1998 Pontiac Sunfire Heat only in reverse

Tiny
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  • 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
  • 3.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,000 MILES
Hello,
I just purchased this car used at a fairly reasonable price. Everything seems to fun well with one exception: The heat only blows when the car is in reverse. Actually, it doesn't matter if it's on heat or A/C, same result

So far no one has been able to help me with this. Hopefully you can.
Monday, November 10th, 2014 AT 1:35 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Do you mean the blower motor only works when it is in reverse?
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Monday, November 10th, 2014 AT 2:26 PM
Tiny
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No, the actual heat in the car. A/C too for that matter.
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Monday, November 10th, 2014 AT 2:48 PM
Tiny
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Explain what is happening. Is the fan blowing cold air that gets warm when it is in reverse or does the air flow start when placed in reverse?
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2014 AT 7:31 PM
Tiny
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The air flow starts when the car is put in reverse. When in any other gear there is no air flow to speak of. You can hold your hand to the vent and feel that there is warm air in there, but no air flows out of the vent until you shift into reverse. As soon as you move into any other gear (park, neutral, drive, etc) the air flow stops.
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2014 AT 9:20 AM
Tiny
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I feel there is a bad ground at some point in the system. Check to make sure body grounds are good.
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Thursday, November 13th, 2014 AT 5:23 AM

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