Heater Help

[Chatmanboy]

Need some help with my heater. Can someone give me a list of things i need to check please, so i can get it back up and working. The air blows but doesnt get hot, the blendor door is broke but i do have it on the heat side.

 

[MeanBuicks]

Check the vacuum actuated water valve that allows coolant to flow through the heater core. It's behind the passenger side valve cover.

 

[Chatmanboy]

ok is there a way to tell if its bad?

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

ok is there a way to tell if its bad?

This valve failed on me last summer and the result was no A/C. It is an inexpensive part from Autozone but is a real pain in the butt to replace without removing the Turbo. There also is a vacuum switch behind the radio which when fails causes no heat. I would have to look this one up is if you want me to. Brad

 

[charlief1]

First, is it climate control or manual temp? That will make a difference as to what to look for. Check both heater hoses after the engine is warm and see if they're both hot. If they are then it's under the dash.

 

[Chatmanboy]

yea i just got one from autozone and replaced it. but still no heat.
@brad yes i would appreciate that.
@charlief1 its manual and the metal heater lines does get hot

 

[killerb]

i had this problem in my car. what i did to fix it was to back flush the heater core by running water from my garden hose in the oppisite direction of normal flow. you should have seen the crap lodged in there. do this until the water runs clean. after flushing my heat was red hot. hope this helps.

 

[Chatmanboy]

@ killlerb is it hard to remove the heater core?

 

[charlief1]

@charlief1 its manual and the metal heater lines does get hot

The metal lines will be hot whether or not the valve is working. Check at the box where the lines come out and make sure to check it on the rubber section. If both are hot there then it's getting flow and the box should also be fairly warm.

@ killlerb is it hard to remove the heater core?

The heater core is one of the few easy parts on these cars that's pretty easy to change. Open the hood and remove all the rubber trim where the hood and the body meet. You'll see several 7 or 8mm bolt heads sticking up. Take them loose and the the top of the panel will come off and you can get to the heater core from there.

 

[2QUICK2B6]

no just be careful an make sure u get to all the bolts an gently pull the plastic cover off .. might need a razor blade to cut the black silicone ... and make sure u silicone everything back up tight ... took me abt 3 hrs i wasnt in a hurry

 

[Chatmanboy]

@charlief1 the hoses behind the turbo didnt feel hot nor does the box get warm

 

[charlief1]

@charlief1 the hoses behind the turbo didnt feel hot nor does the box get warm

Depending on where you live the 160 thermostat may be the issue. I had a truck many years ago with one in it and in the winter the heater didn't work that great until I put a hotter one in it. I would go ahead and take the lines off the core and back flush it to make sure it's not clogged and replace the valve in the hose with a straight piece of pipe. That will give you full flow to the heater core so it should heat up better. Then see what happens. If the box is warm and both lines out of the core are hot then it's under the dash.

 

[Chatmanboy]

@charlief1 yea i do have the 160, so yea i a take a crack at the heater core tomorrow and see if thats it. one other where does the vacuum hose from the valve run too? want to make sure that right!

 

[killerb]

@ killlerb is it hard to remove the heater core?

you can flush it without removing the core. just find the inlet and outlet hoses and connect the garden hose to the outlet side remove the inlet and BLAST it.

 

[charlief1]

Plug the vacuum line with a golf T for the moment and replace the valve with a straight piece of pipe first. See if it heats up then. Let's see if we can get you some heat and that way we can figure out what you need to look for. Where do you live? Might want to add it to your user controls so others in your area can help you out.