YACT: Car engine will not heat up nor will the heater blow hot air

[bobcpg]

1990 Mazda 626 4cyl 130 miles

Granted it been about -4 degree out the last week here in MN. My car's engine will not heat up, or at least the temp gague stays close to the C. But the gague does move up and down while driving.

Checked the anti-freeze level, good. Replaced the thermostat and blew out the inside of the heater core, still getting barely warm air throught the heater.

Even through its been cold outside shouldn't 30 min of driving make the engine hot and stay hot?

any suggestions would be great, feel free to ask any questions that i didn't cover.

-bob

 

[iamwiz82]

Did you put in the thermostat backwards? After running for 30 minutes, does the upper radiator hose feel hot?

 

[cavemanmoron]

cardboard in front of 2/3rds of the radiator will help,some.

The air is so cold the water takes 3 times as long to warm up.

Make sure no air in coolant sysyem too. {some cars have an air bleed,not sure if yours does}

wait till weds. it will be warmer for you.

supposed to be 0f here tonight and -5f tommorow night.

 

[PoPPeR]

well i dunno about your engine, but my car was having some problems with the AC getting hot air out. Turns out the cap on the radiator or something like that (i know nothing about cars) was busted.

 

[bobcpg]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Did you put in the thermostat backwards? After running for 30 minutes, does the upper radiator hose feel hot?

Verified that the thermostat is not in backwards, someone with experience addressed this issue before we put it in. Havent felt if the upper hose is hot yet. I will do this and get back.

any other ideas??

 

[iamwiz82]

I second that air could be in the system, as well. You temp. sensor may not be getting submerged in coolant, so it isn't registering a temperature. That is somewhat more uncommon, though.

 

[FrequencyX]

I had the same symptoms with my Acura Legend.. Turned out to be a Blown Head Gasket leaking air into cylinder #6 .

Its also worth a shot to try some "Alum-A-Seal" thats supposed to seal up any leaks including the head gasket and heatercore.

You can get it at Checker Auto Parts or a Pep Boys

 

[radioouman]

Did you run water back through the heater core both ways? I hooked up a garden hose to my hoses to my heater core to flush them out. Going one way didn't seem to loosen anything, but going the other way flushed out a lot of stuff.

Oh, you should have a water valve somewhere that opens and closes the flow of hot water into the heater core. On some older cars, this is inline to the heater core. (On my truck it appears to be part of the heater core.) Make sure that valve is working properly.

 

[DrPizza]

I've been experiencing the same problem with one of my cars. I parked in on a steep incline this afternoon and ran it with the radiator cap off for a bit, then topped off the radiator with fluid and ran it a bit more, then topped off the radiator a bit more... it seemed to fix the problem. Apparently there was air in the system or something.

 

[bobcpg]

Ok, just went outside and toped off the anti freeze, didn't take much about 1/2 quart if that.

Anyways, started it for about 10 minutes. Turned off, immediatly opened the radiator cap slightly and a little anti freeze squrted out. Felt the top radiator hose and it was warm. But the engine temp gague was still below the Cold mark.

any ideas?

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: bobcpg
Ok, just went outside and toped off the anti freeze, didn't take much about 1/2 quart if that.

Anyways, started it for about 10 minutes. Turned off, immediatly opened the radiator cap slightly and a little anti freeze squrted out. Felt the top radiator hose and it was warm. But the engine temp gague was still below the Cold mark.

any ideas?

block off 2/3rds of the radiator,till the air temp is above 35f constantly.

Notice the large trucks buses.etc that have the radiators blocked off?

I live in Albany NY area,and this is a common helpful tip.

 

[bobcpg]

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron

Originally posted by: bobcpg
Ok, just went outside and toped off the anti freeze, didn't take much about 1/2 quart if that.

Anyways, started it for about 10 minutes. Turned off, immediatly opened the radiator cap slightly and a little anti freeze squrted out. Felt the top radiator hose and it was warm. But the engine temp gague was still below the Cold mark.

any ideas?

block off 2/3rds of the radiator,till the air temp is above 35f constantly.

Notice the large trucks buses.etc that have the radiators blocked off?

I live in Albany NY area,and this is a common helpful tip.

Ok, just put some cardboard in front of the radiator. I'm heading out for my friends b-day and i'll test it out.
:beer::beer::beer:

 

[psiu]

Had to do this on our 90 Maxima....although it's because the thermostat is shot. Not much of a problem cruising around town....but driving from Detroit to Pittsburgh for Christmas was the most excruciating experience EVAR!!11!!1!!

So cold.......*shivers*

We put the cardboard in before the trip back. It was better.