in this series of Caravans. I just watched a video of the Y pipe replacement under the hood. Too poor to take it to a pro mechanic. Any insight would help sir. TY.
@@wildestcowboy2668 You could do that but actually there wasn't an excessive amount of coolant that came out. I'm not a mechanic so I'm not sure what would be the best solution.
@@Matt-rv1ti well I ain't either but I want to fix van with gas prices soaring. Van gets ALOT better than my thirsty 6.0 cateye Chevy truck. Thanks for responding so quickly and for what it's worth you got my vote!
i know this is a year old, but this has to be one of the best, to the point videos i seen in a while, not 20 minutes of gibber jabber and a shakey camera, but a good view of where stuff is. thanks for the vid
You're welcome
This video saved me the headache of figuring out the removal tricks on my own. My friend's mechanic told her $750-1000 to replace the heater core on her minivan. I paid $125 for the replacement part and some anti-freeze, 30 minutes later the job was complete. BRAVO!!!!
So glad it helped
Thank you so much your video helped tremendously. I did my daughter in laws van, it's a 2006 so I had to move the brake pedal and the steering column but all in all not a bad job to do. I am 69 years old and did the job with some help from my daughter in law. Of course she made the job a pleasure because I love doing projects with her :-)
Keeping it in the family Charlie is ok with me. I'll admit that my daughter in law get me excited now and then. My son wouldn't mind but my wife would
Wanted to say thanks to all you guys and gals that take the time to help some of us guys that Don't have the time to do a hit or miss job.great job guys and gals
Great video this also works for a 2005 grand caravan
Great video! A repair I hope that I never have to do but will be a lot less anxious about having seen this.
For anyone that might be replacing the heater hoses under the hood, be aware that the 2003 Grand Caravan has a total of 5 hose sections and also a Variable Restrictor Valve. The reason for all the segments is the lines that lead to the heater core for the rear. These are all fairly small sections ( I think the longest was 14 linear inches at the most) but they're also specially shaped except for a small 3" straight section. AutoZone only carries 1 that is MOSTLY correct, a small 90 degree elbow that's still an inch too long on one end..it's also the hardest one to get to. Their system shows another hose with a 90 degree bend, a short section and a very long section. That item doesn't come close to matching ANY of the hoses that are actually there. I was in a rush to replace my hoses so I ended up getting 2 of the small elbows, the large one, 4 feet of 5/8" heater hose (in case I needed that much), and the variable restrictor valve to cobble together what I needed. One small elbow is essentially a direct replacement, the other small one and the large one were used (carefully) to form the more "hairpin" like switchbacks in the system; the legit bends are close to 130 degrees but with some careful tweaks I was able to get the elbows to serve as replacements with minimal or no kinks in the lines. Ultimately I only had to use about 12-15" of the bulk hose but for the price I still suggest getting about 4 feet in case your situation is different from mine. I had to replace my variable restrictor valve because the feed tubes for my old one snapped off like twigs when I was trying to remove the hoses. After 15 years, all of the hoses were very attached, one had even melted to the pipe so I had to scrape & sand the pipe clean.
I'll add that it LOOKS like O'Reilly carries all of the legit hoses but they might not have them in stock at your store, so a ship to home or ship to store situation AND that's assuming their parts are correct. I didn't have time to wait on shipping and I'm hesitant to buy something like that online without confirming the size/shape.
Also, while typing this and poking around, apparently Gates has a product called a Heater Hose Shaping Coil that I might would have tried if I had known about it. The odd thing is that it goes outside of the hose so while I can see how it works to shape a hose, I don't know how well it would prevent kinks, especially on sharper bends.
Thanks for posting, I suspect my own GC might need this done, too
I have a 2007 grand caravan and it looks like this is going to be the same move. People were telling me I’m going to have to remove the dash and all that good stuff. Talking about 3 hours +. I will clock it myself and see how it goes.
How did it go? Did you have to replace any hoses?
Thank you for the video. I ended having to pull the steering shaft loose. Did anyone else have to pull it loose?? Again thank you for the video it saved me I don’t know how much time.
you're very welcome!
Sorry I didn't answer your one question. No one else responded to having to loosen the steering column.
Okay I was just curious I tried every stinking way I could to try and get it out and it would not come out. It is no big deal it was just one bolt and the shaft is out of the way. Again thank you for the video it was a HUGE help.
Yes I had to on my daughter in laws 2006 van
This is the Series 4 which covers years 2001-2007
This also works on a 02 chrysler voyager 3.3
Appreciate this. Not sure if its the same as my 2007 Caravan...about to go find out. Really hope so!!!!
Was it the same?
@@seandaly9361 no
Im trying to work on my car and i dont understand how you did this without taking your driver seat out to give you better access. And i ended up getting hose clamps to avoid having to drain down the fuids. I also am having issues getting the clip off the brake peddle due to the access issue.
Matt, what was your diagnosis of the heater core being at fault. I have an '03 Caravan SXT(not a Grand) that I smell coolant in the cabin every time I turn on the heater. Someone told me that the heater core goes bad in this series of Caravans. I just watched a video of the Y pipe replacement under the hood. Too poor to take it to a pro mechanic. Any insight would help sir. TY.
great video thank you, one question though not sure if i missed something but did you try back flushing first...thanks again
Yes, I had my mechanic back flush and it helped just a little for a very short time.
How much fluid are we prepared to have in the cabin?
The amount that is in the hose coming from the engine into the cab. A couple towels or a few rags will catch it all.
Matt thank you
Big big big help thanks
Looks eazy so I'm going to try to change mine out before winter
It really wasn't that hard. Just remember to put rags down to catch the coolant that comes out.
@@Matt-rv1ti hey boss could I just unhook bottom radiator hose and let her run till all water pumps out?
@@wildestcowboy2668 You could do that but actually there wasn't an excessive amount of coolant that came out. I'm not a mechanic so I'm not sure what would be the best solution.
@@Matt-rv1ti well I ain't either but I want to fix van with gas prices soaring. Van gets ALOT better than my thirsty 6.0 cateye Chevy truck. Thanks for responding so quickly and for what it's worth you got my vote!
Why pull the hoses in the engine compartment?
Cuz you have to remove the hoses from the engine compartment cuz they attached to the heater core
@@daleprice8161 No you don't! I have already done this...
You have to remove the shaft I went to the gunk yard and try to remove it and every time I had to remove the shaft
No way you have to move the colum I can't believe you posted this you could not have possibly done it
You taught me nothing!