Does everyone's heater suck or just mine?

[Dober89]

I dont drive my rodeo a whole lot anymore but I seem to think that the heat it puts out has never really been all that great. I notice a big difference in my savana work van.

Has anyone else noticed this? Nature of the beast or is there something I can fix to make it a little warmer inside?

[Paul A]

Hi,
Fitted a temperature sensor in one of the heating ducts on mine (basically to check how good the air con is).
It gave up at 48 degrees (c) and read "overheat"!
The heater is pretty efficient, what does help is to clean out all the accumulated debris (dead leaves etc) from the venting at the windscreen base.

Paul

[Gizmo42]

Mine puts out good heat temperature wise, just not very powerfull. Especially the defrost. Never gets the edges if its really cold or there is more then just me inside. If it ever warms up I'm going to tear into it and see if the ducts are loose. I feel air comming out of all of them though.

[Ramblin Fever]

Mine heats up really good, the 1st 2-3 miles it doesn't, but by the 7-10th mile down the road, she's toastin.

When was the last time you changed your antifreeze?

I know last year, mine didn't heat up all that well, that was the 1st sign that I knew something was happening - waterpump went a short time later.

[rodeo02]

The heat output got really bad on my 2002 before I traded it in. Never did determine if it was a t-stat issue or not?? The blower worked excellent & the a/c output was great. You had to keep it full blast for mediocre heat during cold ambient temps.

Joel

[2000izusu]

my output is marginal until i reach like the 10 mile mark and then it is ok. i always blamed it on the aluminum block and heads. i got other vehicles with cast iron heads and block and they heat up in under 2 miles (it will make you turn the heat down). but with the rodeo, in winter, i never turn the blend knob down (to the blue).
we also use the rodeo for 80%intown driving so some days it never really heats up.

[Dober89]

It doesnt really take long to warm up. Its just that with the heat on high it never really gets too hot. In our other cars even with the fan at half speed, you have to turn it down or lower the temp.

[trooperbc]

what outside temperature are we talking about here. sounds like maybe your thermostat isn't closing all the way as it should. five minutes or less ought to be enough to get good heat. is there a difference if you switch the air lever so it's just interior air recirculating?

//bc

[Ramblin Fever]

Yes, keep it on recirculating heat until the engine is really up to temp, or all you're doing is blowing in cold air. I do this for about the first 10-15 miles, then I switch it to open vents.

Problem is, if the outside temp is below 25F and you have your vents open with a freshly started engine, all you're gonna get is cold air. That engine's not hot enough to keep it's own heat, let-a-lone supply you with some, even if the temp gauge registers normal it can take a good 5 miles or so to get some good heat.

I'm of the unusual from what I read here and other forums in the fact that when it's below 50F, I let my truck idle for a minute or two, when it's below 25F, I let it idle for at least 5 minutes. And if it's below 0F, I let that baby run for at least a good 10 minutes. I do this WITHOUT the heat on as the engine will warm up a bit quicker.

So after I actually get IN the truck and take off it's about a good 2-3 miles that I start getting good heat.

Main reason I let it idle a bit, the auto transmissions in these trucks are not designed to shift out of 1st til after the engine is of a certain temp, and if you force them out of 1st into 2nd, it's a harsh shift that I don't like the feel of, cause you have to wonder what it's doing to the tranny.

[Dober89]

I pretty much always have it on fresh air now because if I set it to recirculate the windows fog up in about 2 minutes. Then I have to turn it to defrost and the compressor cycling irritates me.

I dont really notice a difference when I turn it to recirculate anyways. Its still warm but nothing special.


As far as outside temp goes I would say lately its been between 15 and 40 F.

[trooperbc]

well maybe it's just a subjective thing and you are used to a *much* hotter system? i don't know. unless there's some electric assist on some fancy car, all auto heaters use the heat of the engine coolant and that's pretty hot. in the above test, the guy said 48*C, which is 118*F, that oughta do.

i'd suggest look around down under the dash and make sure all the ducting is fully attached one to the other. put the air to dash vents to begin, if you have it on defrost or floor, it'll take longer for you to feel it. find a neighbor rodeo and compare with them.

but, if the a/c recirculating irritates you, maybe this vehicle isn't going to be your cup of tea anyway....

btw, what year, what engine.
//bc

[surferfletch]

Looks like a 2000 3.2L from his sig.

[2000izusu]

i'll have to try the recirculate lever! didn't think of that! i also think the temp of the thermstat has to do with it also. aren't rodeo 3.2 thermostats rated at 180 for year 2000? some of the other vehicles i compare it to (in my fleet) operate thermostats at 195 with a water temp around 200-205.

monday it is getting down to 1 degree here not including the wind chill so i will try the recirculate lever.

p.s. sorry about the delayed response i was working a 48 hour shift and do not always have internet access at work. mike

[Ramblin Fever]

Don't know if rating of thermostat matters or not in regards to your issue though, because the thermostats for the older Rodeo's, i.e '97 are rated at 170 and mine heats up just fine.