Heater questions
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 597
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From: San Antonio, TX
Heater questions
I have a 78 Supercab with factory AC. The AC does't work, but the heater seemed to work fine when I tested it when it was 50-60 degrees out. However, today, it was 20-30 degrees (in south Texas no less!!!), started the truck, let it idle for a couple min, and then drove it for about 15 minutes. However, with the heater on, it never seemed to heat up!
I was just wondering if some of you guys could let me know how long it takes your trucks to heat up and if there are any common ways of improving heater performance.
I was just wondering if some of you guys could let me know how long it takes your trucks to heat up and if there are any common ways of improving heater performance.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Check for plugged Heater core.
Touch both heater hoses to see if they both are scalding hot
If one is really hot and the other isn't,the heater core is plugging.
You have add extra time the colder the coolant gets over night
Come further north for addition training
Touch both heater hoses to see if they both are scalding hot
If one is really hot and the other isn't,the heater core is plugging.
You have add extra time the colder the coolant gets over night
Come further north for addition training
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 359
Likes: 1
From: Saint Paul, MN
If you have AC, there should be a vacuum controlled heat valve on the heater hose coming from the water pump to the AC unit on the firewall. When your engine is warm, feel the hose in front of and behind the valve. Make sure you have vacuum there. It might be stuck. I used to open and close mine with a pliers as the seasons changed. NAPA sells them. The heater on an AC unit should feel like the Amazon in your cab. If you have to change it, clamp off the hose on both sides of the valve and you won't have to drain anything.That's how I did mine. I don't have AC now but my truck heats up fairly fast. The temperature has been in the single digits at night for the past week. When I start it up, the temp guage starts to move after about 5 minutes.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,203
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From: where the deer and antelo
Originally Posted by 78f-150Supercab
However, today, it was 20-30 degrees (in south Texas no less!!!), started the truck, let it idle for a couple min, and then drove it for about 15 minutes. However, with the heater on, it never seemed to heat up!
Make sure your radiator is full. Low antifreeze will also cause the problems your having.
20 to 30. Tropics I tell ya.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by Mil1ion
I don't remember seeing a valve on the 78
Maybe a 75 or 76 ?
Maybe a 75 or 76 ?
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: San Antonio, TX
Welp, I was going to go check, and I went out to start the truck, turned the key, and nothing. The seatbelt and brake lights came on, but nothing else... no starter... nothing.
Guess my truck doesn't like the cold weather either and I don't want to go out and find out why right now anyway! *burrr* There were icicles on my truck! Icicles! Down here, we’re thrilled when we get ice cubes from the freezer!
I know 20 degrees isn't that cold to a lot of you, but consider this: 100 degrees is a nice cool day to me!
Guess my truck doesn't like the cold weather either and I don't want to go out and find out why right now anyway! *burrr* There were icicles on my truck! Icicles! Down here, we’re thrilled when we get ice cubes from the freezer!
I know 20 degrees isn't that cold to a lot of you, but consider this: 100 degrees is a nice cool day to me!
Last edited by 78f-150Supercab; Dec 8, 2005 at 01:08 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
We're in the negatives now and I'm not happy about it. The cold weather knocked out my car battery last week. 20 degree weather can take its toll on a weak battery so I don't know what condition yours was in but if the battery is alright look at the solenoid on the passenger's side. They are notorious for having problems. If that's the problem you can always do the redneck think and use a battery jumper cable to feed from the battery to the output side of the solenoid just to get it started.