Heating

Tiny
SONCI3805
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 BUICK CENTURY

I get no heat in the car unless I am traveling on the highway. The engine is not overheating. I have enough coolant. What should I be doing? Sonc1
Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 AT 3:44 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
ERNEST CLARK
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,730 POSTS
You may have air in your system thats trapped in your heater core, or your heater core can be clogged/restricted.

First, drain your system of coolant. Then remove the two hoses that exit your fire wall. (These enter and exit your heater core.) Place a garden hose into one of the hoses and see if water will run through freely.

If not, then have your entire system flushed correctly. If it is flowing freely, then refill with fluid and have the system bled of air.

If you still aren't getting heat, then your heater control valve may be stuck closed. You'll have to take your vehicle to a mechanic to get checked out.

This guide might help you figure this out

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-heater-not-working
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Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 AT 9:29 AM
Tiny
JTENREC1
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 BUICK CENTURY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
The repair shop replaced 3 fuel injectors. When I got the car back, it ran great, but the climate controls blew luke warm unless the temp is set to 90. They had to disconnect the battery. I took it back to them and they said they had reprogrammed it. Didnt work. Does it need to be reprogrammed or reset? Can I do this or does it need to go in the shop?
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JNOVACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 723 POSTS
This is something a shop has to do you would be best off going to the dealer and have them check the programing in power control module
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JTENREC1
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The dealer checked the programming and it was ok, it turned out to be the thermostat. Thanks anyway.
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
THESAAMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 BUICK CENTURY
  • 150,000 MILES
I just had the water pump replaced. Now the heater blows cold until the temperature gauge starts to climb to above normal. Suddenly it will start to blow hot and the temp will return to normal. However it still blows cold while idleing.
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PROAUTOTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 288 POSTS
Best guess is thermostat which is an easy attempt at a fix.
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Sounds like you still have air in the system. They can be difficult to bleed and get totally full sometimes.
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PROAUTOTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 288 POSTS
Good job wrenchtech, that's thinking outside of the box. I just assumed that was done already. But the fact that it does blow hot and then not, what do you think, just steam creating the heat? I agree though, not a bad thing to try. With a cold car and the radiator cap off and full of coolant, I would run the car until I saw the coolant drop, knowing that the thermostat did open. Add coolant as necessary, and its good to squeeze the hell out of all of the coolant hoses in order to burp out all the air. Be sure not to get burned or get caught in any belts or fan blades. Let me know how that goes.
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
No, you can't run these engines with the cap off. They run too hot and will boil if not under pressure. From dead cold, fill the cooling system. Run the engine to operating temp and drive it one mile and then park it until COMPLETELY cold, fill again. Repeat this process until it doesn't take any more fluid.
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-1
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PROAUTOTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 288 POSTS
Even until just after the thermostat opens to verify that it does? That one mile won't ensure that the stat opened, or that the fan engine temp triggered the fan. Burping the air out is the way I like to start, and then I do wrenchtech's way with the checking after short errands.
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-1
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAHGNINNUC93
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 BUICK CENTURY
Heater problem 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 9800 miles

When I turn on the heater, my blower does nothing but push out cold air. Does this sound like a heater core problem to you?
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Hello,

If your coolant level is full then I would say it sounds more like a temperature blend door actuator. Here is a guide to help you see what you are in for when doing the job.

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

Here is the location in your car.

Check out the diagrams (Below)

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:25 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAHGNINNUC93
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Nice work I checked the coolant level it okay so I did the blend door actuator like you said and now everything g woks good! Thanks for you help :)
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 6:25 PM (Merged)

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