Don't Turn Off Coolant Supply To Heater Core

[AzTumbleweed]

In a previous post I mentioned I had shut off the coolant going to my heater core to keep it cool down in that area during the summer. On an Escort the heater core always has coolant flowing through it. When you adjust the temperature you are simply moving a little door that closes off a duct. Anyway, today I noticed that when my car was sitting idling that the coolant was boiling over into the reservoir and the fan wasn't kicking on! Well, DUHH!!!! The temperature sensors are both in the hose that goes to the heater! So, with no flow, the water won't get hot in the heater hose and the fan won't kick on. Plus, the temp gage isn't going to work right either because there is no flow at that sensor. So you don't even know you're overheating. So DON'T do my 'great' idea. I feel kinda stupid but that's how I learn.

[95cobra5.0]

You can still accomplish the no heat to your core without causing problems. Instead of plugging the hoses, just disconnect them at the heater & using a coupling, piece of pipe, or whatever fits, connect the hoses to eachother so the coolant still flows through the hoses but not the core. It'd be a good idea to tape up or cap off the heater core pipes so junk doesn't get in there 'till you decide to connect it again. The cool set up would be a diverter valve in the hoses, that'd let you turn it on & off without so much work.

[Escort_Service]

The extra peice of hose works well. I have a 94 Gt that I use for rally racing, so i took out the heater and A/C. Be very careful tough you will need to use some hose with some pressure resistance and some good clamps for the ends. (Trust me I learned the hard way in the middle of a race)