Heater has stopped working?

Tiny
ZAKF814
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 165,000 MILES
My heat was working when I bought the car. One day it just stopped and now only cold air is blowing out. The temp gauge doesn't reach operating temperature. My coolant levels are ok, changed my thermostat, the water pump is circulating coolant. All of my radiator hoses even the ones leading to my heater core get hot as the engine warms up. The blower works great and all of my vents switch and air will blow out of each setting. The air coming through the vents just never gets warm.
Sunday, January 19th, 2014 AT 6:47 AM

16 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Try pulling hvac fuse for 60 seconds first sometimes the actuators reset. Otherwise see if the blend door actuator is getting power or not you have to get to from passenger side an dpull down hush panel also check out this guide.

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

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Sunday, January 19th, 2014 AT 8:21 AM
Tiny
LADYCECE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
Heater problem 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 150000 miles

I have just put 50/50 coolant in the car and it stayed warm for a day now the heater only blows on the highest settings and it is blowing out cold air. I had the thermostat and water pump replaced last year. I need to know what could cause this problem? Thanks for your response.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like you have air trapped in the heater core not allowing coolant to enter or you have a temperature blend door actuator not working here are two guide to help you get started finding and fixing the problem.

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

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-blend-door-motor

Many of the 4 cylinder engines need to be burped after refilling the cooling system. I would try raising the car in the rear with the engine running and heater on full blast. See if the coolant level drops.

caradiodoc
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LADYCECE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Yep I followed these guides and all I had to do has jack the rear of the car us and everything worked no charge! Thanks for the tip I love this site.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AHOBBS90
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 2.7L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 126,000 MILES
My heater is blowing cold air when at idle but driving it around 50 mph it's warm. It is also bubbling at the coolant reservoir. Could it be the radiator or the heater core? Is what I'm thinking.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Neither. The bubbling points to a leaking cylinder head gasket. Your mechanic can perform a chemical test at the radiator cap to verify this. The test involves drawing air from the radiator, 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.

Here's a link to an article that explains this in more detail:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHCUBFAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
Heater problem
2002 Dodge Stratus 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My stratus takes an unusually long time to warm up and then when it does the heat only works while driving but when I stop or am at an idle it blows cold air. What could be the possible issue?
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/170934_hvac_1.jpg



You probably need to check for hvac codes, barring that, try the above procedure.

Do the radiator hoses and heater hoses get hot?
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHCUBFAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The upper radiator hose does heat up but not the lower.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
I'd have to check the circulation in the radiator and heater core.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GURNN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
My 2002 Dodge Stratus has approximately 90,000 miles on it. When it is warmed up and idling, the heater blows cold air no matter how high I set it. When I put the car in drive and start moving, the cold air coming out of the vents starts to warm up. The faster I go, the more heat I get. When I stop at a stop light, it starts blowing cold air again.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
One of three things:
1. Low coolant level. While you are checking the level, ask yourself. When was the last time you have the coolant system flushed? You may also have "air pockets" in the cooling system. Have you ever have to add fluid into the cooling system? If you or a service station used water, instead of coolant, that will reduce the quality and efficiency of the entire system.

2. Thermostat stuck open. Locate your radiator hoses. Grasp the hoses (one at a time) and squeeze them. Are they both warm to touch? If they are, the thermostat is possibly good. If one of them is warmer than the other, replace the thermostat.

3. Restricted heater core. This goes back to #1. If the cooling system has not been flushed for the past say 30K miles, you may have a lot of gunk in the system that prevents coolant flow, especially if you have been adding water or low quality coolant.

Follow the diagnostic from 1, 2, and then 3.

Please advise.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STOIKBA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
My car in park is giving me cold air, but when I drive and have foot on the gas it is hot. Steam comes out of the engine if I go long distances. Engine is not hot on the gauge. It also has coolant. Also the engine light is on. Whats wrong with my car.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
First of all, go to an Autozone or CSK/O'Reilly and have them scan your PCM and get back to us the the code(s), number and description.

If steam is coming out of the engine, usually you have a coolant leak in the engine. You need to visually check the entire engine and find this leak. You may want to replace the thermostat in this vehicle.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JERSEY31
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
Heater problem
2002 Dodge Stratus 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

my car has no heat inside its not over heating and the antifreeze is full what could be the problem?
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
I need you to check something. Start the engine, let it heat up with the heater on high. Feel both heater core hoses. Both should be hot. If they are, check the blender door operation. If one is hot and the other not, chances are the heater core is plugged.

Let me know what you find.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 12:40 PM (Merged)

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