Minor Annoyance

[kirbstomp]

Hey guys!

I have this minor problem...my heater works fine...when its not that cold out. I live in Calgary, Canada and the past week its been like -30 celcius...thats -22 fahrenheit for yous Americans. Anyways it still puts out heat when I'm driving or revvin above 3 grand but if not, which is most of the time cuz revving that high on ice makes ya slip, the air is barely hot and if I'm idling at a stop light its blowing pretty much cold air. Unless I put it on rec and fog up my windows it will stay cold. Is there something wrong with my heating core? But get this if its like -15 C(5 F)or so the heater works fine. Also my fan only works on level 4, for some reason 1,2 and 3 don't work...it worked when I bought it..an checked all fuses. I have no AC either. Its not a big prob but still a problem no less. Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks

Kirbstomper

[Silvia007]

Seems to me that the weather is too cold and when the heater core is trying to heat up the -22 degree air comming from the outside into the cabin, all that's happening is the air cooling the heater core because when you're at a dead stop or when your RPM is low, it's not circulating enough coolant through your heater core to keep it hot. That's what happened to mine, and here it's -16 today!

[kirbstomp]

so there shouldn't be anything wrong with the heater? And btw anyone know why my fan only works on 1,2 and 3...I've always just assumed I needed a new climate control unit but if theres another way I would really like to know.

[chandler]

blower motor resister block, its what controls the speeds

[navysnail]

try leaving the blower at a lower speed like 1 or 2 and see if the air is warmer but it may just not get real hot because it is cold outside.

[p00t]

the heater core is usually one of the highest things in the collant system. when your coolant gets low usually this will be the first indicator (blowing cold even when the car is warmed up).

Put the key in the on position but dont start the car. put the climate control lever on full cold, then turn the car on. After a minute put the heat to full hot, does it sound like water is running or trickling? If so you are definately getting low on coolant.

Leave the heater on full hot and turn the car off. Jack the front of the car up a good amount and take off the rad cap when it cools. The coolant should be right up to the lip, start the car and let the water pump force the air from the back of the system up to the rad. Add coolant as nessisary, when you get it to stay at the lip of the rad your done.

By leaving the car tilted up alot your making the top of the rad the best place for air to escape.

Its also possible that the water is freezing in your lines because of an improper Antifreeze-water mix. If your driving in such cold weather make sure your mix is 70% Antifreeze 30% water.

[kirbstomp]

is checking your coolent resevoir not as accurate to check your coolent level than the method you just told me? Anyways its been a while since I've changed my coolent so I'll do that soon. Thanks for the reminder! and 240kid, my lower level don't work and that was one of my other questions...got any suggestions??

[p00t]

the resovior tank is just an overflow tank, not a reserve tank. so it has nothing to do with your actual coolant level.

[navysnail]

for the lower levels on the blower, check motor and clean brushes inside motor if nessesary (do a search, there is one somewhere), also, check the wiring coming from the selector and make shure all wires have insulation, clean terminals, ect...

[wickedpelf]

i dont know if this will work (i dont have an AC pump) but on the newer european cars(volvos) if u turn on the "defrost" the ac compressor turns on...and clears up the car pretty quick...keep the heat on but aslo have the AC on...kinda sounds weird but it works? i promise

[chandler]

the reason it takes the moisture out of the air, is that the compressor kicks on and attracts all of the moisture to the evaporator core, this in turn makes the hot air dryer and defogs the windows.

[wickedpelf]

see i told you guys it works! hahaha