frozen newcomer with heating problems

[fishcrawl]

93 grand am heater doesnt get hot (fan works and ac works) ....not sure how to tell if its the heater core or just the thermostat. Any help is appreciated, thanks.

[mustang65]

Originally Posted by fishcrawl

93 grand am heater doesnt get hot (fan works and ac works) ....not sure how to tell if its the heater core or just the thermostat. Any help is appreciated, thanks.

reply: It sounds like the thermostat isn't closeing .If your temp gauge is staying low it's probably the thermostat.

[corning_d3]

If the heat gauge is normal, I'd suspect a bad heater core. If the heat guage shows hot, and you have no heat, your low on coolant. And as mustang65 said, a low reading on the heat gauge indicates a stuck-open thermostat. Funny how a neglected cooling system will come back and bite you in the a$$ when you need it most..

[fishcrawl]

it takes a while to get the temp up to about 160 and doesnt go above that

[skibum1111]

It's your thermostat sticking open, a pretty easy job on a 93 regardless of which motor you have, just follow the upper radiator hose back to the motor, the thermostat is located under the water outlet. Make sure you use new gaskets.

[fishcrawl]

thanks, I'll take a look at that. sounds easier than a heater core. (-5 degrees tomorrow)