No Heat! please help

[leenjen]

i had my explorer sitting for a couple weeks. the other day i decided to take it to work. coming home that night there was no heat. i checked the antifreeze and it's full. i opened the dash to see if something disconnected behind the controls. everything is fine. the engine runs at normal temps. this is the worst time for this to happen. it's been incredibly cold lately, and now with the snow i need to use the explorer. does anyone have any ideas. i dont know what else to check or replace.

 

[Positive Vibes]

Its your thermostat. I believe thats the correct name. Its in your radiator system and sells for a couple of bucks. Not to hard to install yourself. Try a search for thermostat. This happened to me when driving in Idaho. Had no heat and was freezing my butt off. Installed a new thermostat and I was nice an toasty again.

 

[wilkin250r]

The thermostat may have something to do with the problem, but it doesn't sound like it. If your thermostat was defective, your engine would likely overheat, but you said it's operating at normal temps.

I sounds like the problem is in your heater core, it took me about an hour to change mine, and they only cost about $35. Hot water comes from your engine and circulates through the heater core, heating it up. Then your fan blows air through the heater core, which then warms up the air.

If your heater core is plugged up, then you never get hot water through, and thus no heat. Make sure you have a manual, and it should be just a matter of a few screws, a few hoses, and a little bit of time.

 

[Crankcase]

Actually, the thermostat can be stuck OPEN....which makes your coolant stay cold....That would probably be your first place to look, second being the heater core. I bet its the T-stat.

 

[Positive Vibes]

Crankcase, that's exactly what happened to mine. Its a cheap fairly easy check. If its no the Tstat then would look at the heater core being the culprit.

 

[wilkin250r]

In that case, an easy way to check if it is the thermostat is to place a piece of cardboard in front of your radiator and drive around. Without airflow through your radiator, your coolant should then warm up.

If you get heat, then the problem is that your thermostat is stuck open, so your coolant is always circulating through the radiator and never gets a chance to get hot.

If you still don't get heat, then it's obvious you have a problem in your heater core.

If you try this, MAKE SURE YOU PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR TEMPURATURE GUAGE!!!! Without airflow through your radiator, your engine can overheat. Obviously if your engine is overheating, pull over and pull the cardboard out.

 

[leenjen]

thanks guys. i'll try that tomorrow

 

[AlaskanJack]

Hmm well this has been happening in my wife;s 94 lately and if I move the temp from hot to cold back and forth or maybe even move the selector from defrost to vent and back and forth the heat kicks on. Why I don't know but until its doesn't work to fiddle with it anymore I won't search out the problem

 

[mhn3773]

lol^ if it aint broke dont fix it lol..if it is broke get a hammer =-)

 

[i8u]

First what came to mind was you t-stat as mentioned. But if you say your engine is running at normal temps it can't be. The only way you would not get heat from a bad t-stat is if it was stuck open. But then your temp gauge would never warm up to it's normal range.


First I would check to make sure you blend door is working. I am not sure whether they are cable or vacuum operated though.

 

[wilkin250r]

Originally posted by i8u
First what came to mind was you t-stat as mentioned. But if you say your engine is running at normal temps it can't be. The only way you would not get heat from a bad t-stat is if it was stuck open. But then your temp gauge would never warm up to it's normal range.


First I would check to make sure you blend door is working. I am not sure whether they are cable or vacuum operated though.

This is true. Check the simple solution first. You should hear a soft "clunk" when you move the lever from hot to cold, and it should sound like it's coming from behind your glove box.

 

[Spike86]

Very Little Heat

I have been having a heating problem too. My thermostat is fine and I also flushed my heater core. I checked the temps. of the 2 hoses going to the core with a digital thermometer they read at times 30 - 50 degrees off. I also have checked the water control valve and does seem to be in the open position. Can anyone tell me how to see if my blend door is working that is all I can think it is.

 

[i8u]

Spike see the post above yours

Originally posted by wilkin250r
This is true. Check the simple solution first. You should hear a soft "clunk" when you move the lever from hot to cold, and it should sound like it's coming from behind your glove box.

 

[97bignslow]

same problem, easy fix

It has been a while since I have been around.

I had the exact same problem about two years ago. I replaced the stat...didn't work. The fix was very easy. There is a black plastic "valve" with several hoses running in and out of it. I picture is worth a thousand words. (I uploaded a photo to the photo gallery) I have marked the area on the where the part lives. It was an $18 part from Ford. First, drain the coolant from the motor. Then disconnect the lines, they are connected with hose clamps. Then simply take out the old part and put in the new. Fill up the coolant again and you are done. It is very easy since all of the work is done at the top of the motor, right in front of you. If I remember the exact name of the part, I will let you know.

Hope this helps.

BTW, If you have Ford do it, it will cost about $300...ouch

Eric

 

[Spike86]

Eric, you must have the OHV engine. I did check this valve, it is called the water control valve, my is in the front of the engine below the top rad. hose. It is suppose to be open for heat and closed for AC. I ran my X today it was about 11 degrees out, and after i was done I felt my to hoses and they were both hot to the touch. I am getting some heat but I can go on like a 25 mile trip and never have to turn the fan off of high, am I expecting too much? a dealer told me it maybe my water pump, he said its possible for the fins to worn down. This maybe a stupid ? but I should be able to see water moving in my rad. when the engine is operating temp right? thanks Spike

 

[i8u]

Originally posted by Spike86
but I should be able to see water moving in my rad. when the engine is operating temp right? thanks Spike

I hope you are not talking about taking off your radiator cap with the system being under pressure.......

 

[Spike86]

No, taking it off before the thermstat opens

 

[leenjen]

update

ok, it doesnt matter if i cover the radiator. the radiator barely gets warm. after it was running for a while i slowly opened the cap. the antifreeze was still cool. the engine was hot and the temp gauge was reading normal temps.

does this sound like the thermostat?
or could it be the heater core? i felt both hoses going into the firewall. one was hot, the other wasnt.

 

[Deak]

How long did you let it run? Did you take it out for a drive so your temp gauge stopped climbing? If you let it idle or didn't let it warm long enough, the T-stat prolly had just started to open not allowing much hot water to flow into the radiator. If you did drive it for 15-20mins and the rad. is cold and the engine is really hot it could be a t-stat, or it could be a water pump not moving enough coolant.


Deak

 

[leenjen]

i drove it for about an hour. we went to the store, then drove to my wife's grandparent's house. i kept it running, and that's when i checked everything.