My gf's car heater doesnt work..

[jagec]

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
Eleven years? Maybe you should treat yourself more often. It's halfway to being a "classic".

Amazing...you have NO idea how long cars are supposed to last. Lemme guess, you buy Fords?

As far as "treating yourself" goes, it's a complete and utter waste of money to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a car that isn't any better than a $4k car that's got a few years on it. It's one thing for sports cars, but grocery getters? Save your money...

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: SinNisTeR
well, we live in utah, and we are driving to LA for xmas. i think she needs one all the time. so im just gonna get one for her. no water gets in the car, amazingly because the sun roof doesnt close all the way. its a miracle this car drives as well as it does. it's on its second engine too. how well do those 12v cig heaters work? what would be a good wattage? thanks for the help guys.

Just checkin. If there was water in the car then I could understand the mechanic quoting you a lot. Replacing heater cores is not a cheap or easy job. I know my friend was quoted more then $1k from a Volvo dealer to replace his. He asked for kicks since he's a mechanic as well. It did take more then 8 hours to totally finish the job tho.

Because heater cores are always freakin' buried in a car, and you have to take out other things to get to them. That, and most Volvo dealerships charge $98/hr, and mark up parts more than 100%.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Here, get one of these: http://www.harborfreight.com/c...m.taf?itemnumber=36711
Quick, easy, cheap, and not dangerous like a house heater.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
Eleven years? Maybe you should treat yourself more often. It's halfway to being a "classic".

Amazing...you have NO idea how long cars are supposed to last. Lemme guess, you buy Fords?

As far as "treating yourself" goes, it's a complete and utter waste of money to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a car that isn't any better than a $4k car that's got a few years on it. It's one thing for sports cars, but grocery getters? Save your money...

Technically, the VR6 IS a sports car...

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: SinNisTeR
well, we live in utah, and we are driving to LA for xmas. i think she needs one all the time. so im just gonna get one for her. no water gets in the car, amazingly because the sun roof doesnt close all the way. its a miracle this car drives as well as it does. it's on its second engine too. how well do those 12v cig heaters work? what would be a good wattage? thanks for the help guys.

Just checkin. If there was water in the car then I could understand the mechanic quoting you a lot. Replacing heater cores is not a cheap or easy job. I know my friend was quoted more then $1k from a Volvo dealer to replace his. He asked for kicks since he's a mechanic as well. It did take more then 8 hours to totally finish the job tho.

Because heater cores are always freakin' buried in a car, and you have to take out other things to get to them. That, and most Volvo dealerships charge $98/hr, and mark up parts more than 100%.

exactly. Then again, I imagine the control valve is buried behind the dash on some cars as well. Luckily mine isn't

 

[mcvickj]

I remember a friend having heating issues in his car and it ended up being a stuck thermostat.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: mcvickj
I remember a friend having heating issues in his car and it ended up being a stuck thermostat.

If it was a stuck thermostat you'd still get some heat. From the sound of it the OP is getting none.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Technically, the VR6 IS a sports car...

I mean REAL sports cars

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: mcvickj
I remember a friend having heating issues in his car and it ended up being a stuck thermostat.

From the sound of it the OP is getting none.

If he can fix her car he might........

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: woowoo

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: mcvickj
I remember a friend having heating issues in his car and it ended up being a stuck thermostat.

From the sound of it the OP is getting none.

If he can fix her car he might........

 

[nakedfrog]

Personally, I would suggest a coat and gloves if you're going to be cheap about it. And an ice scraper for the inside windows. Otherwise just get it fixed.

 

[lightpants]

Home heater and inverter - don't even think about it, it will not work.

12 volt heater will work for some time - until the amperage demand of the heater melts the 12 volt wire going to her cigarette lighter. If your lucky, it will just short to the ground wire from the lighter and blows the fuse. If she is unlucky, the 12 volt supply wire will be in a harness with about 30 other wires behind the dash somewhere. It will melt through these wires and cause all kinds of electrical problems. Trust me, I have seen this happen. Or, it could just start a fire and burn the car to the ground.


Just get it fixed right, or sell it and buy a car with a working heater.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
Eleven years? Maybe you should treat yourself more often. It's halfway to being a "classic".

Amazing...you have NO idea how long cars are supposed to last. Lemme guess, you buy Fords?

As far as "treating yourself" goes, it's a complete and utter waste of money to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a car that isn't any better than a $4k car that's got a few years on it. It's one thing for sports cars, but grocery getters? Save your money...

hey my Tempo is a 92 and its still going strong, just hit 120K miles also

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: hondAS2ooo170
try checking is the blend door. that might be the cause

English speaks much?

That was fine, "Try checking the blend door, that might be the cause" what's wrong with that?

 

[TechnoKid]

Does the blower motor still work? Are you experiencing any loss of coolant (loos of coolant would indicate a leak in the heater core)?

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: SinNisTeR
well, we live in utah, and we are driving to LA for xmas. i think she needs one all the time. so im just gonna get one for her. no water gets in the car, amazingly because the sun roof doesnt close all the way. its a miracle this car drives as well as it does. it's on its second engine too. how well do those 12v cig heaters work? what would be a good wattage? thanks for the help guys.

12v heater will be fine to defog the windshield,

for real heat like to go over the Rockies,get the heater fixed.

try a local radiator shop.

Or for the road trip,rent a car.

 

[SinNisTeR]

ya, when she drives she has gloves and a jacket, its dang funny. the blower works, no coolant leaks. btw i get some even without fixing it iirc i remember her telling me the mechanic said it was the heat core.
i was looking at some of these. im worried about power consumption. the engine will be on during any heater operation.

Link

any recommendations? thanks

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: hondAS2ooo170
try checking is the blend door. that might be the cause

English speaks much?

lmao

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Anubis
hey my Tempo is a 92 and its still going strong, just hit 120K miles also

Well, the Tempo IS about the most reliable Ford...120k is NOTHING though.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog

Originally posted by: hondAS2ooo170

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
That car's too old to be doing any major work anyway. Just get a cigarette lighter heater and you're good. Then drive the car to Florida and sell it.

Its not that old

Eleven years? Maybe you should treat yourself more often. It's halfway to being a "classic".

some of us don't have Daddy Warbucks to buy us a new Lexus every two years.

to the OP: i really would not run a heater in the car. all it would take is one hard brake or turn and that thing will be on the floor, lighting the carpet on fire. REALLY bad idea. i mean they're pretty dangerous even in a house. either pay to fix the heater or sell the car to someone else and just mention that the heater "doesn't work."

 

[flot]

Agreed with everyone else - electric heater in a car, not really a good idea. The house heater DEFINITELY won't work. Also I just don't think you're going to be able to pull enough power from the cigarette lighter to get effective electric heat.

 

[3chordcharlie]

cig-lighter ~ 100W

AC heater = 500-1500W

definitely a no-go.

If it's the heater core, then the radiator won't be working properly, and you'll get overheating; so it's probably something related to the controls. Nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer and some duct tape, I imagine

 

[nakedfrog]

Here's a thought: line the dash with cans of Sterno and light them when it gets too cold