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forgop 11-30-2010 09:39 PM

Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
So, my wife's van (2005 Dodge Grand Caravan) isn't heating when it warms up in the driveway. You can let it run for 30 minutes in the driveway and it won't remove the frost or anything, even though the temperature is high enough to begin warming from the engine. Once you start driving down the road, you notice after a minute or two, the cold air that was blowing is now as toasty as can be. Any suggestions why we're not heating while it's in park in the driveway but works fine once you get on the road?

GolfNut 11-30-2010 09:43 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Could be water pump going south on you. Could also be partially plugged radiator or heater core.

Also, not sure about that van, but some rigs have a vacuum actuated heater valve that when triggered diverts the flow to the heater core.

forgop 11-30-2010 09:45 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by GolfNut (Post 1078870)
Could be water pump going south on you. Could also be partially plugged radiator or heater core.

If it matters, I did have to fill up the radiator earlier in the summer at one point. Engine damn near overheated and it wasn't that low really and not even that hot out.

Springsman 11-30-2010 09:48 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Check in the engine compartment for leaking antifreeze or coolant...if air gets into system sometimes you'll get a case of it not being able to pressurize the system enough while at idle but will when rpm's reach a certain level while driving. You'll generally hear a gurgling sound while running the heater too...

GolfNut 11-30-2010 09:58 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
I hate to throw so many things out there, but check the vacuum lines for the blend door to make sure it is working properly.

Also, do you notice a temp drop when you come to a stop? (is there a dash gauge?) A stuck open thermostat will give you those same symptoms.

SvilleKid 11-30-2010 10:26 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
This is probably simple, not complicated. The cooling system is either efficient enough that, while at idle, the engine isn't heating up enough to open the thermostat, or the thermostat may be sticking closed until higher temperatures. I'd bet the thermostat is at least 215 degrees.

Sled Dog 12-01-2010 06:56 AM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Throw another vote for thermostat.... that's exactly what it sounds like.

replicant_argent 12-01-2010 07:01 AM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Stat, control/blend problem (maybe), partially plugged core, water pump vane erosion, a few possibilities.
when it sits at idle, can you get to the return line from the heater core? if it is warm, you can isolate it to behind the firewall, whether a heater core, or a HVAC problem, rather than pump/radiator/stat/etc.

I would toss a stat in first, as it is cheap, easy, and if you haven't done one in a couple years, might as well. Especially since you had a cooling problem recently, and it may have boogered the stat.

Blueface 12-01-2010 07:06 AM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Thermostat vote here.

jmsremax 12-01-2010 07:20 AM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
I had a similiar issue with my first car and my problem was the thermostat wasn't closing. I think I paid $15 to get a new one at Autozone. Hopefully this is the case with you.

68TriShield 12-01-2010 08:14 AM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Low coolant level again or bad head gasket/cracked cylinder head.
Which could be why you lost coolant in the first place.

Blueface 12-01-2010 08:33 AM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by 68TriShield (Post 1079220)
Low coolant level again or bad head gasket/cracked cylinder head.
Which could be why you lost coolant in the first place.

Oops.
Missed the "coolant" part.

BloodSpite 12-01-2010 08:53 AM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
I always vote cheapest solution first. I use a 180 degree thermostat in pretty much everything

357 12-01-2010 09:28 AM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueface (Post 1079143)
Thermostat vote here.

Disclaimer: I am not a mechanic. I have however done a lot of work on my own cars out of financial necessity.

A bad thermostat is most likely and is cheap/easy to replace. <$10 usually. It sounds to me like it is sticking closed and requiring a hotter temp (more pressure) to open it. I recently had the exact opposite issue. My thermostat was stuck open and my engine often wouldn't reach the proper temp. Heat from the vents was never warm enough. $8 and 20 min later it was fixed.

Other cheap fix could be a radiator cap. Again under $10 and sometimes fixes cooling issues, depending on the type of system in your vehicle.

Obviously check for leaks in the coolant system, hoses, radiator, overflow resevoir, etc. If none are found, but you have to add coolant again, check your oil. If you find antifreeze (or smell it) in the oil you could be losing coolant due to a bad head gasket. (Big money and PITA).

IMO, if the water pump was bad you'd know it. Usually they fail catostrophically; as in they bite into the block and the pully snaps off due to pressure from the belt. I've had this happen twice. Once each on two different cars once they got around 160K miles. They also tend to make noise before they fail.

Heater cores don't fail often. When they due, it is usually because they spring a leak and fill your floorboards with coolant. I've only had to replace one once; it failed to get hot and yet was not leaking. I believe it was plugged.

jmsremax 12-01-2010 10:28 AM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by jmsremax (Post 1079153)
I had a similiar issue with my first car and my problem was the thermostat wasn't closing. I think I paid $15 to get a new one at Autozone. Hopefully this is the case with you.


I meant to say it wasn't opening :sl

T.G 12-01-2010 10:48 AM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings nowadays. Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads, and I'm gonna need 'bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State.

forgop 12-01-2010 11:47 AM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Thanks for the responses thus far....gonna replace the thermostat tonight and see how that goes.

I wonder if the guy from the car parts has the exact thermostat from any of those parts that looks like it has a place where hoses could go? :D

pektel 12-01-2010 12:05 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Auxillary coolant pump is my guess. And I'm pretty confident in that guess. Since it gets to the proper engine temp, I doubt it's a thermostat. But I could be wrong.

Shouldn't be too expensive. Around $300 with labor at a dealer I wager.

T.G 12-01-2010 12:14 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSBmo8F7N-E

Mugen910 12-01-2010 12:43 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by forgop (Post 1078865)
So, my wife's van (2005 Dodge Grand Caravan) isn't heating when it warms up in the driveway. You can let it run for 30 minutes in the driveway and it won't remove the frost or anything, even though the temperature is high enough to begin warming from the engine. Once you start driving down the road, you notice after a minute or two, the cold air that was blowing is now as toasty as can be. Any suggestions why we're not heating while it's in park in the driveway but works fine once you get on the road?

This part sounds similar to what my brother when through with my previous car passed down. The problem ended up being that the fan to circulate the air was busted. Of course it worked when he was driving because the air being forced in was enough to make the fan propel and circulate the air around. It could be a fuse or you need a new fan. That's about all I can contribute as I know very little beyond an oil change and brake pads.

pektel 12-01-2010 12:55 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by pektel (Post 1079513)
Auxillary coolant pump is my guess. And I'm pretty confident in that guess. Since it gets to the proper engine temp, I doubt it's a thermostat. But I could be wrong.

Shouldn't be too expensive. Around $300 with labor at a dealer I wager.

Forgot to add the same disclaimer as 357 up there. I am not a mechanic. But do work on my own cars. And I'd rather not pay someone to do something that I could do on my own. Time allowing, that is.

pektel 12-01-2010 02:15 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
btw, I'd be interested to know what you find out.

BloodSpite 12-01-2010 02:21 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
There is only one real way to fix this

http://thereifixedit.files.wordpress...pg?w=500&h=424

RGD. 12-01-2010 03:23 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Hmmm - I actually have a similar problem in no heat unless I'm going above 25/30. So check this out -

The cause is this: The EGR cooler cracked and was replaced but an inline filtration wasn't done properly on removal allowing debris to enter the cooling system and help clog up the oil cooler which itself was most likely partially clogged with sand casting material that wasn't cleaned thoroughly during manufacturing. Since the coolant can't flow through the oil cooler then it can't properly cool the EGR cooler hence the cracking. In addition since it can't flow - it sits in the oil cooling passage ways until it super heats and vaporizes, blowing back into the degas bottle, puking all over the engine. As this happens there isn't enough coolant flow to properly produce enough heat for the cab. The fix is roughly $2600.

So check that out on yours and see if it solves it. :D


Just joking - only those of us lucky enough to own a Ford 6.0 Diesel motor get to have this much fun.


Ron

thebayratt 12-01-2010 03:41 PM

Re: Any auto mechanics-heating question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by GolfNut (Post 1078870)
Also, not sure about that van, but some rigs have a vacuum actuated heater valve that when triggered diverts the flow to the heater core.

My Dodge Ram does that at odd times. Its a vacuum valve thats screwy....
I can go down the road with just the "vent" on and all the sudden, it goes to the defrost air flow. I let off the gas or take off the cruise control (also vacuum actuated) and it goes back to "vent".

That or the thermostat is sticking... Get a "failsafe" thermostat. If the fail, they fail in the open position; so not to overheat your engine.


Look and see if your water pump is dripping any water out of the bottom of it. When they go bad there is a "weap" hole that water comes out. I had to change mine last summer bc of this.


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