2003 Takes forever to heat up...

[auxbar]

Hi guys. I have a 2003 Taurus 120k miles, pushrod motor. Darn thing takes forever to heat up. Didn't used to be this way. I let the thing idle in the driveway for 17 minutes (I timed it) while I shoveled snow and the temp gauge did not move at all. I was getting some warm air out of the defrost. After I drove it a few miles, the temp started to come up and all was well. I have noticed this a lot lately - takes about 10 miles of actual driving to get the temp to come up - this is after it idles for about 10 minutes.

I figured the termostat was stuck open, but I replaced that and it did not help - spring on termostat goes toward the block - right?

Once the temp finally comes up - it stays up, and I get warm air from the heater and defrost - just takes a real long time to warm up. None of my other vehicles has this problem, so I don't think it is just because its cold outside. I thought maybe the water pump fins were worn away - but wouldn't that make it heat up faster? Or even overheat?

You guys have any thoughts or can maybe point me in the right direction? Both hoses coming from heater core are warm - one is a little warmer then the other, but both are warm. It would not suprise me if the heater core was not a little plugged up - but I do get heat out of it eventually, but the engine itself takes forever to heat up.

THANKS!!

[shorod]

Interesting. It does seem like a stuck open thermostat since the engine temp gauge doesn't climb either. Have you confirmed that the radiator cooling fans are not running all the time that the engine is on? Maybe your cooling system is REALLY efficient and the fans are running, preventing the engine from ever getting warm at idle.

-Rod

[serge_saati]

Maybe the return cooling path of engine is clogged by dirt/rust build-up that prevent the coolant to return to engine. So the pressure of coolant open the cold thermostat and goes in the cooling radiator.

Also, when you wait that it warms-up, let the knob to OFF position to reduce the warming time. You can also partially block the front of cooling radiator with a cardboard.

[danielsatur]

If it's too cold, you might consider a piece of cardboard, or block some air going through the grill during warm up.

Picture a Big Truck with a Bra closed during winter.

[auxbar]

Ok...so here was the deal. I started thinking it must be the heater core, so I got a quote for a new one.....my local mechanic would not do it, and he is not scared of much....and the stealorship wanted 11 bills. I don't think so.....

So I took it to another guy who flushed the existing heater core. The heater core pipe was also in bad shape, all corroded up....which is probably the source of what was clogging the heater core. After flushing the heater core and changing the pipe, it now heats up much faster then before.

[shorod]

So in your original post when you said the temp doesn't come up for about 10 minutes you were strictly referring to the air temp, not the cooling system temperature as displayed on the temp gauge in the instrument panel?

-Rod

[auxbar]

Originally Posted by shorod

So in your original post when you said the temp doesn't come up for about 10 minutes you were strictly referring to the air temp, not the cooling system temperature as displayed on the temp gauge in the instrument panel?

-Rod

I was actually referring to both the air temp and the cooling system temp. Before the heater core flush, it would take forever for the cooling system temp and air temp to come up. Ten minutes was being generous - i let it idle for over 20 minutes one day while i ran the snowblower in the driveway, and the temp gauge never moved until i drove it for about 8 to 10 miles. Doesn't blow warm air until the temp gauge starts to move.

Since the heater core flush, it now heats up faster - both cooling system temp and air temp - approximately half the time. I just got a brand new chevy van for work, and that thing heats up in like 3 or 4 minutes - even on super cold days. My Taurus still takes much longer then that - but it now heats up faster then before I did the flush.