Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'94 Ford Aerostar, No Heat From New Heater
Q:
I have
a 94 Ford Aerostar with a 3.0 engine that has A/C. I have replaced
the heater core and the thermostat. When the controls are on full heat,
the vehicle gets warm though not hot. You can hold your hand up against
the blower and its just a warm air. The vehicle seems to take a
while to warm also. I have no leaks.
-
Gordie
A:
It
is possible that one of the new parts you installed is defective or is
in correct. You state that it takes a long time for the vehicle to warm-up.
This is not normal for any vehicle. Add the fact that you just changed
the thermostat with that statement and you may have the answer. What you
need to prove first is that the vehicle is warming up to and maintaining
the correct operating temperature. You cannot do this test with the vehicle
parked and running. Why? There is little air going across the radiator
so even if the thermostat is opening too soon you would have a hard time
proving it. About the only thing you could do is to remove the radiator
cap to see if the cooling system is circulating when the engine is warming
up. If it is, the thermostat is defective or incorrectly installed. The
best test is out on the road with a scan tool, while monitoring the coolant
temperature as the vehicle is being driven. The coolant temperature should
easily reach the temperature specified on the thermostat. I think if you
correct the slow warm-up problem youll fix the poor heat complaint
as well.
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