-shock211-

iTrader: (1)

Heat Problems=VG30E
Well I've never had really good heat in my Maxima but it's extremely sub par at the moment. I changed the thermostat a few days ago and of course that made things worse. I used a Nissan thermostat. After changing the thermostat I had absolutely no heat. I jacked the car up as high as I possibly could (about 2') and ran the car to let all the air out of the system. That day the heat seemed reasonable so I was happy and assumed that my heat would be good enough to get by for the winter. Well the temperature has dropped about 10 degrees celcius since I bled the system and now the heat is virtually non-existent.
What are some other tricks I could try to get my heat functioning properly? A friend of mine who also has a 3rd gen suggested that I fill up the system from the heater core. It sounds like a good idea so I'll try it and see what happens.
What are some possible problems that could cause my heat to suck so bad?
What are the symptoms of a nuked heater core?
Are our heater cores known to blow? Do they get gunked up and need to be cleaned?
Are there any other variables to the system I'm forgetting?

Thanks in advance ppl.

Happy Thanksgiving Yanks!

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

Did you add coolant while you were bleeding the system?
have you flushed the system?
I have to go check my coolant level, I think I'm low.
my heat major sucka, especially when I use the defrost :brr:
um shouldn't you also celebrate thanksgiving?
didn't columbus "discover" america on which canada is as well

-shock211-

iTrader: (1)

yes,
i was adding coolant while i bled the system and i flushed the system before i changed the t-stat.

for whatever reason thanksgiving is in the middle of october here. i don't mind it gives me time to build up the thirst for more turkey at christmas.
i guess columbus stopped off in the north first??

Yourself

just in case ....if you leave your fresh vent open it reduces heat alot fresh vent is the lever on the left side of the controlls it goes up and down

-shock211-

iTrader: (1)

i know....that's not the problem. i almost wish i was dumb enough to leave that open, close it then suddenly get killer heat. sure would be an easy fix.

Yourself

thats what" just in case" meant....you can check to see if your slide cable is moving the door when you slide the hot/cold lever look up above the e.c.u..under the dash ..also theres a heater valve on the firewall that opens and closes between full cold+hot you can make sure that it moves ?..

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

Mine was just low on antifreeze (about a 1/2 gallon or so)
So I got my heat back now all I need is to add remote start so that the car gets warm

dude88888

Alot of the time, the heat problem stems back to vapor locking. I use a vacuum pump to pull vacuum thru the radiator, then suck the antifreeze back in. My inlaws had the same prob with 1990 se, and it was all caused by a vapor lock in the system. there was a writeup about the 1990 maximas about this, may be your problem too. good luck

Yourself

would using the "air bleed screw"help? its right by the pcv. connection on the intake plenum assembly although ive never used it ...just read it in the fsm(coolant change)section

dude88888

Been wrenching cars for 30 years, if you don't have access to a vacuum system, when i drain and refill antifreeze, I always turn the heater on hot and turn on the fan, fill the radiator, start the car, then the antifreeze will drop off and continue to add antifreeze until full then close is up. top off the reservoir. good luck. like i said, the older max's had problems with vapor locking. check out this link. go to trouble spots toward the bottom of page
http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/u...ex.cfm/id/2078

-shock211-

iTrader: (1)

imo the air bleeder beside the pcv is somewhat useful. some people think otherwise though.
thanks for the help people.

i'm going to keep checking my coolant levels to see if any air bubbles escape. i'll also hose out the heater core to see if it's full of junk.

-shock211-

iTrader: (1)

so i noticed this pic of 'mtcooksons' engine bay. he's eliminated the vacuum unit and replaced it with a coolant filler/bleeder. this seems like an easy way to avoid possible issues from the vacuum unit. but wouldn't this eliminate the adjustment of heat temp?
any thoughts?
http://www.mtcmotorsports.com/coolan...%20tee%201.jpg

dkris42

could your alternatyor be going bad....my car's heat only works when you when the RMS reatch right shifting point then the heat starts to work great till i slow down again.

-shock211-

iTrader: (1)

my alternator is just fine. it's rated at 120a

longjuanfeng

Interesting, I have a problem with lack of heat as well. I was going to change out the thermostat today because when it's real cold out my engine temp gauge never gets to it's normal steady state temp (and hence no heat). On a normal warm day the gauge gets to normal temp range and the heater will work. I'm guessing the thermo is stuck at least partially open. Your problem sounds like the heater core or possibly the air mix door not adjusted properly (allowing outside air to flow in even when set to recirc only).

Edit: changed thermo, engine comes up to temp quickly now.

-shock211-

iTrader: (1)

you need heat in san jose?

longjuanfeng

Lol! I guess I'm 'aclimated' to the mild climate, cuz when I leave in the morning 45 deg F feels COLD to me!

xpl0sive22

damn i used to live in san jose... with the weather i have here in vancouver now... and being "acclimated" id be driving with open windows in san jose rite now... anyways, about the heat, my car blows cold air out the front 4 holes... i cant really think of what they are called rite now, anyways, the hot air comes from either the windshied defroster, or the leg warmer, whatever my climate control is set to.... so i just close those 4 vents and let the car heat up from the windshield heater... hope that helps

-shock211-

iTrader: (1)

any more tips guys?

ghostridden

iTrader: (2)

well mine use to do that and it had to do with the vacuum, we messed with that and drained my entire coolant system, and it worked for like a week....now it sucks...well actually it works if i put it on 1 or 2, but if its on full blast it doesn't work, its luke warm, which doesn't cut it in 30 degree weather....

aw89maxSE

iTrader: (3)

My heater core went out in the middle of January which is one of the coldest months around here. Had to ride around with blankets in the car.....major sucko!!