Removal and Installation

Heater & Cooling Unit Assembly: Removal and Installation

CAUTION:

Before servicing, turn the ignition switch off, disconnect both battery terminals and wait at least 3 minutes.

Removal

1) Move the two front seats to the rear most position on the seat track.
2) Discharge the refrigerant from the A/C system. Refer to [HFC-134a (R-134a) Service Procedure] Service and Repair.
3) Drain the coolant from the engine cooling system. Refer to [Changing Engine Coolant] Service and Repair (QR25DE), [Changing Engine Coolant] Service and Repair (VQ40DE).
4) Disconnect the battery negative and positive terminals.
5) For vehicles equipped with the VQ40DE engine, remove the RH heater core pipes nut.





6) Disconnect the heater core hoses from the heater core.
7) Disconnect the high- and low-pressure A/C pipes from the expansion valve.
8) Remove the instrument panel and center console. Refer to [Instrument Panel Assembly: Exploded View] Instrument Panel Assembly Exploded View.
9) Remove the two front floor ducts.
10) Remove the steering column. Refer to [Steering Column: Removal and Installation] Removal and Replacement.
11) Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness at the RH and LH in-line connector brackets, and the fuse block (SMJ) electrical connectors. Refer to [Harness Layout] [1][2]Harness.
12) Remove the covers then remove the three steering member bolts from each side to disconnect the steering member from the vehicle body. Refer to [Instrument Panel Assembly: Exploded View] Instrument Panel Assembly Exploded View.
13) Remove the heater and cooling unit assembly with it attached to the steering member, from the vehicle.

CAUTION:
- Use care not to damage the seats and interior trim panels when removing the heater and cooling unit assembly with it attached to the steering member.

14) Remove the heater and cooling unit assembly from the steering member.

Installation

Installation is in the reverse order of removal.

CAUTION:

- Do not reuse O-rings.
- Apply A/C oil to the O-ring of the low-pressure A/C pipe and high-pressure A/C pipe for installation.
- After charging the refrigerant, check for leaks. Refer to [Checking of Refrigerant Leaks] Checking of Refrigerant Leaks.

NOTE:

- Fill the engine cooling system with the specified coolant mixture. Refer to [Changing Engine Coolant] Service and Repair (QR25DE), [Changing Engine Coolant] Service and Repair (VQ40DE).
- Recharge the A/C system. Refer to [HFC-134a (R-134a) Service Procedure] Service and Repair.