1995 Dodge Intrepid Heater blows luke warm.

VIKEZFAN

MEMBER
1995 DODGE INTREPID

Heater problem
1995 Dodge Intrepid 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

I am working on a '95 intrepid that only blows luke warm air when heat is on. Flushed heater core both forward and backwards 4 times. Both hoses going through the firewall to the heater core get hot now (they weren't before). Still only blows luke warm. Has manual heater controls. Went through diagnostic mode and everything checks out. Checked that blend door actuator was moving. Removed proper fuses to 'calibrate' blend doors and let sit for 10 mins. Reinstalled fuses and listened while turning the temperature control listening to the blend door move and the air flow change throughout the entire range. So, as I see it, I have eliminated the heater core, control, and blend door. What am I missing? It still blows luke warm air.

8 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,874 POSTS

Hi:
When the car is hot and the heater is on, do both heater core hoses get hot (Inlet and Outlet)? If not, the coolant isn't getting throught the core. It could be switch or air lock. With the car off, remove the outlet hose at the motor and make sure the coolant has made it through the system.

Joe

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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 AT 1:39 PM

VIKEZFAN

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20 POSTS

The coolant is full and I have bled the system 3 times. However, the engine appears to be running cooler than normal according to the temperature gauge.

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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 AT 2:00 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,874 POSTS

Hi:
It sounds like the thermostat needs replaced. Remember, when you turn the heater on, the core acts as a small radiator cooling the engine more. If the t-stat is sticking open, it may not allow the engine to get hot enough.

A t-stat is a cheap part. If you need help replacing it, let me know.

Joe

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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 AT 7:15 PM

WTPIV

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2 POSTS

If you have not found the answer, here you go.

I had the exact same issue with a 97 trep this week. I am a 30+ year mech and this one baffled me. I replaced a good thermostat. Flushed the core, the engine, and radiator(needed that anyways). I could bleed the cooling system and have 114f degree heat out of the vents but would demenish to 70f by about the 10 mile range. The coolant was full and the water line going into the core was 170f and 160f coming out. It made no sense at all! The blend door was functioning properly but still no heat!

I searched the internet from one end to the other about this problem without any luck and decided to go ahead and do the big nasty and remove the core. A full skill level 10 job and requires some special tools to get er done. But I found the problem. The oem heater core has a plastic top resivior which had a hair line crack. Seeing that the heater core is above the fill line of the coolant resivior, it all made sences at that point. The heat going in and out of the core was just steam and being above the fill line of the engine and coolant resivior, the car would not over heat or loose coolant.

Sorry to pass along the bad news, but it sound like the core is bad. I hope this helped. The car I am working on is for a friend from church so I wont charge them too much. But I wont ever touch another one for under $1000! The dealership is around $1200.

Good Luck and have a Merry Christmas:)

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Saturday, December 13th, 2008 AT 5:51 PM