Intermittent heat?

Tiny
PJRACEING69
  • MEMBER
  • 2016 GMC SIERRA
  • 5.6L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 73,000 MILES
Heat set to 72 degrees; truck will start to get warm then starts blowing cold air. Turn heat up 2 more degrees and starts to get warm then starts to blow cold air. Can keep doing this until it reaches the max temperature. Dealer check heater, radiator, cycling of "doors" everything checks okay.
Tuesday, February 28th, 2023 AT 11:47 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi,

Is the engine coolant full? Also, there are temperature sensors in the HVAC duct. The air temperature sensors are 2-wire negative temperature co-efficient thermistors. The sensors are installed in the air distribution ducts and measure the temperature of the air that streams from the ducts. The HVAC control module uses these values to adjust the mixed air flap position according to the requested temperature.

So, if all vents are changing temperature at the same time, my first suspect is the HVAC control module. See the pic below showing temperature sensors. However, if there is a failure, they should have found it by scanning the can-bus. Do you know if that was done?

You also indicated they checked the cycling of the doors. I suspect that means the blend air doors that control temperature. If they were checked with the heat on high, they never should have moved. However, for the temperature to cool, they had to unless there is a partial blockage in the heater core itself.

Let me know your thoughts and as much as you can.

Take care,

Joe

See pic below.
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Tuesday, February 28th, 2023 AT 8:53 PM
Tiny
PJRACEING69
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Thanks for the reply, antifreeze is full. When this happened last winter, I had the cooling system flushed and filled. I forgot to mention that this problem does not happen every day but seems to be happening more frequently. I will check with the dealer about the scan. Stay tuned.
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Wednesday, March 1st, 2023 AT 1:34 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi,

Thanks for the update. I have a feeling it is the HVAC module that has an intermittent fault causing it. If it was only one vent, I would think more on the line of a sensor issue.

Let me know what they tell you.

Take care,

Joe
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Wednesday, March 1st, 2023 AT 6:52 PM

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