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Heater stopped working?

Tiny
SHANTYTOWN
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 DODGE STRATUS
  • 2.1L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140 MILES
My heat stopped working. So I repaced the thermastat, and fluids are up, but still blowing cold.
Friday, February 14th, 2014 AT 9:52 PM

26 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,870 POSTS
Feel the heater hoses when the engine is warmed up. They should be too hot to hold onto for very long. If they are not, suspect a plugged heater core. If they are, suspect a problem with an actuator on the heater box. This guide can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-heater-not-working

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Friday, February 14th, 2014 AT 10:06 PM
Tiny
SHANTYTOWN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I have went out, and took of the rad cap, let it run for a little bit, but still blowing cold air. The gauge was crawling to fast I think. But if there is girggleing sounds, what does that mean, do you know?
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Saturday, February 15th, 2014 AT 12:08 PM
Tiny
SHANTYTOWN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
There is no sweating or any odurs, or sweatting on the windows.
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Saturday, February 15th, 2014 AT 12:10 PM
Tiny
SHANTYTOWN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
My rad is throwing up, when I had it running, what does that mean?
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Saturday, February 15th, 2014 AT 12:12 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,870 POSTS
Have your mechanic perform a chemical test at the radiator to check for a leaking cylinder head gasket. That involves drawing air, while the engine is running, through a glass cylinder with two chambers partially-filled with a special dark blue liquid. If combustion gases are present, the liquid will turn bright yellow.
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Saturday, February 15th, 2014 AT 3:49 PM
Tiny
SHANTYTOWN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hello; there is nothing like that.
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Saturday, February 15th, 2014 AT 3:56 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,870 POSTS
Nothing like what? Are you referring to the tester? Every shop has them. Every auto parts store has them to buy or borrow but if you borrow it, they will make you buy your own bottle of liquid because it can be contaminated and won't work for the next guy. Many mechanics own their own testers. They get used almost every day.
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Saturday, February 15th, 2014 AT 4:59 PM
Tiny
SHANTYTOWN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
No, I'm referring to the one where you said is there any leaks or different colors.
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Saturday, February 15th, 2014 AT 5:04 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,870 POSTS
You mean the chemical test was done and came up as no leaking head gasket? If so, dandy. Everything else points to the coolant level just being low. If it is, you can add a small bottle of dye to the coolant, then search later with a black light. The dye will show up as a bright yellow stain that you can follow back to the source. Even though the chemical test came up negative, still check for the dye inside the tail pipe. That also indicates a leaking head gasket, even when no combustion gases are getting pushed into the cooling system.
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Saturday, February 15th, 2014 AT 5:17 PM
Tiny
SHANTYTOWN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Ok thank you.
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Saturday, February 15th, 2014 AT 5:33 PM
Tiny
THATGUYNEL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 DODGE STRATUS
  • 155,000 MILES
I've been hearing bubbling in my radiator reservoir for a few months. I thought nothing of it at the only because it was summer time. Now its closing in on winter and when I try to use my heater it only blows cold air. The temperature gauge is not all the way on high but it is past the middle. After about half hour of driving maybe van will the heater push out a little bit of warm air. My engine is a 2.4 liter non turbo. And my engine coolant looks like chocolate or dark brown
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Witht eh color of the coolant you probably have a blown head gasket. Fill cooant system an dhave pressure checked but i'm sure it will verify the problem that is also why you don't have h eat your coolant is low.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TOME
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 DODGE STRATUS
No noticed fluid leaks. Past and recent history. Had starter work done within last week or so. My car would start but kept blowing fuses right after starting. Got that problem taken care of. This morning driving my car the heater was working great.
This evening the heater only blew cold air. My gauge kept moving more toward hot. But did not reach the hot mark until real close to home. What could this be?
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
The car was blowing fuses because of the starter. We have seen that many times on that model. As for the heat you need to let the car cool down and check the antifreeze and add as needed the coolant level low.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NO HEAT
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 DODGE STRATUS
  • 150,000 MILES
Found a nest inside the blower side of the heater core removed it changed thermostat and heater control resistor but still heat for one second when heater is turned on then cool air also noticed the a/c compressor does not engage when a c button is lit up any ideas?
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NO HEAT
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Also checked blend door function and that was ok
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Core may be clogged with debris. Flush it out with a garden hose and flush it both ways till it is clear and even flow. If not, the core may have to be replaced.

Roy
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SWEETTHONEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,000 MILES
We changed the thermostac, flushed the heater core and changed the temp gauge, and yet my heat is verry little to none. I used to have heat than one day no heat and now very little or no heat again. Whats wrong?
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
Did you change the temp gauge or the sending unit? Also re-check the new thermostat. Make sure that it is not sticking open.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
Also make sure that your coolant reservoir is full.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:46 PM (Merged)

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