'96 Achieva lack of heat problem
rzn6jw
02-17-2005, 09:55 PM
Have 150,000 miles on car and heater core went out in Canada over Thanksgiving on way from Michigan to NY. Service station replaced heater core and I didn't notice any problems because weather was not cold yet.
Returned to MI as winter got colder. Noticed definate lack of heat and noticed temp gauge needle went to center of gauge, not one width beyond like always. Began to get various antifreeze leaks also.
Local garage said that I had to replace intake gasket. That was completed, still no great heat. They checked all hoses and they were OK. Replaced antifreeze and thermostat and problem still exists.
Funny thing, seems that there is more heat as the car is going faster. Garage said the water pump was functioning OK, no collapsed hoses.
Is there a heat valve anywhere in the cooling system lines to check? Could the temp select baffle be too open? Could the A/C be running at the same time as the heat?
Help! My feet are freezing.
Returned to MI as winter got colder. Noticed definate lack of heat and noticed temp gauge needle went to center of gauge, not one width beyond like always. Began to get various antifreeze leaks also.
Local garage said that I had to replace intake gasket. That was completed, still no great heat. They checked all hoses and they were OK. Replaced antifreeze and thermostat and problem still exists.
Funny thing, seems that there is more heat as the car is going faster. Garage said the water pump was functioning OK, no collapsed hoses.
Is there a heat valve anywhere in the cooling system lines to check? Could the temp select baffle be too open? Could the A/C be running at the same time as the heat?
Help! My feet are freezing.
computerdude14
02-28-2005, 08:01 AM
Have 150,000 miles on car and heater core went out in Canada over Thanksgiving on way from Michigan to NY. Service station replaced heater core and I didn't notice any problems because weather was not cold yet.
Returned to MI as winter got colder. Noticed definate lack of heat and noticed temp gauge needle went to center of gauge, not one width beyond like always. Began to get various antifreeze leaks also.
Local garage said that I had to replace intake gasket. That was completed, still no great heat. They checked all hoses and they were OK. Replaced antifreeze and thermostat and problem still exists.
Funny thing, seems that there is more heat as the car is going faster. Garage said the water pump was functioning OK, no collapsed hoses.
Is there a heat valve anywhere in the cooling system lines to check? Could the temp select baffle be too open? Could the A/C be running at the same time as the heat?
Help! My feet are freezing.
well there are a bunch of things that could be causing you grief right now... so to try to pinpoint which of them it is, heres what id like you to do. drive your car around until the temp gauge is up to where it normally is when you are driving, like in the middle or so. then set it to VENT, but put the temp selector over to cold. see if it blows out reallly cold air. if so, then try switching the temp back to hot, still on vent. does the air get considerably warmer or does it stay cold? if it stays cold then the most likely suspect to me would be the thermostat although you said it was just replaced. then id say try bleeding your coolant to make sure theres no air pockets locked inside the cooling system. if that doesnt fix it... just try buying another thermostat just in case. when mine went out in my honda prelude, i just bought the cheapest thermostat i could find, which was by valucraft or something like that and it only cost me like $4. make sure u get the gasket sealer stuff and ensure that it comes with the gasket too and that its installed correctly so that it seals as it should. if that doesnt fix it, id suggest talking to a local dealer about it and seeing what they have to say and go from there. hope this helps ya tho!
mike
Returned to MI as winter got colder. Noticed definate lack of heat and noticed temp gauge needle went to center of gauge, not one width beyond like always. Began to get various antifreeze leaks also.
Local garage said that I had to replace intake gasket. That was completed, still no great heat. They checked all hoses and they were OK. Replaced antifreeze and thermostat and problem still exists.
Funny thing, seems that there is more heat as the car is going faster. Garage said the water pump was functioning OK, no collapsed hoses.
Is there a heat valve anywhere in the cooling system lines to check? Could the temp select baffle be too open? Could the A/C be running at the same time as the heat?
Help! My feet are freezing.
well there are a bunch of things that could be causing you grief right now... so to try to pinpoint which of them it is, heres what id like you to do. drive your car around until the temp gauge is up to where it normally is when you are driving, like in the middle or so. then set it to VENT, but put the temp selector over to cold. see if it blows out reallly cold air. if so, then try switching the temp back to hot, still on vent. does the air get considerably warmer or does it stay cold? if it stays cold then the most likely suspect to me would be the thermostat although you said it was just replaced. then id say try bleeding your coolant to make sure theres no air pockets locked inside the cooling system. if that doesnt fix it... just try buying another thermostat just in case. when mine went out in my honda prelude, i just bought the cheapest thermostat i could find, which was by valucraft or something like that and it only cost me like $4. make sure u get the gasket sealer stuff and ensure that it comes with the gasket too and that its installed correctly so that it seals as it should. if that doesnt fix it, id suggest talking to a local dealer about it and seeing what they have to say and go from there. hope this helps ya tho!
mike
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026
