Excursion Heater
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2019
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Excursion Heater
Hey!
My heater in my 2000 Ex with a 5.4 isn't blowing very cold. I'm suspicious that the core may be partially plugged. Vacuum to control valve is working. Of th e4 heater hoses attached to it, the one going back to the head is hot. One going to the firewall (I presume to the rear heater) is hot. One going to the core is hot, but one is cold.
My limited understanding would tell me that the core is plugged. Air at the front warms just enough to irritate you. The rear air doesn't get very warm at all, but one of the heater lines back there also gets warm.
So, what direction does the heater system flow? Is it from the core to the engine, or from engine to the core?
How can I access my cores to find out if they are plugged?
Any other advice?
My heater in my 2000 Ex with a 5.4 isn't blowing very cold. I'm suspicious that the core may be partially plugged. Vacuum to control valve is working. Of th e4 heater hoses attached to it, the one going back to the head is hot. One going to the firewall (I presume to the rear heater) is hot. One going to the core is hot, but one is cold.
My limited understanding would tell me that the core is plugged. Air at the front warms just enough to irritate you. The rear air doesn't get very warm at all, but one of the heater lines back there also gets warm.
So, what direction does the heater system flow? Is it from the core to the engine, or from engine to the core?
How can I access my cores to find out if they are plugged?
Any other advice?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 879
Likes: 40
From: Greensburg, IN
check to make sure the control valve isn't locked shut - in "MAX AC" there's a valve that blocks off the heater core, and it is semi-prone to failure.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post10563275
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post10563275
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 57
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check to make sure the control valve isn't locked shut - in "MAX AC" there's a valve that blocks off the heater core, and it is semi-prone to failure.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post10563275
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post10563275
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 880
Likes: 13
From: Northcentral Wisconsin
I think they all should be hot. IIRC, hot water leaves the engine and goes through the valve to the heater cores. I 'll be home in a little while, if no one gives you the answer for sure, I'll go look at mine and take some pictures.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 880
Likes: 13
From: Northcentral Wisconsin
I think that's the return from the heater core. Usually warm or hot, but not as hot as the lines going to the heater cores. I'll go take a peak at mine quick, so I can see where they go better.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 880
Likes: 13
From: Northcentral Wisconsin
This T is farther back on the line you say.is cold. The line you say is cold is the return from the rear heater core. It goes in the front of the T. The line on the back is the return from the front heater core. Is it warm? They return antifreeze through the hose going out the side of the T to the back of the engine.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 880
Likes: 13
From: Northcentral Wisconsin
You could take the return lines off and see what kind of flow you have when you start the engine. You could have plugged heater cores, or possibly the vanes on the water pump have worn and aren't pumping as much fluid as they should.
How hot are the other hoses getting? You may also need a new thermostat. I'd get a Gates or a Stant superstar. Gates for the water pump also.
If both your heater cores are plugged, make sure you flush or replace the radiator also. Otherwise you'll push crap out of the radiator into your new heater cores.
How hot are the other hoses getting? You may also need a new thermostat. I'd get a Gates or a Stant superstar. Gates for the water pump also.
If both your heater cores are plugged, make sure you flush or replace the radiator also. Otherwise you'll push crap out of the radiator into your new heater cores.
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You could take the return lines off and see what kind of flow you have when you start the engine. You could have plugged heater cores, or possibly the vanes on the water pump have worn and aren't pumping as much fluid as they should.
How hot are the other hoses getting? You may also need a new thermostat. I'd get a Gates or a Stant superstar. Gates for the water pump also.
If both your heater cores are plugged, make sure you flush or replace the radiator also. Otherwise you'll push crap out of the radiator into your new heater cores.
How hot are the other hoses getting? You may also need a new thermostat. I'd get a Gates or a Stant superstar. Gates for the water pump also.
If both your heater cores are plugged, make sure you flush or replace the radiator also. Otherwise you'll push crap out of the radiator into your new heater cores.
When I turn on the heater fan, for the first moment there is a burst of hot air, but then it tapers off to a very tepid warm. I'm no expert, but that would lead me to believe that I'm looking at a flow problem because the hat water isn't flowing enough to re-heat the cores.
Replacing cores is a CHORE pulling out that dash.
Is there a way to flush them and unplug them?
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inlet hoses to both cores are hot. Return hoses are not.
mom thinking they might be plugged, but what are the chances of that? Both cores?
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
Could both be plugged...? I guess it depends on how well the coolant was maintained over the life of the vehicle...Whether tap water was ever used, etc. I think you could have a temperature blend door problem. The actuators on those are not too hard to replace...or check for proper operation.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 880
Likes: 13
From: Northcentral Wisconsin
You have a flow problem. Unhook the hose from the engine feeding the heater valve and see if you have good pressure and flow. Maybe the heater valve is stuck and not allowing much flow. That's where I would start. You can hook up a garden hose and flush the cores backwards. I'd bet that heater valve is bad though.
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Junior User
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You have a flow problem. Unhook the hose from the engine feeding the heater valve and see if you have good pressure and flow. Maybe the heater valve is stuck and not allowing much flow. That's where I would start. You can hook up a garden hose and flush the cores backwards. I'd bet that heater valve is bad though.
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