Heat issue only car have kids need help!

[tmidz87]

lately as i am driving my car and have the heater on it blows kinda warm air but nothing like my other cars. then it will start blowing cold air. i am going to try to replace my thermostat today cuz were expecting 6-10 inches of snow tomorrow and i have to have my 2 year old son in the car frequently. (Obviously i havent had him in it unless it was warm out) any help would be appreciated this is my first SHO, 92' 3.0 mtx.

also my heat gauge is all over the place. when i sit in traffic it gets to the "N" when i start moving again, it drops to the "L". even when its up really high i still have no heat! please help any way you can, im kinda literate when it comes to cars and motors so im hoping this site gives me some fast results

 

[Off Road SHO]

Sounds like your first problem is the blend door actuator; cheap to buy, expensive to install.

The second problem you describe sounds like the thermostat might be stucking in the open position.

Tom

 

[kevinspann]

Is it full of coolant?

 

[tmidz87]

Sounds like your first problem is the blend door actuator; cheap to buy, expensive to install.

The second problem you describe sounds like the thermostat might be stucking in the open position.

Tom

ran the eatc test and i got 888 and if im correct that means theres no codes.. replaced the thermostat today and it seems to be better but when i took the drain plug out of the rad NOTHING CAME OUT! i immediately took the cap off and the rad was full of fluid i just ended up taking the top hose off the thermostat and doing it the messy way

 

[Off Road SHO]

Your radiator is full of gunk buildup at the bottom and blocking the drain. If the radiator is in good condition otherwise, just take it out and flush the heck out of it.

Still think your blend door actuator is bad.

Tom

 

[tmidz87]

My blend door is functioning fine as far as im aware but im removing the interior of the car to do some custom work with fiberglass so while its apart I'm gonna do the heater core and blend door

 

[Vnuk1]

Flush heater core...

 

[vortex2450]

My best bet, do the thermostat, it takes 30 minutes max.

Clean the radiator out, I would run a hose into the lower inlet and see if that helps purge the gunk that is probably at the bottom of the radiator.

If time allows it i would take the radiator out and put water pressure into all the inlets/outlets.


best of luck.
If it is the blend door you're going to have a job on your hands. Until then I would suggest bundling up when you drive to car or take your kids in it. They'll be fine, we had cars for a long time before heat was truly mastered.

-Josh

 

[zak]

My best bet, do the thermostat, it takes 30 minutes max.

Unless you snap one of the studs off flush with the manifold . . . .

(fix is to turn it out with small vice grips from the other side, then go rob the one from your spare 3.2 motor)

 

[Lightning]

Is it full of coolant?

* 2


Just after I changed the rad last week, mine acted the exact same way (no heat, wildly fluctuating temp gauge) until I got all the air flushed out of the system...


Change the t-stat and make sure all air is bled out of the system, you should be fine

 

[Chaudet]

I agree with flushing the heater core as well. It has happened to me before not on my SHO but on my pickup truck. I tried the same thermostat etc.. Best way to see if its the heater core is to let it warm up a bit and feel the in/out hoses going into the heater core if they are same temp or close its not the core. If one is cold and one is warm heater core is clogged. If you have that much gunk in the radiator your heater core has to be the same way.