there is not heat coming from my vents when i move the controls to the heat position. The only heat i can get is the residual heat from the engine when i open the vent controls, but that doesnt last too long. What are some things i can check/troubleshoot to see what the problem is....because i would like to be able to see when i drive and not have foggy windows. Thanks Rick
Look under-dash for the spot the cable is attached to the heat door...the eyelet on the end of the cable in my Wildcat broke, causing the problem you're describing. Other possibilities include low coolant level, and possibly a blocked heater core. Devon
Sounds like you probably need to replace the heater core. Easiest case scenerio would be new thermostat. If the car has a/c it may be a control valve out under the hood. The mention of foggy windows though leads me to believe you need a heater core.
what are you working on? 1. Check coolant level. 2. Check the water valve. When heat is on, the valve will open and allow the hot water from the engine into the heater core. Both hoses will be hot when the valve is open and the engine is warmed up. They are cable or vacuum operated. 3. Check the blend door operation. It directs the air over the heater core or bypasses it. Some are cable actuated and some have vacuum actuators.
Easiest and cheapest solution is the heater control valve...that's what I would check first, followed by proper operation of the heater door controls on the inside.
well it used to have a/c...then at some point my grandfather took it out, just the pump and a few hoses....does that make a difference?
cold air is coming through the vents, but i think thats from my blower still in working order. Blows hard, just no heat...
So the blower is working. When you switch to defrost, heater, and vent, does the air come from the appropriate places? I'm not sure how your car's controls work, but mine (1970 'Lark), uses vacuum to route the airflow, and vacuum to open the valve that sends coolant to the heater core. If all that works, I'd check to make sure the door to the heater box works (as suggested above). It should be a cable. If the car is off and you move the heater lever (as in Hot-Cold) you might be able to hear the door. You might have to get your hand under there and feel for the lever that actuates the door to make sure it is open. I think the easiest way to check the valve would be to remove it and use a piece of pipe to splice the hose together - though you'd have full-time heat that way. (You could touch both of the hoses to the heater core and see if they get hot.)
im not too sure how it works either. i do know the heater control does cause the door to open an close and i can move it manually...so i should check what next? im a little confused about the hose test mentioned above.
if the blend door and the blower are working properly and you don't have heat, I'm going to guess there's no hot water flowing through the heater core. You can check this quickly by putting your hand on the heater hoses after the engine is warmed up. They should both be hot. If not, you need to check the things mentioned above.
so ichecked my heater hoses....(they are the ones that run into the firewall right?) and they werent really that hot, not nearly as hot as the radiator hose...alot cooler in fact. So i should check what now?
well im assuming it would be the control valve...where is this located, my buick manual doesnt really point me in any direction, it just shows me how to service it...any pointers? thanks for all the help so far fellas.
Was the coolant level ever checked? Another possibility is that the heater hoses or hose ports are plugged. Might be worthwhile to pull the hoses and see what's going on. Devon
