First cold day out? Heater abnormal?
11-18-05, 08:31 AM
#1
First cold day out? Heater abnormal?
Since I've only had the car under a week I haven't had an opportunity to learn what "normal" operation is, but I think this might be a problem.
It was really cold out (below freezing) for the first time last night/this morning. I took the FD to work (only 5 minutes away) and it took just a few minutes to come up to normal operating temperature. Nothing unusual there, but even when the temp gauge was dead center, hardly any warm/hot air was coming out of the vents with the heat on on full.
a) Is this normal behavior? Does it really take a while for the heat to come on strong? In my GVR4 the heat is blasting hot before I've even driven 1 mile.
b) The motor's been replaced, I assume in the last incarnation there was oil/coolant mixing because there's some good sludge in the coolant overflow container (and on the coolant overflow dipstick). Could it be that in its past life the oil sludged up the heater core so now it doesn't work properly?
Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
It was really cold out (below freezing) for the first time last night/this morning. I took the FD to work (only 5 minutes away) and it took just a few minutes to come up to normal operating temperature. Nothing unusual there, but even when the temp gauge was dead center, hardly any warm/hot air was coming out of the vents with the heat on on full.
a) Is this normal behavior? Does it really take a while for the heat to come on strong? In my GVR4 the heat is blasting hot before I've even driven 1 mile.
b) The motor's been replaced, I assume in the last incarnation there was oil/coolant mixing because there's some good sludge in the coolant overflow container (and on the coolant overflow dipstick). Could it be that in its past life the oil sludged up the heater core so now it doesn't work properly?
Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
11-18-05, 09:01 AM
#4
Originally Posted by Mahjik
Heat only comes out of the lower/floor vents. Was that air cool too?
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11-18-05, 10:02 AM
#8
Racecar - Formula 2000
Originally Posted by dradon03
My air comes out of the facial vents aswell as under the steering wheel.....
11-18-05, 11:08 AM
#10
Originally Posted by GodsOwnThunder
Heat also comes out of the defroster vents.
So, if you want heat, you need to tune to Defroster, Defroster/Floor, or Floor.
So, if you want heat, you need to tune to Defroster, Defroster/Floor, or Floor.
11-18-05, 11:10 AM
#11
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Originally Posted by FDNewbie
Exactly. And of course, if you search, there are a couple threads on this, and this info can also be found in the one place that should be read cover to cover but seldom is: the Owner's Manual
11-18-05, 11:35 AM
#14
Originally Posted by FDNewbie
Exactly. And of course, if you search, there are a couple threads on this, and this info can also be found in the one place that should be read cover to cover but seldom is: the Owner's Manual
11-18-05, 11:36 AM
#15
Originally Posted by tcb100
The first thing to check when your heater is not putting out heat is your coolant level, and make sure there is no air in the system either.
11-18-05, 11:51 AM
#16
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Originally Posted by ArmitageGVR4
My car didn't come with an owner's manual and thusfar I have been unsuccessful in finding one online. I did download and peruse the FSM but that doesn't detail user-end operation
11-18-05, 12:29 PM
#17
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if your heat is not the best what about flushing the cooling system..paying particular attention to the heater core..I'm not familiar with the operation of the components but would assume that if you are not gettin the best heat at operating temp ,I personally, would be looking around there ..what about the vent doors ?..(if there are any..again non-familiar)..replacing thermostat wouldn't hurt either since it is a vulnerable part and having proper coolant level with no air in the system,"new " coolant ..just some stuff to mention ..
11-18-05, 01:59 PM
#18
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I assume your car is not overheating.
Check the radiator to make sure it's getting hot. If it is, you can assume your thermostat is opening.
Grab hold of the coolant lines which come out of the firewall, and see if they're hot (near the ABS). If they are, you can assume that coolant is going through the heater core.
Pull back the carpet under the pax glove box. Look for leaks. If you look under the dash under the glovebox, you'll see the 2 brass lines for feed and return from the heater core.
Check those out.
Check the radiator to make sure it's getting hot. If it is, you can assume your thermostat is opening.
Grab hold of the coolant lines which come out of the firewall, and see if they're hot (near the ABS). If they are, you can assume that coolant is going through the heater core.
Pull back the carpet under the pax glove box. Look for leaks. If you look under the dash under the glovebox, you'll see the 2 brass lines for feed and return from the heater core.
Check those out.
11-18-05, 06:00 PM
#19
Originally Posted by rynberg
Ramy, dare I detect a hint of "rynbergism" in your post there...
I learn from the best
Originally Posted by dradon03
Read Manual cover to cover but I guess I was just too focused on chapter 7.....
So they're TIE DOWN POINTS ONLY. I've had numerous tow truck drivers try and pull her up onto a flatbed using those, thinking they're factory tow hooks! 
Hey Tom! Haven't seen you post in a while!
Hope all's well!
Originally Posted by ArmitageGVR4
My car didn't come with an owner's manual and thusfar I have been unsuccessful in finding one online. I did download and peruse the FSM but that doesn't detail user-end operation
11-18-05, 06:34 PM
#20
development
Originally Posted by FDNewbie
I've had numerous tow truck drivers try and pull her up onto a flatbed using those, thinking they're factory tow hooks!
BTW, I'm loving the cold weather, little scary when the tires are cold and the top of each gear the car breaks loose...just wish I could get the car to pull like this in the summer when its better weather for driving
11-19-05, 07:48 AM
#22
Racecar - Formula 2000
Originally Posted by FDNewbie
Allow me to point out another important point ppl always miss. Page 5-14 clearly states in a HUGE "CAUTION" box: "Don't use the hook loops under the front for towing. They are designed ONLY for tying down the vehicle when it's being transported. Using them for towing will damage the bumper." So they're TIE DOWN POINTS ONLY. I've had numerous tow truck drivers try and pull her up onto a flatbed using those, thinking they're factory tow hooks!
So they're TIE DOWN POINTS ONLY. I've had numerous tow truck drivers try and pull her up onto a flatbed using those, thinking they're factory tow hooks! I've (knock on wood) never had to have mine towed.
11-19-05, 11:56 AM
#23
Originally Posted by DaveW
OK. I understand. So, seriously, where SHOULD a tow-truck driver hook on to pull an FD onto a flatbed? (I would think that without a flatbed, you can't tow an FD at all.) I can sure think of a lot of places worse than those tie-down hooks.
I've (knock on wood) never had to have mine towed.
I've (knock on wood) never had to have mine towed.
Now, it's practically routine, and I walk the tow truck driver through the process LOL.I have them use their hooks and put it into these circles/holes in the subframe.
11-25-05, 11:01 PM
#25
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Yes my wife has the same problem with hers she keeps on complaining about the fact that the heat is not sufficient enough does anybody body on here have any solution to this.