Heat isn't blowing hot?

[Bluesky4x4]

I just got done putting an 84 wag back together. The vents are blowing air out just fine, but it isn't hot. I checked the heat selection slider and it is moving the vent door on the box. Do the vacuum diaphrams controlled by the defrost and heater switch have anything to do with what is coming out or do they only determine where?

There is also a splice in one of the heater core hoses with a metal block in between. The metal block has a screwin/screwout thingy on it. Is that there to control the flow of antifreeze to the heater core? It's on the right hose.

[WHAT?]

yes the diaphrams are only for directional control. if the "thingy" is screwed in then try unscrewing it! any time I have had this happen it has always been either the thermostat or the water pump, check to see if your cooling system is getting warm like it should, and where.

[joe]

Sounds like the car previously had heater/vacuum probs as in on all the time becuase the doors wouldn't close. Then installed a shut off to keep the heater core from getting coolant. Like Justin said...try unscrewing it or replace the hose. You could just be low on coolant also.

edit: If a new hose doesn't fix it you might be air locked too. Leave the rig run for quite awhile with the rad cap off and add coolant as needed.

[ December 24, 2003, 01:09 AM: Message edited by: -joe ]

[WHAT?]

yeah like he said!! :D :cool:
(gosh I love it when someone says I was right!!)

[woodybeone]

That "T" fitting in the hose could be a flush tap if it has a screw on/off cap. That's used to hook a garden hose and back flush the heater,block, & rad. Of course if it has a paddle type lever or a screw post then it could be a regulator. Try taking that out of the line and see what happens.

[J4GRAND]

You might also have a bunch of leaves and junk inside of the heater housing. They can get through the grate at the front of the windshield and into the core housing. I had a boatload of pine needles in mine that prevented good heat; now I can cook a turkey under there at full heat.

[WHAT?]

mmmm turkey!......! *drooling*
anyways, check all of those things and remember to check your thermostat and coolant flow(no flow=no hot stuff in the core)and then let us know

[SpeedBump]

As a worst case scenario the core maybe calcified take it to a radiator shop and have it "rodded out" (end cap taken off and a rod physically pushed thru the tubes) if nothing else works.

[Alzamon]

Something simple to check is when the engine is up to temp, touch the heater hoses by the core. They should be hot, (mine never were) if not, just pop the hoses off and try flushing it out with a garden hose then re-connect. I usually seem to do this once a year or so. If your core is stopped up just replace it, the one from Autozone fight right in my '77 Wag with no problems, and it was cheap.