heat

Hey all,
I have a 1996 3.8 model and I just noticed the heater blows out cold air anytime the van is sitting at idle. The engine is running at normal temp(according to the gague) and when you take off from a lite or are just driving it heats fine out of both front and back heaters, but as soon as you pull up to a stop sign or stop it quickly looses heat. Has anybody ran inti this before, I'm thinking it is the water pump, or a vacume line.

Thanks in advance,


Brian

Hey all,
I have a 1996 3.8 model and I just noticed the heater blows out cold air anytime the van is sitting at idle. The engine is running at normal temp(according to the gague) and when you take off from a lite or are just driving it heats fine out of both front and back heaters, but as soon as you pull up to a stop sign or stop it quickly looses heat. Has anybody ran inti this before, I'm thinking it is the water pump, or a vacume line.

Thanks in advance,


Brian

Brian

I don't think it's either the pump or a vacuum line. There is more vacuum coming from the engine when the throttel is closed. Your water pump will fail because it leaks out of the shaft seal.

I would think that either your antifreeze is low or your cores are getting pluged. I would lean more towards your antifreeze level. Check your antifreeze level.

Dan

Brian
Same problem last year, same van 96 3.8. Eventually the heat went completly. I replaced the thermostat and was fine...until now. I once again have no heat. Antifreeze is fine, heater core is fine. I'm replacing thermostat again tomorrow. We'll see if that is the problem again. If it is, it leads to the bigger question of why my thermostats keep going bad.

Angela

Oh yeah, the thermostats you buy at the local auto parts stores are not the correct fit, no matter what their computer says. You have to buy it from a ford dealer!!!

You should be able to get a Motorcraft thermostat at www.rockauto.com

Don't go for the cooler thermostat.....get the correct temp for your car.

Install with the little vent hole at the top. This will permit trapped air to get back out.

I have pictures of the thermostat replacement in my pictures at http://community.webshots.com/album/201931518cScpNK