Hey all,

I've recently been having some heating issues. What's happening now is that there isn't any heat while idle, but when I start driving heat starts coming through as normal.

Another point that has happened recently is that I was driving along with the heat on and then it suddenly started to blow cold for a few seconds. I played with the temp and it came back up.

I've researched both topics prior to posting but cant seem to find a definitive answer. What i'm guessing that it could be is that my intake temp sensor could be on its way out. Also I haven't changed my rad fluid in some time, so that could be another leading factor.

thanks org.

-Raakesh

 

not flushing your rad system per say will not do this but it may be old enough were there is junk or particles floating and getting caught for a few seconds in a certain spot. Do you notice if your engine has been seeing higher temps than usual. If so it could be a water pump which if not working prop and not pushing water the way it should would make you overheat and see a slower flow of fluid thru the engine. i doubnt it is a temp sending unit or so. I would bet it has to do with a pump on its last leg or junk in the rad fluid foating around causing havoc. Let me know what it is..

 

Everything has been consistant except the cold weather. It's been quite cold recently, around 5 degree Fahrenheit kinda cold.

Planning on a flush this weekend. Way overdue.

 

i kinda notice something of the same. Here in mass or temps lately have been 0-10 degrees. So it takes a while for the car to warm up to my liking as i like it on 90 degrees and red hot. But on a 30 or 40 degree day it takes no time for me to start feeling the heat and sweat. So i think the freezing cold has something to do with it also.

 

you are definitly right the cold has alot to do with it. if you notice it doesnt even take the engine that long to get cold after you park it.

 

But even at that. i'm saying that even when the car is "warmed up" it isn't blowing warm air...

 

[QUOTE=resurrectedmax]But even at that. i'm saying that even when the car is "warmed up" it isn't blowing warm air...[/Q]

Really well for you sake i hope its the thermostat not the water pump. They are not expensive at all just got to find someone to put it in. i never did one myself but i've been told that its relatively easy to install so if you handy around cars you might be able to install it yourself.

 

Raakesh, You didnt say if the engine gets hotter than usual. What i mean is the temp gauge in the gauge cluster that tells you if the engine is warm or cold. If the needle is higher than usual that usual is a sign it may be a pump ( as well as a lot of other things such as a faulty fan, but i digress). If the needle looks the same as before and the time before that try the flush but i have a feeling the cold is doing it. Think of it this way. In the summer you can put the temp in the car to its coldest (without ac) and the air doesnt feel real cold it feels luke warm at best. Same thing just vice versa.

 

The engine isn't getting hotter than normal and the temp guage is at its regular just below half mark.

 

Even when i drive for a while then come to a stop at a lights, it starts blowing cold air.

 

thats weird. Mine doesnt do that . Thats why i think the flow (waterpump) may be weak or failing. But i def may be wrong. Or may be something in the antifreeze floating around but i dont really know. See if there is a mechanic that may be able to point you in the right direction

 

I'm guessing that you have air in the cooling system. The water pump being worn could also cause that condition. Check your coolant level when the engine is cool. Also make sure the recovery tank is at the right level.

 

Just curious as to if you have the manual or the climate controlled system in your car. I had a caddy a few years back that was acting similar to what you describe with the temperature fluctuating for short periods of time and it turned out to be an in cabin temp sensor. Replaced the sensor with one from a junk yard and it took care of the problem.
If you have the manual temp control then I am going to have to go with Zero and guess it's pry air in the system. If thats the case you will usually see the temp gauge jump every now and then before quickly returning to normal as the air passes the sensor followed again by coolant.

 

i have a climate controlled system. my tempurature guage isn't jumping.

i plan on doing a rad flush this saturday to see what that does. otherwise i'll replace that sensor.

 

If you are having heat fluctuations in the cabin and the temperature gauge is not changing, I would suspect that you have a problem with the cabin temperature sensor.

If you had a weak water pump, air in your cooling system or a bad thermostat, you would see changes in the temperature gauge. Essentially, you get high temperature steam pockets in the cooling system that cause the temperture gauge to fluctuate up and down. I would definitely check and make sure your cooling system and reservior is full, but generally, if you have air in the cooling system or a stuck thermostat, I think you would see it in the temperture guage.

 

yea lately my heat isn't as hot as i would like even after driving for a few minutes. i assume that i needed to have the radiator fluid flushed because i haven't had it done since i've had the car and i doubt the previous owner did. My car has 59,xxx miles and its a 02