No heat, coolant disappears

2007 TOYOTA MATRIX
198,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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LINDADANFORTH
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The car usually warms up and blows heat after driving about 4 miles at 35MPH. Yesterday, temperature about 5 degrees above zero, it continued blowing cold air even after driving 30 miles, some at 50MPH. There are occasional bursts of warm air followed by the cold.
Close to home noticed engine temperature gauge reaching Hot. Slowed car to 30MPH (from 50) gauge dropped to normal (half between cold and hot). Sped up a little, 40MPH, needle rose. Even at 35MPH the needle started going up. Outside temperature dropping to 2 degrees. Parked car for the night.
Checked radiator today, level is low. Added a quart +/- of coolant (full) and let it sit. . An hour later some/most of it disappeared - Not onto ground under the car. Refilled and let it sit again. A few minutes later the level had dropped a bit. The car is now just sitting. The temperature today was about 30 degrees.
Jan 13, 2022 at 1:31 PM
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SQM
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Hello,

Low coolant will keep the heater from working and it will overheat the engine.

You might want to start the vehicle and start to add the coolant. As you are doing so you can squeeze the radiator hose (when it is still cool). This will purge out any air that might be trapped in the system.
When the coolant level stays at the same range, put the cap back on and observe. Look for any leak as the engine runs.

Here are a couple of helpful guides:

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

Report back on what you find.

Thank you.
Jan 13, 2022 at 3:11 PM
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LINDADANFORTH
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Thanks for the advise, since the outside temp has now dropped to low 20's and it is dark out, we will attempt this tomorrow.
Jan 13, 2022 at 4:39 PM
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SQM
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That sounds good. Let me know how it goes.
Jan 13, 2022 at 5:19 PM
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LINDADANFORTH
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Thanks for keeping in touch. Still have not worked on Matrix. Our temperatures have been in single and negative numbers with high winds. The temperature today is mid-twenties but getting heavy snow at the moment (up to a foot or more). The car is not being used until we get a chance to work on it. I’ll let you know what we find.
Jan 17, 2022 at 6:52 AM
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SQM
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No worries. It surely is hard to work on a vehicle when the temperatures are this low.
Just let me know whenever you get around to it.
Jan 17, 2022 at 7:52 AM