thermostat where is it

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

ok went ahead and replaced the thermostat, figured since it looked old it may be time. replaced the gasket that goes around the round thermostat housing as it looked worn. now with the car warm after running more then 10-15 mins neither hose seemed warm or hot. next would be replacing the heater control valve since it may be the original and i'd like some heat in the car being it's winter. 10.00 at oreilly's and seems real simple, any other suggestions since i'm in the trying to narrow down why it's not heating inside the cabin. thanks guys for your help in advance.

Make sure the coolant is filled all the way, if you filled it and have a air pocket, possible it is not getting all the way thru the heater core.

That is not the original heater control valve, the original was metal.

Ok when you go to replace that heater valve, you need to make sure the heater core is not plugged up, its possible that it is completely plugged with sediment and corrosion.
Try using a garden hose and run water thru it to varify that it will allow water / coolant to run thru. I would not try compressed air, you will damage the core.

If the heater core flows coolant, replace that heater valve, and varify that it works(does it have a mechanical arm you can physically move) top off the coolant and you should have cabin heat.

Post back what you find
BW

 

[87granny]

I agree with Quick6 put the valve on but remove the hoses from the heater core and back flush it with a hose if you have heat at 2000-3000 rpm but cold at idle the heater core is plugged and needs to be replaced we have seen alot recently at the dealer where i work

 

[charlief1]

I'm free on Thursday if you need to come down datant. Send me a PM if you need to.

 

[justin84]

Gotta love Charlie, man you will go out of your way for us TR guys. Thanks bud!!:biggrin:

 

[charlief1]

Gotta love Charlie, man you will go out of your way for us TR guys. Thanks bud!!:biggrin:

LOL thanks Justin. Just trying to help out a fellow Texan.:biggrin: I do my best for what it's worth. I'm just a poor country boy after all,:smile:

 

[datant69]

no doubt about charlie

i really appreciate your offer, let me try and work on the valve 1st. of any of the guys here you are a really nice guy and i don't really know you but to offer your services is beyond what any normal person would do. plan on flushing out the valve today when i wake up. i'll also run water through the core to make sure that it's not clogged. thanks guys for the suggestions. will update you by this time tomorrow.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

Well do we have heat?

BW

 

[87granny]

Well do we have heat?

BW

It's not this time tomorrow yet he posted at 3:45 am :biggrin: i'm waiting to see how he made out too i have seen 4 clogged in the last 3 weeks

 

[datant69]

got heat

Well do we have heat?

BW

thanks guys, i pulled the valve and even though there was coolant in it i still ran some water through it high pressure. i only let it run for 10 mins but it was warm and i'm sure it'll get hotter when i run it longer. i appreciate all the help you guys gave me. if for some reason it doesn't get real warm inside the cabin i'll let you guys know and may take charlie up on his offer of replacing the heater core. i ran some water through it and it came out as fast as it went in. Also about me posting at 345am i have irregular sleep patterns due to back pain so i log on at different times depending on how i feel and pain level. i'm sure i'm not the only board member who had a fusion done and i'm only 5 months out and question whether it was the right decision. but when the dr tells you if you don't you can be paralized from the waist down makes you make tough decisions. not looking for sympathy but just letting you guys know if you have a good back take care of it. back pain isn't something i'd wish on my worst enemy.

 

[scottyb]

I'm late in here, but you can get that water neck at NAPA for 8.99 - just ask for a water neck for a 1989 Firebird 3.8 v6.

 

[datant69]

what's a water neck

just asking, is it the valve that i washed out?

 

[scottyb]

just asking, is it the valve that i washed out?

The water neck is the crusty rusty part that the upper hose attaches to.

I destroyed mine upon removal, and was pleased to find that NAPA stocked it since my Buick was my daily driver at the time. The replacement part is much thicker than the "sheet metal' original.

part #BK 6051257

 

[datant69]

ok

just thought i'd ask, since some parts stores have different names for them. good info, i may change mine since it's the original and i would hate to have it crack while i'm driving it.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

I go in every 3 months now for spinal taps so i have less pain. Id rather do this than go under the knife. This kind of pain sucks, cant walk in the morning when the pain is horrible, pop pain pills way too much.

What thermostat did you end up going with, if you have a 180° stat, it will run 175 or so in the cold winter. I ended up running a 195° for winter times, got tired of the car running 153° all winter and having minimal amount of heat coming out of the vents.
195° was at oreillys and will put it back in next winter.

Glad she is fixed for now
BW

 

[datant69]

thermostat

well it's not all the way i wanted it, when i posted my reply to your ? about if it works was premature. it blows out warmer air then before but it's not hot like it should be, i went with the 180 if i remember correctly but i wanted it to be hotter then it is now. it's semi warm so not sure if i should go with a lower rated thermostat or if i have another dilema. after blowing out the valve and the heater core but want it hotter then it is now. i've checked a the defroster and other vents but it's just not hot hot. so i'll break it down tomorrow and re flush the valve and heater core just to make sure. if that doesn't work then i may be asking for more help.

 

[GullsGN]

thanks guys, i pulled the valve and even though there was coolant in it i still ran some water through it high pressure. i only let it run for 10 mins but it was warm and i'm sure it'll get hotter when i run it longer. i appreciate all the help you guys gave me. if for some reason it doesn't get real warm inside the cabin i'll let you guys know and may take charlie up on his offer of replacing the heater core. i ran some water through it and it came out as fast as it went in. Also about me posting at 345am i have irregular sleep patterns due to back pain so i log on at different times depending on how i feel and pain level. i'm sure i'm not the only board member who had a fusion done and i'm only 5 months out and question whether it was the right decision. but when the dr tells you if you don't you can be paralized from the waist down makes you make tough decisions. not looking for sympathy but just letting you guys know if you have a good back take care of it. back pain isn't something i'd wish on my worst enemy.

I know where you are at. I have had a back fusion at L4/L5. It is one of the slowest healing process you will ever go through. It is like watching grass grow. But, that said, I would do it all over again. I have had artificial hips for 23 years and knew that I would have back problems eventually. The fusion was actually the 3rd back surgery, after 2 laminectomys (sp) and decompression. It has been 9 years since the fusion and each year is better. I golf 5 days a week and still getting better. My bowling average has improved every year since surgery and I throw a heavier ball in my 50's than I did in my 20's. Just keep moving and exercising. Remember, they can't hit a moving target .

 

[charlief1]

When you flush the heater core look at the flow rate. Watch the water hose to see how much water it's flowing and then watch the core to see if it's flowing the same. There may be some build up in the core which will insulate it and cut down on the heat coming out of it.

 

[datant69]

flushing the core

i'm going to reflush the heater core, i drove it for about 30 mins and it didn't get real hot like it should, not sure if i should have gone with a lower temp thermostat but i'll do as charlie said on watching the flow. does it matter which hole i run the water through lower or upper. when i flushed it i used the upper but i may do both so i can flush out any residual crap outta the core. i can tell it's warmer but not alot. will update you guys when i git-r-done.

 

[datant69]

back fusion

I know where you are at. I have had a back fusion at L4/L5. It is one of the slowest healing process you will ever go through. It is like watching grass grow. But, that said, I would do it all over again. I have had artificial hips for 23 years and knew that I would have back problems eventually. The fusion was actually the 3rd back surgery, after 2 laminectomys (sp) and decompression. It has been 9 years since the fusion and each year is better. I golf 5 days a week and still getting better. My bowling average has improved every year since surgery and I throw a heavier ball in my 50's than I did in my 20's. Just keep moving and exercising. Remember, they can't hit a moving target .

as far as that goes i has L 4-5 and L5 S1 done, i still have L3-4 that is bad that wasn't covered under workers comp so i have to deal with that. glad to hear you can gold and bowl. both i used to do, my callaway's are collecting dust in my garage and it sucks. most days i feel like a bump on a log and the pain is unbearable at times. i've dealt with this injury since 91 and figured that technology has gotten better with time so i broke down and got the surgery done july of last year. guess it's part of it, and as i said if you have a good back take care of it.

 

[27Skulls]

broken bodies

I can relate to your back problems. I've needed two shoulder replacements for near 15 years now. My left leg started bothering me a few weeks ago, went to the Orthopod, took X-rays and informed me I am an immediate candidate for a left hip replacement. I too will NOT go under da knife, I keep the Darvocets a plenty. Joint replacements are only temporary, then you're back to worse than before. Diet and exercise a must.:smile: