Yet another Heater Treater Testimony

[Deleted member 995608]

Pulled out the dash and replaced 4 doors with Heater Treater components.



Couldn't be happier!



A time consuming project for sure but very doable by most backyard yahoo's such as myself.



Besides the A/C evac and disconnect, ONLY a few common tools are needed and you'll have yourself an almost new HVAC system w/o any cheap O' plastic doors.



Now if we could get Heater Treater to come up with a steel version radiator drain cock, we'd be set!

 

[tpuig]

I had mine done (along with some other work) about two months ago. I can't believe that I didn't do this four years ago when it broke.

 

[SDrake]

I just bought my 03 a few months ago and do not know what is normal. I never really noticed anything when using the heater, -- cab got warm and with heater you do not feel the air flow but now that air conditioning is used I am wondering. It blows cold air and with temps in the low 90's I stay comfortable but just barely and the air flow coming out the vents with what seems to me to be very low velocity, nothing that would hit me in the chest, just feel cold air when I put my hand over the vent. My 94 did not blow hard as it seemed it should with all the racket the fan made on hi setting but this truck has even less.



What should I expect in terms of subjective airflow. Should it create a breeze that would push air toward the back seats or is this low airflow the nature of the beast.

 

[tpuig]

Normally there is a pretty significant airflow, you definitely feel it. I don't have much hair to blow back, but my wife will turn the vent away because of the cold blast. Not too much to the floor, IIRC, but the dash and defrost put out some air.



I've had mine since new and right around 60k it started "clunking" when I would switch from defrost to dash. Then a delayed clunk. Finally it just stopped putting air to the floor. The AC worked fine in terms of temp, and the defroster worked fine. For me it was just the split of high/low with nothing to the floor. After another 65k, I finally decided to get it fixed. But paying the dealer $800+ wasn't really an option, then I read about the Heater Treater. I wear shorts year round and didn't really need heat to the floor, but my passengers put up a big stink in Reno in January. And I'll be heading to snow country this winter, so figured I might as well get it done. Rather than spend a large amount of money on something that might happen again, I chose the Heater Treater over the OEM repair.

 

[jsffd]

I just finished the heater treater 4 door replacement on my 03. So far it works great. So nice to have a/c out of all the vents!!! I cut the dash, 4 holes cut, and had to remove the steel dash panel in the center. I used the cutting bit on a Dremel tool, went straight in, cut per the instructions and the work was a piece of cake. I used some of the discarded plastic to melt some tabs on the pieces i removed then melted it back on with a solder gun. Hot glue gun to fill the gaps, spot welded the steel panel in place and it all works great. Labor time approx 5 hours, but took all day and a few more the next morning to button everything up. Truck was in its 2nd set of Dodge doors, 3rd recurc door. Hopefully fixed for good.

 

[rscurtis]

SDrake, remove the blower assembly (under the glove box) and see if the recirc. door is sitting on its intake. That will give you low air flow. If that's your problem, this is the easiest door to repair as long as you don't have the Infinity stereo.

 

[Wingate]

LOVE my HeaterTreater... . ok... so heres a question... .



We all know whatthe heater treater stuff costs... . so HOW CHEAP is the factory stuff!!. . I mean, did somebody just DONATE this factory junk to Chrysler like a GOODWILL DONATION DROPBOX!!!. .

Was Chrysler standing at a red-light in the rain with a cardboard sign asking for HVAC parts and claiming to be on their way to Florida... ????

Its pathetic engineering that gives companies a bad name... . and to screw up so bad for so long on something as simple as a friggin HVAC door!!!. .

Sorry for jackin the thread... I'll get off my soapbox now. .

 

[bcbender]

Its pathetic engineering that gives companies a bad name... . and to screw up so bad for so long on something as simple as a friggin HVAC door!!!. .

Sorry for jackin the thread...





I feel the same way, quoted yesterday for $1200, gonna do it myself w/ heater treater, wish they made something for the dual-mode in my laramie, I will order the doors and machine something to convert it so mine works.

 

[WalterJ]

JHawes; Pls. comment on why AC evac. is req'd. We're RV'g now, so the HeaterTreater video cannot be appreciated. Will study it when home. Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

JHawes; Pls. comment on why AC evac. is req'd. We're RV'g now, so the HeaterTreater video cannot be appreciated. Will study it when home. Thanks.

The A/C evac is required only if you intend to pull the dash.



Heater Treater shows you the way to cut holes in the plastic HVAC plenum box to avoid pulling the dash but honestly, it's easier to evacuate the A/C and pull the dash.



I had a shop remove the refrigerent for me. It only took 2 hours to remove the dash and about 3 more hours to replace 4 blend doors and put everything back together. And no odd duck holes cut into my HVAC.



Jason

 

[SDrake]

SDrake, remove the blower assembly (under the glove box) and see if the recirc. door is sitting on its intake. That will give you low air flow. If that's your problem, this is the easiest door to repair as long as you don't have the Infinity stereo.

Thanks. tpuig convinces me that I am shy on air flow so I definitely need to check some things out. I wistfully thought that perhaps I would be a lucky one and get by without the dreaded door problems. I wanted to pretend like it was just my imagination and that all is well. Well it is not so I will first thing pull the blower to do this check forst. I like to be sure its not something easy before I dive in doing something big.

 

[jjdiesel]

Its pathetic engineering that gives companies a bad name... . and to screw up so bad for so long on something as simple as a friggin HVAC door!!!. .

Sorry for jackin the thread...





I feel the same way, quoted yesterday for $1200, gonna do it myself w/ heater treater, wish they made something for the dual-mode in my laramie, I will order the doors and machine something to convert it so mine works.

Give them a call, they will fix you up with the dual-mode set up for a few bucks more.

 

[Shadrach]

" Give them a call, they will fix you up with the dual-mode set up for a few bucks more. "

Here is the reply I got when I asked about the dual A/C controls:

The dual control is relatively rare and customers that plan to remove the steering wheel, steering column, remove dash, evacuate AC refrigerant, drain radiator, and finally remove the entire plenum box are even rarer. We don't make the dual control components because of the limited potential market. The HeaterTreater kit can be installed with complete removal of the dash, but it will not retain dual control.

The obviously don't know TDR people, some of us will tear anything apart Maybe there are no Laramie trucks in Texas?? My plans are to buy their stuff and get the rest from Dodge and do it once. Shadrach

 

[jjdiesel]

Odd, I called and spoke with them and was told no problem, total was $200. 00.

 

[Kry226]

Going on a year and a half and 16k miles. Heater Treater still trucking.

 

[Shadrach]

My reply was received back in Dec. Maybe things have changed. It would be nice. Shadrach