heater issues

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Dec 7, 2019 | 06:06 PM

Dennis R. Ling

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Dec 2019

Posts: 8

Likes: 0

From: Oxnard, CA

heater issues

I have an issue with my heater. My truck showed the temp on the dash when the engine is at a max temp between cold and normal. First I replaced the thermostat... no joy. I then ran the engine with the radiator cap off to see if there were any air bubbles... nope. I filled the antifreeze container with the proper amount. My next was to see if the deflector door was operating properly. No matter what position the lever is in the air is the same temp. I have no clue as to how to find and repair the cable or if the cable has come loose, broken... I tried to find something on YouTube, but everything I found related to new trucks that have electronic activators.

Dec 7, 2019 | 08:21 PM

Kruse

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 1,529

Likes: 35

From: Kansas

My crystal ball is in the shop. Please tell us the year of your truck.

Dec 8, 2019 | 01:38 PM

CBB9M

Tuned

Joined: Oct 2013

Posts: 353

Likes: 4

Despite the frustration caused by the lack of important information like, the year of the vehicle, the engine and any mods that may somehow contribute to the problem, it's potentially useful when a diagnosing a problem like this to, and with a running warm engine and the heater turned on, to feel the hoses leading into and out of the heater core at the firewall and compare, in a general sense, the temperature of them. Three possible outcomes exist and each one means something.....

Dec 8, 2019 | 02:00 PM

Dennis R. Ling

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Dec 2019

Posts: 8

Likes: 0

From: Oxnard, CA

93 Ranger XLT 3.0 engine

It is a 93 Ford Ranger XLT, 3.0 engine. The first thing I noticed, AFTER no heat, was that the temp gauge was between cold and normal... not normal at all. So I assumed Thermostat... replaced the same...nope. Filled the antifreeze reservoir, removed the radiator cap and ran the engine looking for bubbles...nope. Both the input and output hoses from the heater core are medium-hot to the touch. The settings for defrost, floor etc work fine. Not sure if the cold to hot selector works as the air in both extremes is the same... lukewarm, maybe a little cooler. What else would you need to know? All three fan settings are functional... off to high. I was going to flush the heater core, but the hoses are really affixed to the core. The last thing I want to do is break the core. For some reason, the hoses go so far into the firewall that it is impossible to get the hose tool in to loosen them. Maybe I need to bite the bullit and take it to Ford.

Dec 8, 2019 | 08:13 PM

CBB9M

Tuned

Joined: Oct 2013

Posts: 353

Likes: 4

Since both heater hoses sound as though they are about identical in temperature, I'd look under the dash at the heater control, identify the cable that services the temp adjustment lever, follow said cable to the heater core box, and see if the door moves when you move the lever on the dash. At this point in time I would NOT flush the core at there seems to be no reason to do so. But if you ever do for some other reason, and if you remove a hose, NEVER yank on it, you carefully knife it off. This, so as to not pull a nipple out of the heater core and ruin it.