2017 heater core tee’s

[Chillerman57]

Hello, I’m doing a dod delete and just starting disassembly. Before I break the tabs on the heater core tees I’d like to know where to source new tees. Pre 2015 tees
are readily available in plastic and billet. I have yet to find a source these tees for my 2017 Tahoe. I’ve searched the internet and called two different Chevy parts departments. No help from Chevy yet. I’ll probably have to go and see their parts breakdown with pictures of what I need. The part number they both gave me is a $700 A/C line set.
If anyone can give me a source for these 2 tees I’d greatly appreciate it!

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please. If we can't see it, it does not exist.

I did a quick search on RockAuto.com and GMPartsDirect.com for your truck (year and model only, as you did not provide any additional information such as trim and motor), and I could not find the tees, either.

On RockAuto.com, for my truck, the GM Genuine tees are listed as part numbers 15055343 (white connector) and 15055342 (black connector), and I believe that they are universal for your truck, as well.

Gruven also makes metal tees, which will last forever, which you may want to check out.

 

[Fless]

IIRC @Doubeleive has dealt with this and may have a comment.

 

[Doubeleive]

Hello, I’m doing a dod delete and just starting disassembly. Before I break the tabs on the heater core tees I’d like to know where to source new tees. Pre 2015 tees
are readily available in plastic and billet. I have yet to find a source these tees for my 2017 Tahoe. I’ve searched the internet and called two different Chevy parts departments. No help from Chevy yet. I’ll probably have to go and see their parts breakdown with pictures of what I need. The part number they both gave me is a $700 A/C line set.
If anyone can give me a source for these 2 tees I’d greatly appreciate it!

The 2015+ can use the SAME connectors as gmt800/900, the catch is the position is swapped, so your black colored one will go where the white colored one is, and the white one will go where the black colored one is.
otherwise due to whatever reason in the gm supply chain the only way to get them is if you buy the complete coolant line kit that includes all the lines to the rear of the vehicle for like $250 or so.
kind of dumb but that's gm for you. no biggie though just buy the ones for gmt800/900 and put them on swapped position.
on a side note the heater hoses on the k2's are prone to "seep" where the metal fitting is crimped. if you see any seepage I would replace the hoses also.

 

[Doubeleive]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please. If we can't see it, it does not exist.

I did a quick search on RockAuto.com and GMPartsDirect.com for your truck (year and model only, as you did not provide any additional information such as trim and motor), and I could not find the tees, either.

On RockAuto.com, for my truck, the GM Genuine tees are listed as part numbers 15055343 (white connector) and 15055342 (black connector), and I believe that they are universal for your truck, as well.

Gruven also makes metal tees, which will last forever, which you may want to check out.

the k2's can use them. there just swapped position, dumb gm idea. all they did was angle the metal lines opposite of how they have been the last 15 years.

 

[Chillerman57]

The 2015+ can use the SAME connectors as gmt800/900, the catch is the position is swapped, so your black colored one will go where the white colored one is, and the white one will go where the black colored one is.
otherwise due to whatever reason in the gm supply chain the only way to get them is if you buy the complete coolant line kit that includes all the lines to the rear of the vehicle for like $250 or so.
kind of dumb but that's gm for you. no biggie though just buy the ones for gmt800/900 and put them on swapped position.
on a side note the heater hoses on the k2's are prone to "seep" where the metal fitting is crimped. if you see any seepage I would replace the hoses also.

This is great

 

[Chillerman57]

Great to see I can use the same connectors as the gmt800/900 swapped. I was wondering about that. That dealer hose assembly by the way is $800. Thanks everyone and much much appreciated. Those funky plastic tees had my dod delete project stopped in its tracks!

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Great to see I can use the same connectors as the gmt800/900 swapped. I was wondering about that. That dealer hose assembly by the way is $800. Thanks everyone and much much appreciated. Those funky plastic tees had my dod delete project stopped in its tracks!

When you change out the tees, be sure to wear gloves, as the firewall insulation is quite aggressive, and your hands will itch for days.

 

[91RS]

Why would you break them vs just taking them apart and reusing them?

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Why would you break them vs just taking them apart and reusing them?

You 'can' remove the Tees without breaking them, but it is iffy at best. Some folks have been successful, but most have not. It is far easier from an access standpoint to break the quick connection part of the Tees with side cutter pliers and pull them off the heater core pipes, and minimize potential damage to those pipes.

You don't reuse them, because they've been identified as a definite point of failure, because the plastic hardens and gets brittle over time, due to the constant heating and cooling within the engine bay, and then they rupture. This empties your coolant onto the ground within 60 seconds and strands you at who knows where.

 

[91RS]

Ok. I remove and reuse them almost daily and have never broken one doing so. They don’t even leak that often. I wouldn’t replace them on my own vehicle as a wear item and I’m proactive as all get out. The heater hoses are what leak and/or snap off. Those I did replace as a wear item in my stuff.