Heater blowing out cold air

Tiny
HONESTYY BABYJAI KINO
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,574 MILES
My car blows air but it is cold. I just replaced the thermostat and there are no coolant leaks. What could it be?
Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 4:30 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Feel the two heater hoses once the engine is warmed up. They should be too hot to hold onto for very long. If they are just warm, and the radiator hoses are hot, suspect the heater core is plugged, usually from early formulas of Dexcool that tended to cause clogging. That can usually be cleared by running water through from a garden hose. If the heater hoses are hot, suspect a problem with the temperature door or its actuator on the heater box. If you have an automatic temperature control that uses a computer module, those cause a lot of trouble too.
If the heater core is plugged, you may want to back flush the entire cooling system to keep it from plugging up again

See the guide below

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-flush-and-refill-all-cars
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 5:06 PM
Tiny
BLONDIE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • V8
  • 1,000,000 MILES
My auto's heater doesn't heat! I have flushed the heater's radiator, changed the fuse, everything concerning the system has been cleaned & checked. At times it will heat a little then stops & blows cold air! My wife & myself are disabled & the temperture here is at freezing level. Riding in a car without heat is making ourselves sick but we need to get to our appts. & Elsewhere! Hope you can help. THANKS.
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
With the engine at full operating temp, locate the 2 heater hoses where they go into the firewall and feel them to see if they are both too hot to hold. If they are.

The heat in that vehicle is controlled by a blend door that regulates heated air flow. It is operated by a vacuum motor/actuator. The problem can be that the actuator itself could be bad, a problem with the vacuum control head or vacuum supply or the door itself could be damaged. This is what needs to be determined by examining the actuator and see if it is responding to heat change commands or not.
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVID7545
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 176,000 MILES
I own a 1996 Chevy Caprice and I'm having problems with the heater control it blows the heat to the front fine but when it comes to the top front windshield or to my feet it does not work what do you call the unit that makes this thing work and also is it a very expensive thing to fix. The knob works fine but its just not doing anything it wont blow up or down.
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi:
Start by removing the control assembly. It is either run by a cable or vacuum. Check to make sure nothing is discinnected.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARLOSHURTAO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
Heater problem
1994 Chevy Caprice V8 Two Wheel Drive

I have a 1994 chevy caprice classic with a 4.3 liter engine and my heat is not working it blows cold? I replaced the engine thermostat last year or so the heater core has beeen replaced also not sure about the water pump whats wrong with the heat? How can I check if the thermostat is good and the heater core is good? Also when driving the low coolant light comes on and off but theres coolant in the resevoir i'm confused help! I also had to replace one of the heater hose could that be the problem?
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Your best shot is just replace the thermostat and try flushing out the heater core both ways and see what happens-also check the heater control valve and the air blend door-
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TOTALPACKAGE80
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • 85,800 MILES
Blows out cold air
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DRCRANKNWRENCH
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,380 POSTS
Ther are a few possibilities;

The heater vent door is not operating. It is controlled by cable and runs from the heater control to the heater box. Check to see if it has come off its clasp. If it has turn heat all the way up so cable extends all the way out and puch the vent door in same direction. Connect end and put cable in clasp/holder.

The other possibility is that the heater core valve is not working. There are 2 hoses that rung to the firewal for the heatercore. One of them will have a valve on it and a cable which turns the valve open/close. Sometimes they come loose at the clamp and have to be retightened. The valve can also get stuck and the cable will not move it. In that case you need to replace the valve.
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MARK24
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 139,000 MILES
My car is not getting much heat it only gets luke warm if that so could be the problem thanks.
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ERNEST CLARK
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,730 POSTS
It could be your water pump, but if your car isn't overheating, then that's unlikely.

It could be your heater control valve, a clogged heater core, or air in your system.
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HARLEY CARNES
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1989 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 20,000 MILES
This winter all of the sudden my heater will not blow out hot air. It often blows out some warm air while on low fan but when I turn it up it get's cold. I replaced my thermostat and radiator cap but still no heat, I have water flow in the radiator so I know it's not the water pump. Can you please give me some idea on what it could be so I don't freeze. I would be very thankful so please write back asap.
Thank You
Harley Carnes
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
Sounds like you should flush out your heater core directly at it and flush it good, the heater core may even be bad or the blend door is not forcing enough air through the heater core.

Try flushing it and if equipped with a heater control valve inline to the heater core make sure it moves freely, if not its plugged up.
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 6:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ULTRAVAN2010
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1995 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 98,000 MILES
Heater is warm but not hot. I have had system flushed and new antifreeze installed. I have also replaced the thermostat. The caprice is a great car and I would like to get severaal more years out of it.

Thanks for your help

Jim
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 7:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ERNEST CLARK
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,730 POSTS
Just because you've had the system flushed, doesn't mean there isn't a blockage in your heater core.

Your engine has what we call a "reverse flow" coolant system. I won't bore you with the technical details. But what this means is, if your heater core is NOT blocked, and your thermostat is functioning correctly, then you either have a malfunctioning water pump, or you are getting air in your system.

Because you have a reverse flow system, when air gets in the system, it collects inside of the heater core and stops the coolant from flowing through it. (That's how you get your heat) A quick way to check to see if this is the case: When your engine is fully warm, turn on your heater and place the controls on the hottest option with the fan blower on high. Then rev the motor to at least 1500 r.P.M.'S. If the air becomes hot while you are reving the motor, then that's proof air is in the system.

If that doesn't work, then it's probably your water pump. However, if it is you water pump, then your engine should frequently over heat. Which makes me believe it's air in the system.

And unfortunately, if it's air, then that means you have a blown head gasket. (Expensive)

Finally, to check if you have air in the system:
Take off the cap to either the radiator or the surge tank. Look inside while someone revs the motor to at least 1500 r.P.M.'S. If you see air bubbles in the antifreeze, you definitely have air in the system. (Blown head gasket)
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 7:00 PM (Merged)

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