Kia Optima Hybrid Owner's Manual Quiz
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

Heater Repair Procedures

In this manual: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
General Information — 4Engine Mechanical System — 50Engine Electrical System — 20Emission Control System — 30Engine Control System/Fuel System — 84Automatic Transmission — 98Drive Shaft and Axle — 15Suspension System — 36Steering — 12Restraints — 50Brake System — 38Body (Interior and Exterior) — 54Body Electrical System — 233Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning — 57
23steps
~138min
4/5difficulty
0102030405011.79N·mlb·ft
Tightening torque found on this page
Done 0 of 23

Replacement

  1. Disconnect the negative (-) battery terminal.
  2. Charge the refrigerant using the refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station.
    1. Do not use the same A/C recovery/charging station as for conventional belt-driven compressors.
    2. Because the electric compressor uses high voltage, use PVE or POE oil with a high volume resistivity.
    3. If PVE or POE oil mixes with PAG oil in the system, dielectric breakdown may occur due to reduced volume resistivity, and the air conditioning compressor may be damaged and may not operate.
  3. When the engine has cooled, drain the engine coolant from the radiator.
  4. Remove the expansion valve cover (A).
  5. Remove the bolts (A) and the expansion valve (B) from the evaporator core.

    Tightening torque: 7.8 ~ 11.7 N·m
    Plug or cover the lines immediately after disconnecting them to prevent moisture and dust from entering.
  6. Disconnect the inlet (C) and outlet (D) heater hoses from the heater unit.
    Engine coolant will drain when the hoses are disconnected. Drain it into a clean pan. Be careful not to spill coolant on electrical parts or painted surfaces. If coolant is spilled, wash it off immediately.
  7. Remove the center console. (Refer to BD group - "Center Console")
  8. Remove the shift lever housing assembly. (Refer to TR group - "Shift Lever")
  9. Remove the steering wheel and column. (Refer to ST group - "Steering Column")
  10. Loosen the hood cross member mounting bolts (A).
  11. Remove the front pillar trim and disconnect the connector (A).
  12. Disconnect the airbag connector (A).
  13. Remove the hood side trim and disconnect the connectors (A).
  14. Disconnect the fuse block connector (B).
  15. Loosen the heater and blower unit mounting bolts.
  16. Loosen the hood cross member mounting bolts (A), then remove the protective cover and the heater blower unit (B).
  17. Disconnect the connectors and remove the heater blower unit (A) from the airbag bracket.
  18. Remove the blower unit (A) from the heater unit after loosening the screws.
  19. Loosen the mounting screw and remove the heater core cover (A).
  20. Disconnect the heater core (A) from the heater unit.
  21. Loosen the fastening screws and remove the lower heater cover (A).
  22. Remove the evaporator core (A).
  23. Installation is performed in the reverse order of removal. 25. Installation is performed in the reverse order of removal, pay attention to the following items:
    • If installing a new evaporator, add refrigerant oil. (PVE or POE OIL)
    • Replace the O-rings with new ones at each fitting and apply a thin coat of refrigerant oil before installation. Be sure to use the correct O-rings for R-134a to prevent leakage.
    • Immediately after use, close the container with its cap to prevent moisture absorption.
    • Do not spill refrigerant oil on the vehicle; it may damage the paint. If refrigerant oil gets on the paint, wash it off immediately.
    • Apply sealant to the bushings.
    • Check that there is no air leakage.
    • Charge the system and check that it operates properly.
    • Do not reverse the inlet and outlet heater hoses, and securely install the hose clamps.
    • Fill the cooling system with engine coolant.

Test yourself

A quick Kia Optima Hybrid Owner's Manual quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.