82 Zephyr Heating problem

[nick_bedard]

I bought an 82 zephyr a little while back for 350 dollars as i killed my other car. But it finaly started to get cold up here and I went to turn the heat on and it blows cold air. I am at a loss of what can cause this and the manual i bought for it doesnt cover this does anyone know what this problem could be and with a way to fix it?

[curtis73]

Clogged heater core. Drain most of your coolant into a bucket, pull the hoses off the heater core (where they go into the cabin behind the engine) and gently flush with a garden hose forward and backward. While you're at it, might as well just drain the whole thing and flush the radiator, block, and entire cooling system.

The other possibility is that it has a vacuum or electrically operated water valve. Some cars regulate the heat by sourcing air from the heater core for hot air, and bypassing the heater core for cool air. Others supplement this by a valve that shuts off the hot water to the core entirely. If that valve is stuck, it won't send hot water at all. I would assume the plugged heater core is at fault.

Both fixes require partially draining coolant and pulling hoses, so do the free one first.

If you do both of these and still no heat, its possible that the heater core is so corroded that it restricts flow. Its a mini radiator under your dashboard, and if it gets too corroded you should be able to tell when you flush it with water. You should never use the full pressure of the garden hose to try and force water through. The heater core is only subjected to about 10-15 psi during use, but your water supply could provide 100 psi or more. A properly flowing heater core should output water as quickly and freely as it flows out of the garden hose.

[nick_bedard]

thank you for your help tommorow afternoon I am goin to my uncles heated garage to try this out.. Its to cold to do it outside it would prob freeze and crack the core.... one more question.. how would i connect the garden hose? would i just hold it to the hole and let it free flow? or does it connect somehow???
your help so far has been greatly appreciated and saved me from alot of money in mechanical bills...

[curtis73]

Yep, just hold the hose up to it. If you connect it like with clamps you run the risk of putting too much pressure on the core. Just holding it up to the hose will prevent that.

Remember to be responsible with the antifreeze. Its not just your standard, down-the-drain stuff. A quick look through the phone book will tell you where to take it for recycling/disposal.