Car heater takes for EVER to heat up!!!
- Thread starter Kenny2g
- Start date
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maybe more water than anti freeze. but hmm...maybe there is something up with your heater hoses...like maybe your coolant isn't making its way through it. next time your car is warmed up, put your hand near them and see if they are cold or hot.
or maybe something is wrong with your blower motor or air control switch that is keeping your heater from go'n to full. bad wiring maybe.
not really sure though.
or maybe something is wrong with your blower motor or air control switch that is keeping your heater from go'n to full. bad wiring maybe.
not really sure though.
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Heater...Colder...???
Just check your temp gauge. If it moves up 1/4 inch or so in the blue, you should feel some heat. If the needles moves slowly or almost not at all, you can put a piece of cardboard or something in front of the radiator to block a portion of it. Make sure to take it out in the spring when the weather gets a little warmer. If your needle goes up and no heat...you have other issues. Could be anything from a stuck door in the hot/cold air box in the dash...kinked hose into the heater core...or ???
No worry, my guess is that your engine is taking too long to warm up and you need to block some of that cold OHIO air. Could be a stuck thermostat but normally they stick closed then it over heats...stranger things have happened though.
Good luck!
Just check your temp gauge. If it moves up 1/4 inch or so in the blue, you should feel some heat. If the needles moves slowly or almost not at all, you can put a piece of cardboard or something in front of the radiator to block a portion of it. Make sure to take it out in the spring when the weather gets a little warmer. If your needle goes up and no heat...you have other issues. Could be anything from a stuck door in the hot/cold air box in the dash...kinked hose into the heater core...or ???
No worry, my guess is that your engine is taking too long to warm up and you need to block some of that cold OHIO air. Could be a stuck thermostat but normally they stick closed then it over heats...stranger things have happened though.
Good luck!
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Wow, I was born in Findlay, OH. Most of my extended family lives in Tiffin, OH.
My thermostat was stuck open when I bought my '87. The car took forever to heat up, even in the summer, and it would cool back down to the blue region on the interstate. A $15 thermostat and about 20 minutes of easy work fixed it. Heats up quick and nice now, just like it should.
My thermostat was stuck open when I bought my '87. The car took forever to heat up, even in the summer, and it would cool back down to the blue region on the interstate. A $15 thermostat and about 20 minutes of easy work fixed it. Heats up quick and nice now, just like it should.
So if your themostart is stuck open, your car will not heat up? I though it will make it to over heat. Actually on the freeway, my temp guage goes about 1/4 and that's it. Doesn't even get to half. Am talking after about 30mins drive the heater is still not blowing hot air. The air gets just a little warm and that's it. Not Hot.
Ok how do you change the theomstart though?
Ok how do you change the theomstart though?
When the thermostat is stuck open, it allows water to flow throught your engine never allowing it to heat up in the winter. I have had this happen a couple of times. If your thermostat is closed, the engine will overheat. Here's the deal, out of all the problems mentioned, the thermostat is the most likely problem. It's very cheap to replace, and you can do it yourself for just a few bucks. I have never changed a thermostat on a 92 325i, but I will try and find a link for you.
Here is a link: Thermostat
Here is a link: Thermostat
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after your 25 mile drive check the engine to see if it's actually at temperature. even if it's stuck open, for sure by 25 miles your engine should have warmed up to normal temperature. Warm up should be definitely inside of 5-10 minutes even on cold days. If your heater valve is stuck closed the hot coolant isn't getting thru your heater core which heats the cabin of the car with the forced air by the fan.
not saying whether there's something wrong with your t stat. definitely check that and your temp guage.
not saying whether there's something wrong with your t stat. definitely check that and your temp guage.
Ok. mpeng168, how do you check the heater valve? The air is blowing full blast inside but just isn't hot enough. And it's not like the weather is below 0 degrees. It's only about 40 degree and i can't get a good hot air. Imagine on a cold ass day. However, how do you check to see if the heater valve is open or close?
Did you read my post? First question...Is your needle on your temp gauge atleast 1/4 to 1/2 into the the blue after 5 or 10 min?
If YES and No heat: Look towards your heater core and or baffles in your hot/cold mixture.
If NO (i.e., the needle isn't moving after 5 or 10 min or moving VERY little): Your motor is not heating up fast enough. In this case, try the cardboard...ITS FREE!!!! If this still doesn't work i.e., the needle doesn't come up in 5 or 10 min, replace the thermostat.
Troubleshooting CAN BE very expensive and very frustrating...if you don't do it right. Do the stuff that is FREE first. The next thing is to eliminate questions. Example. If you car wont start, you need to deterime if it is spark or fuel. Pull a plug and if it sparks while you crank the motor, you know the spark is good. You have just eliminated replacing the battery, the coil (if it has one) the distributer, plug wires, plugs...etc.
Back to the first question...Is your temp guage showing that the motor is warming up in 5 to 10 min?
If YES and No heat: Look towards your heater core and or baffles in your hot/cold mixture.
If NO (i.e., the needle isn't moving after 5 or 10 min or moving VERY little): Your motor is not heating up fast enough. In this case, try the cardboard...ITS FREE!!!! If this still doesn't work i.e., the needle doesn't come up in 5 or 10 min, replace the thermostat.
Troubleshooting CAN BE very expensive and very frustrating...if you don't do it right. Do the stuff that is FREE first. The next thing is to eliminate questions. Example. If you car wont start, you need to deterime if it is spark or fuel. Pull a plug and if it sparks while you crank the motor, you know the spark is good. You have just eliminated replacing the battery, the coil (if it has one) the distributer, plug wires, plugs...etc.
Back to the first question...Is your temp guage showing that the motor is warming up in 5 to 10 min?
Ok. In city driving for about 30mins, the temp guage goes to half.
On highway drive, for about 30mins, the temp guage goes about 1/4 way up. So the temp is working fine. Car is not overheating at all. Don't get me wrong here, the car heats up for the air isn't hot enough. It's just warm. This is why am getting comfused. Because the temp is definately moving and not enough heat after a long time of car being on.
On highway drive, for about 30mins, the temp guage goes about 1/4 way up. So the temp is working fine. Car is not overheating at all. Don't get me wrong here, the car heats up for the air isn't hot enough. It's just warm. This is why am getting comfused. Because the temp is definately moving and not enough heat after a long time of car being on.
Perfect. So we know that your thermostat is OK. Has to be in the heater core or the vents not allowing the hot air to make it to you. Next free thing is to check the hoes going in and out of the Heater Core.
Check both hoses, they should both be VERY warm/HOT to the touch. Make sure you check both the in and out hose.
Are they both hot when the engine is warm?
Check both hoses, they should both be VERY warm/HOT to the touch. Make sure you check both the in and out hose.
Are they both hot when the engine is warm?