heater core? clutch fan? radiator? HEATER PROBLEMS

[FrankX570]

ok last week, i started to notice a smell. it was like burning metal/plastic kind of. Though it was consistant, so I didn't think anything about it. Then I realized it only happened when I turned on the heat. So, I thought hmm, wonder where the level is on my resevoir for my coolant/anti-freeze/ it was empty. so i was like oh ****, and filled it to above the line. i used my heater again, and the smell went away, sort of...it only smells after I turn off my heater.

on top of that, yesterday when i started my vehicle to warm it up. I turned on my heat, and all my lights went dim. and it's like my x lost power....i was like ack..turned the heater off, then turned it back on...it was fine then...

tonight on the way to get food, going down the drive way, i turned on the heat while driving, i lost all power, and lights dimmed, no steering and all that jazz, so i turned off the heat, everything went back to normal, so i turned it back on, and nothing.

also my vehicle makes like a whining noise when started in the cold, also the fan i would assume, seems to be louder than norm...

any ideas? i'm goinna start searching this board now for heater related problems, but i figured i'd give this a shot...

p.s my radiator level was fine before and after i started my vehicle...

 

[Billy177]

with the engine cold try turning the fan by hand it should spin with little resistance.

as far as the lights dimming the only thing i can think of is a bad blower motor

 

[Modemagic]

My escort did a similar thing... bottom line.. blower motor. Pull it off and check it out... throw some voltage to it, fused of course.. no sense in blowing yourself up, and see if it turns nicely, stutters, etc.

 

[checkedout]

I think Billy 177 is right. You need a new fan clutch.