Heater does not work

Welcome to 2CarPros.

It could be a few things. First, if the coolant is full, I want you to try this. Turn the heater on high and start the engine, allowing it to warm up to operating temp. Turn the engine off and feel both heater core hoses. Are both hot? If they are then coolant is flowing through the heater core. If one is hot and not the other, then suspect the core is plugged.

If both are hot, the next thing to suspect is what is call a blend air door actuator. It is what allows the heat to enter the vehicle.

Take a look through this link to see if anything helps:

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

If you decide the problem is the blend air door actuator, here is a link that shows in general how one is replaced:

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

Here are the directions specific to your vehicle. The attached directions correlate with the directions.

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2001 Dodge Stratus Sedan V6-2.7L
Blend Door Actuator Replacement
Vehicle Heating and Air Conditioning Air Door Actuator / Motor Service and Repair Procedures Blend Door Actuator Replacement
BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR REPLACEMENT
REMOVAL

NOTE: Prior to part replacement, re-calibration the HVAC actuator. Disconnecting negative battery cable for 60 seconds. This will automatically initiate the software calibration procedure.

1. Disconnect negative battery cable.
2. Remove the floor console.
3. Remove rear heat ducts.
4. Remove HVAC housing.
5. Disconnect the electrical connection.

Fig.23 Blend Door Actuator

Pic 1

6. Remove actuator retaining screws and pull actuator straight down. Note actuator shaft position for installation reference.

Fig.24 Blend Actuator Spline

pic 2

INSTALLATION
1. Install blend door actuator on the housing, making sure the shaft spline is positioned properly with the cam.
2. Install tighten the actuator mounting.
3. Connect wire harness connector to the actuator.
4. Install HVAC housing.
5. Install rear heat ducts.
6. Install the floor console.
7. Connect the negative battery cable.

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If the heater core is the issue, you can try flushing it. Basically, remove both hoses to it at the firewall and spray water through in both directions. If water doesn't flow, replace the heater core.

Here is a link showing in general how one is replaced:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-heater-core

Here are the directions for core replacement specific to your vehicle. The attached pics correlate with the directions.

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2001 Dodge Stratus Sedan V6-2.7L
Removal and Replacement
Vehicle Heating and Air Conditioning Heater Core Service and Repair Removal and Replacement
REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT
REMOVAL
1. Disconnect negative battery cable.
2. Remove HVAC housing from the vehicle. Refer to: "Housing Assembly HVAC : Service and Repair" See: Housing Assembly HVAC > Service and Repair

Fig.18 Recirculation Motor

pic 3

3. Disconnect connector from recirculation motor.

Fig.19 HVAC Harness

pic 4

4. Remove wiring harness connector from the top of the housing.

Fig.20 Evaporator Seal

pic 5

5. Remove seal around evaporator coil inlet/outlet.
6. Remove retaining screw from the top of the housing.

Fig.21 HVAC Housing

pic 6

7. Separate the upper from the housing from the lower.

Fig.22 Heater Core

pic 7

8. Lift heater core out of lower housing.

INSTALLATION
1. Install new heater core into lower housing.
2. Install upper housing onto lower housing and install screws.
3. Install evaporator seal
4. Install HVAC harness on upper housing
5. Connect recirculation motor connector.
6. Install HVAC housing. Refer to: "Housing Assembly HVAC : Service and Repair" See: Housing Assembly HVAC > Service and Repair

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Let me know if this helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

You have an air in the system open radiator fill cap when engine cool add coolant start engine let it run for 3 to 5 min check coolant raise the rpm to about 2000 and check coolant place the radiator cap back it idle you may need a helper to hold the rpm high for you

Lack of coolant check and adjust coolant level let me know.

Does the temperature gauge read in the normal range? If it is low, suspect a defective thermostat. If it reads normal, feel the two heater hoses under the hood. They should be too hot to hold onto for very long. If they're cool, check the coolant level or suspect a plugged heater core.

Caradiodoc

As far as the blower motor only working on high, replace the blower motor resistor. Now the heat issue is different. If the coolant blows out of the radiator, that tells me there is a head gasket problem which all make the heater not work due to exhaust gasses.

Here are 2 guides that will help us find the problem.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

and

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

If this checks out okay I would replace the mode door actuator diagrams below. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find.

Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.

Cheers, Joe

If both heater hoses comming from the heater core are hot, the blend door is NOT moving, if the inlet hose is hot but outlet is cold, the heater core needs flushing, or replacement. If both hoses are cold, check antifreeze level and thermostat, also rarley but known to happen is the impeller blades on the water pump disolve over time and may not be pumping enough.