97 Blazer Heater Core..

What exactly happens when the heater core goes? Mine gets ALITTLE "warm" but does not HEAT the car... Air usually does not shoot out, even on HIGH.. SOmetimes it will puff out alittle air. If i sit @ a light or anything the air turns cold. quick. Being in CT, in the winter, its 10 degrees out now. and i hate driving with 10 layers on.. How much does it caust? I heard its HARD to put in.. is it? How much if you buy it and have it professionally installed?

Dear CT Blazer:
Finally a question I know about...
I drive a 1993 4.3 V6 auto, air...and just had the heater core go out...now mine was leaking steam into the front windshield area...and anti-freeze was on the windows...yours sounds plugged possibly...I would reverse the hoses on the rider-side firewall where 2 hoses enter the heater-core. This is something you can do your self or have a garage...reversing flow usually will unplug it...I live in MN and it was zero this am...so can relate...you may only need to replace the thermostat...again low cost...a heater core at a auto parts store...a knock-off part cost me 26.99 plus tax...and it took my local general mechanic $75. or about three hours to put it in...Best Wishes...keep warm...MJohn

Dear CT Blazer:
Finally a question I know about...
I drive a 1993 4.3 V6 auto, air...and just had the heater core go out...now mine was leaking steam into the front windshield area...and anti-freeze was on the windows...yours sounds plugged possibly...I would reverse the hoses on the rider-side firewall where 2 hoses enter the heater-core. This is something you can do your self or have a garage...reversing flow usually will unplug it...I live in MN and it was zero this am...so can relate...you may only need to replace the thermostat...again low cost...a heater core at a auto parts store...a knock-off part cost me 26.99 plus tax...and it took my local general mechanic $75. or about three hours to put it in...Best Wishes...keep warm...MJohn
Thanks MJohn.. Id have my boyfriend do the whole 'reversal' thing because im always afraid i'll screw something up. I change his oil and he waxxes, cleans and does other stuff for me.. :) were a good couple. Thanks for the response. And do you really think it is the Thermostat? LAbor is $80 an hour here in CT..

The Heater core went out in my 97 blazer. It was leaking antifreeze on to the passenger side floor board. The Heater core is about 30 bucks if I remember right. It is kind of hard to change since it is behind the dash. I had to buy a Chilton manual to find out how to drop the dash down. All in all it took about 3 hours to change it out.

Do You Have Steam Inside Or A Smell Of Coolant? If Not It May Be Pluged. I Have Seen People Put Stopleak In The Cooling System And That Pluged It. Try M Johns Idea And If That Doesnt Work I Would Replace The Thermostat. Follow The Top Radiator Hose To The Motor There Should Be Two Bolts That Hold That Connection On UNDER THAT IS THE THERMOSTAT. If You Can Get At It Just Replace It Yourself ITS EASY. Remember Do It When The Engine Is Cold AND LET US KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.

The Heater core went out in my 97 blazer. It was leaking antifreeze on to the passenger side floor board. The Heater core is about 30 bucks if I remember right. It is kind of hard to change since it is behind the dash. I had to buy a Chilton manual to find out how to drop the dash down. All in all it took about 3 hours to change it out.
Yeah, i changed my thermostat on my old Dodge Dakota a few years back. Changing this one shouldnt be a problem.. Ill look into it and let you know. there isnt any steam or coolant smell, so i dont think its the heater core then.. but it could very possibly be the thermastat.. What is the function of the thermostat.. I know it opens and releases anti freeze and whatnot when the car is hot and cold.. but would that make my heater not work properly?

Actually it would but your engine would or should run hotter then normal.

There is an easy way to check if the heater core is blocked.......when the engine is fully warm, with the heat set to maximum temperature, feel both of the heater hoses where they go into the firewall - they should both feel the same temperature - if one is much cooler than the other chances are your heater core is plugged. You can try the reverse hookup like others suggested, or take both hoses off and use a garden hose to "power flush" the heater core out....HTH

Hey Alex...I like that power flush with a garden hose...all ways great to learn something new...

Actually it would but your engine would or should run hotter then normal.

ONLY IF THE THERMOSTAT IS STUCK SHUT. IF IT IS STUCK OPEN YOU WILL HAVE LITTLE OR NO HEAT AT ALL.

mod_inc.. Hey. You had told me to install my thermostat in my 97 blazer to follow the top radiator hose.. when i do that it leads underneath the throttle body cover and i cant see where the bolts on the engine youre talking about are.. Im sure its under there somewhere but i cant see it. Could you help me out?

When Your Driving What Does The Temp Gauge Read

When Your Driving What Does The Temp Gauge Read
alil over 100.. if it was a fuel gauge and Full was on the right.. it would read between empty and 1/4.... really low

If Thats As Warm As I Gets The Thermostat Must Be Stuck Open.

If Thats As Warm As I Gets The Thermostat Must Be Stuck Open.
yah, thats the conclusion i came to as well. We're putting it in this afternoon :)

How did it go?

How did it go?
I need to get the tranny gasket first.. my dad said changing that would be a good idea... AS TO INSTALLING THE SPEAKERS. the DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL would not come off.. Well IT would, but the POWER WINDOWS/MIRROR/LOCK buttons WOULD NOT UNPLUG!!! i dont know WHY!! i got the POWER MIRROR WIRE PLUG OUT BUT I LOST THE SPRING AND IT DOES NOT WORK.. WOULD THAT NOT WORKING MAKE IT SO MY INTERIOR LIGHTS WONT GO OFF? THEY WONT GO OFF, IT BUZZES WHENEVER THE KEYS ARE IN IT, AS THOUGH A DOOR IS OPEN.. WHEN ITS NOT. WHAT would be the REASON FOR the interior lights not shutting off.. and it thinking the DOOR IS OPEN?? Could it be the broken power mirror button??? I jus disconnected the fuse in the meantime.. heeellllpppp meeee!!

I had this exact same problem with my '99 Blazer. The thermostat fixed the problem. It turns out I was also low on coolant - Dex Cool; about a gallon. My temp before was the same as described above (between 1/4 and E if it were a gas guage with F on the right), now it comes up to just below 210...I guess that's why they call it a 195 degree thermostat ;-)

I had this exact same problem with my '99 Blazer. The thermostat fixed the problem. It turns out I was also low on coolant - Dex Cool; about a gallon. My temp before was the same as described above (between 1/4 and E if it were a gas guage with F on the right), now it comes up to just below 210...I guess that's why they call it a 195 degree thermostat ;-)
yep thats my problem! I have the thermostat n the gasket etc but its been so colf i havnt been able to change it then... wish my dad didnt rent out the big heated garage!