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Removal of the Cabin Heater Radiator

Model: Volkswagen Transporter MK 3, T3, T25 - Years: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
Part: Heater core

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Video tutorial

The first symptom of a leak in the cabin heater radiator is misting of the windscreen, along with a drop in coolant level in the radiator reservoir. To replace it, you practically need to dismantle the dashboard.

For this reason, many prefer to bypass the radiator by joining the inlet and outlet pipes. If you want to tackle this, start by disconnecting the battery.

Then, move to the cabin and begin removing the dashboard components, including the steering wheel, instrument cluster, and central console buttons. Continue by dismantling the centre tunnel, the glove compartment on the passenger side, and the air vents.

Next, unscrew the dashboard mounting pins to the vehicle's frame (some are located in the engine bay). Remove the dashboard and take off the air ducts. Unscrew the mounting pins of the dashboard subframe, disconnect the various hoses, connectors, and air deflector cables, and extract the duct assembly, separating it from the ventilation fan assembly.

You can now remove the radiator and install the new one: all this work for a replacement costing just a few pounds!


Updated on 13 February 2026 by ScegliAuto


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