my heater doesnt blow hot

[bcrosby]

What would make my heater not blow hot? Now that its getting cold out ive noticed that my heater just doesnt blow hot. Could it be the thermostat? Any ideas would be appriciated.

 

[digitalasylum7]

@ the sock. Glad you find that problem. Had a feeling it was that.

Have you seen any spots under your car on the ground when you move it ?

Did you also fill your overflow bottle, if you have one.

Yup, there was a little spotting after the next day when I drove it outa the driveway, but I over filled a bit so when I put the rad cap back on it was too high, and i did fill the overflow tank also, so I expected a bit on the ground. But no more spots since that so no leaks...

Reminds me of last winter when I drove from NY up to VT for some snowboarding, got around albany and I noticed my temp SPIKED through the toll plaza, stoped checked it outm, turned out my overfill tank cracked at the bottom so i leaked all my coolant out. I had to magyver it with a generic tank and some duct tape (I luckily was next to a NAPA)

Geez...Magyver.. hehe

 

[-LA-]

Geez...Magyver.. hehe

, been there, done that. Atleast we can do what we have to do when we have to do it....what i jus say?

 

[ricktb]

You gotta do a really good job bleeding the air from the system or stuff like this could happen. When the fluid level stays within the max and min lines on the resovior, then your good... If the level is overflowing one day, but empty the next you probably have to re-purge the air pockets.



If you ever get a clogged heater core, go to the car wash, unhook the in and out coolant lines and spray clean water through carefully. When the water runs clean from the other side your good.

 

[Defiant]

DSMs do not need burping. The cooling system has no high-point traps to hold air. Three heat-cool cycles will have all the entrained air out.

 

[CompuBob_TSi]

I just put in a new thermostat to a 192 (or 196 whatever it was) degree to hopefully cure the problem that I'm having with my cabin heater output, which blows out semi-warm air, barley enough to heat me up on a cold day.. but it hasn't changed.. I'm pretty sure I've removed all the air bubbles from the system and the coolant is filled to capacity.. anything else I should check?

 

[BUCK]

From what I recall the Heater Core Flows ALL the time & Heat is controlled by Flappers & Cold outsude air - But the Cores can still clog & not flow - I usually just reverse one Hose connection & leave the other Hose off - Crank it over & backflush it to check it as clear - Get your head up under the dash & check your Vent Flapper linkages to make sure you aren't getting outside air inside when you select that mode - You can pull the Blower / Squirrel Cage & check it clear also - It's COLD here in SC so you Canadian guys are just on another Planet or something...

 

[DSMULATOR]

You can go to a hardware store and get a faucet adapter to go inline with your heater hose to force out any stuff that's in there. Just don't put the water on full blast because that much pressure could rupture the heater core.

 

[Defiant]

I'm doing what I can to quash the "trapped air" myth. Unlike many cars, the DSM has a properly-designed cooling system, and will not hold air. Provided the radiator cap is healthy and is not allowing air to be sucked in, and provided the overflow tank is kept filled to at least the "Minimum" mark, a DSM will rid its cooling system of any trapped air within less than a half-dozen heating and cooling cycles.
The most likely cause of "low" heat output is a poorly-adjusted heat control door. As Buck has pointed out, DSMs do not regulate the water flowing through the heater core, but control temperature by using a blend door on the heater core flow path. Trace the control push wire and make sure it's opening to allow full airflow through the core.

 

[theebluecrx]

I'm not familiar with 2g's but most cars have a heater valve.See if its works or of the linkage has broken or come off of it.

 

[BUCK]

I'm not familiar with 2g's but most cars have a heater valve.See if its works or of the linkage has broken or come off of it.

Just to clarify & I realize that it's like 80 in Florida but as the D-Man's Post immediately above yours says... There AINT NO HEATER COOLANT CONTROL VALVE~!

 

[Cypress_h]

heater core needs to be flushed.... i flush mine right before i put my cars way on all of them..... look into it.. might help out your problem.

 

[SOHCamMan]

Hi guys,

I dont' want to thread jack, but I'm having the exact same problem. I haven't done the heater core flush though. Also, mine steams a bit from under the hood (not much, but a little). I can't tell where the steam is coming from. I've replaced the T-stat, and the temp gauge reads fine.

Did you ever figure out the problem danyz? I was thinking either water pump is not pumping well, maybe leaking a bit or there's a clog somewhere in the system. My coolant is very clean with no signs of rust or junk. I'm kind of at my wit's end...

 

[omair8]

Hey guys. I did a search on the forum first to see if i can solve my problem and ive heard it can be the thermostat, or a clogged heater core. Well my problem is just recently the car (96 talon esi) blows cold air when the heater is on. But when the car temperature gauge is halfway in the middle it blows warm air (not that warm still little bit of cold). It only does that when the car is in park and idling. However, once i start driving my temperature gauge goes more and more down all the way to the cold end and from there it barely moves up. As the gauge keeps going down the heater starts blowing colder and colder air. This is frustrating, winter has already started here! Please help, thanks!

 

[HIGHPSI4]

Your thermostat is stuck open. Get a new one.

 

[cmptrphreak]

He is right and while you are changing the thermostat flush your cooling system to get all the dirt out of there.

 

[420agstuner]

More than likely it's what was mentioned a above. But I had the same problem with mine I changed my thermostate and flushed the core both directions and the heat still doesn't work. I gave up on it. I'm doing a build so I ripped the heater and ac out.

 

[99RedGs]

Had the same problem last winter. Thermostat was in 2 pieces when I pulled it . Hot air for this winter .

Its only like a $10 part and 5 minutes to fix.

 

[omair8]

Thanks guys, i love this site!

Oh by the way my talon has some starting problems as well in the cold. I have command start it tries to start but it fails. I have to go in and manually start the car but it still won't start unless i push a little bit on the gas then it starts fine. What's up with that?

 

[JoEgsX90]

Anyone give me some insight on why my heat in my car only gets hot when i drive or RPM are high. At idle heat does not blow hot!!!

 

[crimsonGST]

Sounds like your thermostat might be going out.

 

[96_charcoal_tsi]

You may have a air bubble in your system. leave the cap off and start your car and let it heat completely up and see if you get a air bubble to come out.

 

[Kastigir]

Air in the system, stuck open thermostat, bad heater core.

 

[JoEgsX90]

yea im going to trying getting the air bubbles out tom if that doesnt work ill get new thermasate.

 

[Defiant]

DSM cooling systems will not hold air. Heated and cooled three times, and all the air's out. Provided, of course, that you have a functioning and non-leaking expansion ("overflow") tank and tubing.

Your car's going cold at idle because the thermostat is failing to close all the way. Replace.

 

[JoEgsX90]

thank you Defiant will replace!