1994 Yammer Heating trouble?

[lovinthecivs]

I have a 94 Grand Am and my heating is messed up. When I turn it on, nothing blows out so I have to hit the blower motor for it to work. Why is that happening? Loose wires or something? Also when it does start to blow it takes for ever for it to heat up and when it does, it barely is hot. It is only cool and the temperature gauge is below the 1/4 mark everytime. So i changed the thermostat and it didn't affect it at all. I recently had a new rad installed to. I am lost on these things. Could anyone help?

[xeroinfinity]

Welcome to AF lovinthecivs!
sounds like its time for a new blower motor. Could be a loose wire, but you can look up under the dash, might be able to see the wires connecting to the motor.
but you may hav a few panels to remove to get to the motor.

What size is the engine in you GA?

could hav a defective thermostat, thats what I'd guess, unless the heater core coolant lines hav been disconnected for some ungodly reason.
Check it out and let me know if you found anyting out.

[lovinthecivs]

hey...thanks for the help. I took out the glove box and panels ont he dash so I could look underneath it for the motor. But the only things I could see were the cylinder type things that move the vents. Do I have to remove the kick panels that are along the firewall to get to the motor and heater core?

It has a 3.3L in it as well. Also how do you check to see if it is the Thermostat? I heard if the top hose coming from the rad is hot..that means the Thermostat is stuck open and needs to be change? Does that make any sense? Thanks for your help

[xeroinfinity]

YEs the kick panels might need removed.
This LINKwill help locating and stuff. The links to the zones free manuals, it covers several makes and models, but is specific to/for your car. To the right on this page you will see several things you'll need or can click on to veiw more help files w/ pictures.

The thermostat can be checked by removing it, boiling a pan of water(on the stove), make sure its boiling first.
If you hav a kitchen thermomiter that'll help, but not nessesary.
Once the waters boiling us some tongs or pliers to put into the boiling water. If the thermo is good, it should open quickly and most of the way. If its just barely opening or not doing anyting(or stuck open) replace it with a high quality one, the ZONES thermos arent the best or very acturate.

Need anyting else just ask, glad to help

[gmack221]

lovinthecivs, there is no good way to test your thermostat with it in the car, you just have to watch the temp gauge to know whats going on, when your car is up to operation temp it should be about 200 - 220 deg, if your car takes forever to heat up and doesn't get up to the 200 degree mark i'd say you have a thermostat thats stuck open. My advise to you, go to a dealership, spend the extra $1 or 2 for the dealer thermostat (it matters here), or get the best thermostat Napa has (the dealer one is better), im guessing you put in a cheap one from Autozone like I used to do (before I learned my lesson). That should get you heat.

As for the blower motor it sounds like the motor bearings are shot, thats why you have to tap it to get it to start running, by tapping it you bounce the shaft reducing the friction, allowing it start turning. I've heard you have to cut the plastic cover on the engine side of the firewall to replace the blower motor, but I have never replaced this in my car. good luck, there are alot of good people on here that are more then willing to share info.

[lovinthecivs]

Thank you very much for the help...Now I will go attepmt it and get back to you's with the results. Thanks again

[xeroinfinity]

Oh ya! You do hav to cut that out from inside the engine firewall. Fun FUN!
Good luck, maybe you'll get lucky and someones already cut it out, but if not the link I gave above shows and tells exactly(w/pics) what needs done.