I know changing the heater core in a GM vehicle is a PITA. I did the one in my 2002 Bonneville a few years ago. Not a project I enjoyed! A friend of mine was quoted $1,700 to do the job by a garage. This seems a little high to me considering the part is only $40 on Amazon. It took me a long time to do mine but I didn't know what I was doing. Does anyone know what the actual time is for someone who knows what they are doing to change the heater core in a 1999 Chevy S10?? I am thinking this should be about an $700 to $800 job. Any thoughts???

I don't remember anything at this stop, however this forum post borrowed from elsewhere suggests it can be quite a fun one to get out.
Heater core replacement procedure '99 S10? - *-10 Forum

Oh, jeeze, just found these:
https://www.gmforum.com/gmc-chevrole...10-zr2-308298/
https://www.gmforum.com/gmc-chevrole...r-core-308232/

Thanks for the links. The one thing I know is that I am not volunteering to do this job. I am not as flexible as I once was. I try to avoid any work under a dashboard these days.

I was hoping someone with a garage could tell me what the quoted labor hours are for this job to be done by a professional. I know the parts are $40 for after market, about $90 for AC Delco (Amazon). even if I allow for profit on the parts that still leaves $1,500 to $1,600 in labor she is being quoted. That'* what about 12 to 14 hours?

I am not even sure her truck is worth $1,700.

Working at a car dealership, you don't usually run into this....but every once in awhile something like this comes in......

Basically you have to remove the dash, or at least prop it up out of the way......the hidden bolts/nuts are a PIA.....1700 is crazy......way over priced, especially if done at a Chevy or GMC dealership, that does this all the time.....parts are basically the core and coolant.....rest is all labor.....

Next time you you go for an estimate, have them show you the time it will take for the repair from the labor time(actually see it, not what they tell you), multiply by their labor rate, and then add cost of parts...

Thanks Tech II, I thought the price was crazy too. that'* why I told her I would look into it for her. I did this job on my Bonneville a few years ago and the S10 looks to be about the same.

to me this should be a $700 to $800 job for someone who knows what they are doing.

BTW I looked up the KBB on her truck. It'* only worth $1,747.

The dealership knows its a PITA to do the heater core on one of those. So they jack the price up hoping to send you somewhere else. They believe its not worth the hassle, especially for an older vehicle where parts are scarce.