Heater in '98 GA GT

The heater didn't work at all in my car when I bought it, and I figured out why. Someone for some reason replaced the heater core. This genius broke the plastic where the upper strap screws onto the case behind the heater core. As a result, there was a baseball sized hole on each side of the heater core, allowing tons of cold air to bypass the core. I duct taped over both holes and reassembled using the self taping screws which were there when I took it apart :banghead: . After blocking the holes, the vents will blow hot. 3 of them, that is. The far left one blows cold (not even warm, it's single zone HVAC, so I'm lost there) The defrost and heater positions blow barely warm air. All the actuators work fine, so does the temp cable. Everything opens and closes fully.

If someone has pictures of what the inside of the HVAC box should look like around the heater core, they would be greatly appreciatied. I'm afraid something was left out by the prior "repairer".

Also, does anyone know if the HVAC assembly from a '96 Beretta will swap in? They look very close, and I'll be guting my Beretta for racing next year, so I may have a free one. I just hate to spend the time properly removing (hammer and pry bar's faster AND funner) the one from my Beretta not knowing if it will even work.

On your first issue pull your glove box out and check the vent tubes. They could be loose or disconnected, or just missing altogether.

Not sure if they'll swap with the Beretta, pullit and look at the plug-in's and where the vac lines attach.
Assembled in different plants but that doesnt mean they didnt share parts.
As the years roll by less and less is interchangeable IMO.


Hope that helps.

They are in place. I lost the heat after driving fopr a while. Heater core still hot (actually box around it hot). I think the tape probably got hot and pulled off. I guess I'll have to fix it "properly"

You're right, not interchangable. Checked HVAC diagrams at work today, they are similar, but I'm not going to waste time trying.

Yeah duct tape doesnt still well under high heat, the heater core gets pretty hot.
Did you see this link (http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/09/d1/7f/0900823d8009d17f/repairInfoPages.htm)? it has a crappy picture or two. ;D

Those models listed Grand Am/Achieva/Calais/Skylark will quite possibly have the same hvac unit. :thumbsup:
Thier's tons of all those models in salvage yards.

Hope that helps.