VW Passat Heater Core Replacement B5 Time Lapse

2002 Passat with air conditioner evaporator leaking refrigerant. Replacing heater core while evaporator case is removed. Evaporator leak is not common on the VW or Audi B5 cars, while the heater core is a common failure. Often, the heater core plastic nipples through the firewall will become brittle and fall apart during service. Also, the tiny internal passages in the heater core can become plugged by any sediment in cooling system, similar to a filter. STAY AWAY FROM COOLANT LEAK-STOP PRODUCTS. These products will plug up a heater core like cement. There's a joke among VW mechanics; At the VW factory they hang a heater core on the assembly line and build a car around it. Performing this job is quite an undertaking. It takes an experienced mechanic about 1-2 days solid work. In either case, the refrigerant must be discharged and recharged. This job ran around $1800, including parts, tax, labor, refrigerant, O-rings, foam, zip-ties, and other shop supplies.