Heater ain't that hot. And it's cold outside!

[blazer_guy86]

Ok i have a 98 blazer. I kinda have 2 problems here but i think they're related. I bought it this past summer and i noticed that it ran a little cooler than normal (exactly in the middle of 100 210 in the summer). Well i thought of that as a good thing so i just let it be. Now i also had the rushing water sound behind the dash so i searched on here and found a forum by BlazerLT i think that said to replace the rad cap (with a non AC Delco cap) and add a little fluid in the morning when everything is bone cold. Well i did that and i still have the water sound.

Now my problem is now that it's starting to get cold, my heater just isn't all that hot due to something that's making the engine run too cool. It now shows the needle being just below the mark in the middle of the 100 and 210 mark. I don't know what kind of thermostat is in it but i've considered replacing that. There is also this stuff in a bottle at the local O"Reilly's that you poor in your radiator and it's spose to make your heater hotter. Would this be good or bad if i did this?

But where is the thermostat located and how hard would it be to replace if this is my problem?

Any help is greatly appreciated thanx!

[drdd]

you have shit in your heater core. flush it before it becomes worse.

go to Autozone and buy a Prestone cooling system reverse-flush kit. follow the directions and flush the hell out of your cooling system. Flush the heater core separately, the rad separately, etc.

replentish coolant and you should be good to go ... $15 tops !!

see:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=456944

Originally Posted by blazer_guy86

Ok i have a 98 blazer. I kinda have 2 problems here but i think they're related. I bought it this past summer and i noticed that it ran a little cooler than normal (exactly in the middle of 100 210 in the summer). Well i thought of that as a good thing so i just let it be. Now i also had the rushing water sound behind the dash so i searched on here and found a forum by BlazerLT i think that said to replace the rad cap (with a non AC Delco cap) and add a little fluid in the morning when everything is bone cold. Well i did that and i still have the water sound.

Now my problem is now that it's starting to get cold, my heater just isn't all that hot due to something that's making the engine run too cool. It now shows the needle being just below the mark in the middle of the 100 and 210 mark. I don't know what kind of thermostat is in it but i've considered replacing that. There is also this stuff in a bottle at the local O"Reilly's that you poor in your radiator and it's spose to make your heater hotter. Would this be good or bad if i did this?

But where is the thermostat located and how hard would it be to replace if this is my problem?

Any help is greatly appreciated thanx!

[jsgold]

Would replace the stat too, sounds like it is stuck "open" possibly from having some unwanted junk in the system. Mine did athat and ran at 160-180 degrees(too cool) The stat should be where the top radiator hose connects to the block. Remove the two bolts and pull the hose and metal cover off. Clean the area and replace. Pick up a Haynes manual for 12-15 bucks at Advance to guide you through it. Not a hard procedure. The only problem is what to do with the used anti freeze. In our area we have no way to dispose of used anti freeze without paying someone to take it.

[blazee]

Originally Posted by jsgold

Would replace the stat too, sounds like it is stuck "open" possibly from having some unwanted junk in the system. Mine did athat and ran at 160-180 degrees(too cool) The stat should be where the top radiator hose connects to the block. Remove the two bolts and pull the hose and metal cover off. Clean the area and replace. Pick up a Haynes manual for 12-15 bucks at Advance to guide you through it. Not a hard procedure. The only problem is what to do with the used anti freeze. In our area we have no way to dispose of used anti freeze without paying someone to take it.

I agree, sounds like a stuck stat. It's pretty common most of us have had to replace them. Your temperature should be one line left of 210. When mine was stuck open the temp ran right between 100 and 210 as you describe. If your antifreeze is good (less than 3 years old and clear) you can reuse it. Just drain about a gallon of antifreeze out through the drain on the passanger side of the radiator (Turn it 1/4 turn then pull straight out). This will prevent you from losing most of it when you change the stat. As jsgold stated, the thermostat is in the housing where the upper radiator hose enters the top of the engine. Replace it with a stock 192/195 thermostat.

If your antifreeze is bad (old, thick, brown or sludgy) you will need to flush your system before replacing the stat. Here's the flushing procedure that I recommend:

For normal maintenance:

Buy the following:
2 gallons of distilled water $1
2 gallons of antifreeze $20
Prestone Flush 'N Fill kit $3
Prestone Radiator "Flush" $3

Turn your heater on and leave it on for the entire process

Drain the antifreeze from the system.

Install the "T" from the Flush 'N Fill kit and follow the directions that came with it.

Disconnect the water hose, close all the drains, add the Prestone Flush, fill with water, get engine up to operating temperature and run for 20 minutes, allow to cool then, drain the system.

Connect your water hose to the Flush 'N Fill "T" and flush one more time. Drain.

Fill the system with a 50/50 mix* of antifreeze and distilled water. Continue to fill the system over the next few days as the air is worked out of the system.




For clogged, neglicted, or extremely dirty systems:

Buy the following:

2 gallons of distilled water $1
2 gallons of antifreeze $20
Prestone Flush 'N Fill kit $3
Prestone Radiator "cleaner" not "flush" $4

Turn your heater on and leave it on for the entire process

Drain the antifreeze from the system.

Install the "T" from the Flush 'N Fill kit and follow the directions that came with it.

Disconnect the water hose, close all the drains, add the Prestone Cleaner, fill with water, run the engine 3-6 hours (you can leave it in for a few days if neccessary), drain the system.

Connect your water hose to the Flush 'N Fill "T" and flush one more time. Drain.

Fill the system with a 50/50 mix* of antifreeze and distilled water. Continue to fill the system over the next few days as the air is worked out of the system.


*When you do your final drain and fill....not all the water will come out so to get the proper 50/50 mix you should add the right amount of straight antifreeze then top off with the distilled water.

[muzzy1maniac]

Do you have the electronic heat control? By that I mean the one that has the auto settings?

[blazer_guy86]

No i do not have the computer climate control. But the coolent is looking really muddy so i'm just gonna go ahead and do what you guys said and flush the whole system. I got the stat today (only 7 bucks)and i'm gonna go tomorrow to get everything else listed above tomorrow. But thanx for the help. If i run into any problems while flushing my system i'll be sure to ask for help.

[foon]

Thanks Blazee!
your post made my flush complete.
I followed Blazee's post and flushed the coolant system last week.

[BlazerBoyLT98]

Originally Posted by muzzy1maniac

Do you have the electronic heat control? By that I mean the one that has the auto settings?

Muzzy, just curious, I have that and I am having an issue with my heat and cool controls, I will start a new thread but I am just curious what you were getting at???

[muzzy1maniac]

Originally Posted by BlazerBoyLT98

Muzzy, just curious, I have that and I am having an issue with my heat and cool controls, I will start a new thread but I am just curious what you were getting at???

My issue is that my temp gauge is just about right on and the heat seems barely warm when set on the highest temp - not max. It works like a beast on max though. I end up having to keep it on max and use the window as a thermostat. This has been the problem since I bought it in December. I did a flush and fill over the summer and now that it's getting cold again I see there isn't much difference. I'm gonna thow in a new thermostat before the real harsh weather shows up. I know better and should have done the thermy w/flush seeing the truck has 95K on it and it's worth the $7 to do it as preventative maint. Oh well.

[BlazerBoyLT98]

Originally Posted by muzzy1maniac

My issue is that my temp gauge is just about right on and the heat seems barely warm when set on the highest temp - not max. It works like a beast on max though. I end up having to keep it on max and use the window as a thermostat. This has been the problem since I bought it in December. I did a flush and fill over the summer and now that it's getting cold again I see there isn't much difference. I'm gonna thow in a new thermostat before the real harsh weather shows up. I know better and should have done the thermy w/flush seeing the truck has 95K on it and it's worth the $7 to do it as preventative maint. Oh well.

Dude I have the same issue! I can put it on medium like right in the middle of the temp on the dial on for aout 30 seconds it comes out warm and then goes back to cold. Anywhere I move it to it ends up going back to cold. But on max heat it blows hot as hell. Any time I try to use the auto button it turns on the a/c! Friggin weird and getting kind of bothersome!

[muzzy1maniac]

Originally Posted by BlazerBoyLT98

Dude I have the same issue! I can put it on medium like right in the middle of the temp on the dial on for aout 30 seconds it comes out warm and then goes back to cold. Anywhere I move it to it ends up going back to cold. But on max heat it blows hot as hell. Any time I try to use the auto button it turns on the a/c! Friggin weird and getting kind of bothersome!

I'll probably change out the thermy this weekend and start a new thread with the results if any. I feel bad for bogarting this one.

[BlazerBoyLT98]

Originally Posted by muzzy1maniac

I'll probably change out the thermy this weekend and start a new thread with the results if any. I feel bad for bogarting this one.

Yea me too sorry Blazerguy ;(