1997 heater does not heat very well

my heater does not seem very warm at all unless it is at least 30 degrees outside. The temperature gauge shows 190 degrees. If I turn the air conditioner onto max cool and leave the temperature controller in the red area it gets much warmer but then being the airconditioner it does not heat the floor. Any suggestions on what it could be. PLEASE HELP !!!!!! It is so bad when it snows and I put the defroster on it don't even melt the snow

Check you coolant level. If that's good, check your two heater hoses. They should both be hot. If not, you heater core is clogged.

heater core is plugged, go and get your cooling system reverse flushed and a new non AC Delco rad cap and fresh coolant.

Time to do some maintanence.

thanks for the suggestion. One other question though I have been told if the heater core is clogged you can smell antifreeze. Is this true? Because I cant smell any

Only if the core is leaking.

Only time you will smell collant is if it is leaking, not clogged.

My 97 had the same problem. a local garge flushed the system withwater only and it worked for a few months. then the same thing happened again. make sure that you get a garage or you use a chemical flush. it is a two part system to kill the bacteria that is growing inthe hoses and heater core, then there is a neutralizer that they use as well.

This time it's been far longer than the flush with pressurized water and no problems. gets really warm inthe truck even over the last few days of it being in the negative temps.

Good Luck!!

In all my years of twisting wrenches, I have never heard of bacteria in a cooling system, at least not causing system failure.

Cooling Systems are usually clogged full of rust, sediment, mineral deposits, and contaminents from the water and antifreeze, usually as a resultant of neglect.

The "Cleaners" of which there are many, (one part, two part, Fast Flush, Liquid, Granulated etc.) usually contain some kind of acid and are suppose to break down the deposits and allow them to be flushed out of the system. The cleaners that come with a neutralizer are usually stronger and the neutralizer is used to stop the acid from eating the metal components of the system once the acid is flushed out of the system.

A good reverse flush, with a good cleaner, Fresh antifreeze, and DISTILLED WATER every couple of years will go a long way to keeping your system trouble free.

Very true. Good post.

1 out of 178 posts ain't bad!

(He-He)

1 out of 178 posts ain't bad!

(He-He)

Don't worry, I see your positive contributions.