Help me figure out heating problem....

[Vital Velocity]

96 GTS does not really blow heat when turned on.... someone said sometimes one of the hoses gets backed up.... dont really mess with heater and hvac systems and feel like a newb for asking....but which hose is it that i should check for back up?

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Beyond that, what is the next step to look at?

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

I'm not sure of the direction, but coolant would enter at #3, pass through a valve that is controlled by the temperature knob in the cockpit, come out of the valve at #2, go into the heater core at #1, and exit the heater core to return to the block at #4. (I might have this backwards.)

If you have no heat, make sure the wire that is under your yellow #3 is moving the lever arm. It should move about 90 degrees. In fine print I believe it tells you which way is open (hot) or closed (not hot.)

If the heater core is plugged, then trying to push fluid from the ****** under #1 and #4 will be difficult.

The very most common problem is that since this group of hoses is at the same height as the radiator cap, it is a common place for air to get trapped. Loosen the hose clamp at #2, stick a screwdriver under the edge of the hose and see what comes out - coolant or air? Many people put a bleeder valve there.

Try some of those and let us know what happens. Maybe have a garden hose handy to rinse off the coolant so it doesn't leave a lasting smell.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

If you have help, do the screwdriver thing under hose #2 while someone is filling the pressure tank. When it comes out at #2, tighten the hose clamp. Go to driver side and lean on the radiator hose and do CPR. If you hear fluid sloshing, you still have air. You'll have to play with this, since the CPR effort will also push fluid out the radiator cap (which you should have on when you do CPR.)

 

[Steve-Indy]

Tom has jumped right in !!!

BUT, I have often found that many owners(especially new owners... keeping in mind that I'm using a PDA and, therefore, cannot see your avitar or post number) find the controls less than straightforward ...AND, it's easy to miss the complexity of the plumbing.

Let's look at a couple of easy things first:

If your system IS working properly, hot air only comes out of the floor vents or the windshield defroster vents (if selected)... noting the "dash vents" are for cool air only.

Of the three HVAC control knobs, do you have the knob closest to the steering wheel on off, low, medium or high?(and does said blower work at all??).

Is the center knob in the red area?

And, is the third knob set to the right side of its midline ?( as the left side of this dial's center is for cooling).

If all of the above is true, does the water valve open when the center HVAC knob is turned to full "red"? (sometimes this knob's cable comes off of the water valve on top of the heater box under the hood where your photo was taken)

Is the pressure bottle that sits under what most call the "radiator cap" full of coolant?

Is the overflow bottle located in the right side of the front fascia empty, full, at the proper level?

Please post the answers before looking further.

As noted, if you are a veteran owner, and this is a recent change in the heater's performance...ignore and take no offense at my ramblings...and go straight to Tom's notes above!!!

 

[dave6666]

Freakin' race car HVAC...


No wonder women like the Corvette