How do you disconnect the heater hoses from the heater core? Looks like it might take a special tool, cannot see much as they are located under the cowl. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,,,

 

There is a special tool to snap hoses off. I just changed my heater core yesterday. My advice is to skip trying to mess with the clips. Pull the heater hoses into the cab as much as possible through the firewall and foam, cut the aluminum heatr core inlet and outlet tubes after the bend so you can pull the hoses into the egine compartment. this will give you plenty of slack to visualize silly clips and makes for easy removal above engine. make sure to purchase new clips and o-rings. I messed wit the clips for 45 minutes before saying f it and cut them. Use a small hack saw or saws all. very easy after doing so.

 

I only want to change the hoses not the core.

 

I just had one hell of a time with the heater hoses after putting in a new core last weekend and I honestly do not believe you can release the clips with the tool in the amount of space that is there. You can cut the hoses and just splice new hose in with a flushing adapter. New hoses without the push-on fittings are available.

I also cut the pipes of the heater core with a hacksaw and installed one new push on hose. The other one was a two week wait. I had cut them to bypass the core. The other fitting I was able to rebuild and use a flushing adapter to finish the job.