Heater problems
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New User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: USA
Heater problems
Hi everyone, 1st time visitor, long time Ranger owner with a heating problem and a story...
Last winter my water pump and radiator froze up and I was able to thaw both and didn't replace either but have replaced the thermostat twice........now though, my truck heats slowly, blows heat great....for about 10 seconds, then the temp. gauge drops back to cool and the air from the heater gets cold, then as the gauge goes higher, the temp. goes higher, back and forth and so on....
I have checked the radiator and it seems to be circulating but I'm not sure if it's circulating enough or right, etc.
The heater hoses have not been off it or replaced since I've owned the truck (about 8 yrs.) so I'm pretty sure they're OK.....and my problems all started when the radiator froze......any suggestions?
Last winter my water pump and radiator froze up and I was able to thaw both and didn't replace either but have replaced the thermostat twice........now though, my truck heats slowly, blows heat great....for about 10 seconds, then the temp. gauge drops back to cool and the air from the heater gets cold, then as the gauge goes higher, the temp. goes higher, back and forth and so on....
I have checked the radiator and it seems to be circulating but I'm not sure if it's circulating enough or right, etc.
The heater hoses have not been off it or replaced since I've owned the truck (about 8 yrs.) so I'm pretty sure they're OK.....and my problems all started when the radiator froze......any suggestions?
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 513
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From: Lincoln NE
Heater problems
I'm no expert by any means but I'd say your getting some bad thermostats. Where are you buying them? If your getting those cheapies at Auto Zone or somewhere of the sorts, then you'll continue to have problems. I bought one from NAPA for my f150 around $12-13 and have had no troubles. My dad buys some of this kind of stuff from auto zone and can't figure out why his engine temp in the winter doesn't warm up very well, and he's even got a winter cover over the grill of his f150 (Oh, and he doesn't listen to his son's insights on the matter). The cheapy ($5) thermostats from autozone use cheaper springs that don't meet spec's, in other words, they open up sooner allowing you water temp to cool off. If you're the curious type, you can test this by boiling some water in a pot on the stove with your thermostat in the pot and a thermometer in that will read high enough to see if your thermostat is acting up. The reason I don't think it's anything else is because your air temp is adjusting like your water temp. I've never had a water/cooling system freeze up on me, so I don't know what else it could be. If it's not the thermostat, I'll bet some of the other fella's on this site will be able to guide you in the right direction. 
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New User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: USA
Heater problems
nzabka........thanks for the tip......it just so happens I HAVE been getting my thermostats from "Autozone". Not anymore......I'll get a GOOD one and let you know how it works out.....thanks
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New User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: USA
Heater problems
nzabka.......well, I did the thermostat thing....went to CarQuest, bought an expensive thermostat, put it in.....same old thing....drive, temp. gets to normal, blows good heat.......temp. drops, heat blows cold....no one seems to know.....
Thanks for all your help though......at least you answered me........no one else offered any suggestions.....when I figure this out, I will let you know what it was.........
Thanks for all your help though......at least you answered me........no one else offered any suggestions.....when I figure this out, I will let you know what it was.........
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 513
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From: Lincoln NE
Heater problems
hmmmmm... and the water temperature still drops too when your air temp drops? that's wierd. i've also read in a forum on this website somewhere's that reversed heater hoses can cause problems with your heater warming up. did you by chance take them off to thaw out your coolant when it froze? it has something to do with how the heater core fills up, top to bottom/bottom to top. i'll see if i can find it somewheres or see if my haynes manual for my f150 says anything. i'm sure there isn't much difference between a ranger and f150 heating system. what year is your ranger?
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 513
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From: Lincoln NE
Heater problems
ah, i found it. but it doesn't tell us much except that it matters how the heater hoses are hooked up. Here are the details for the forum if you wanna look it up.
no heat also prompt
03-Nov-02 07:52 PM by flyboy2610
no heat also prompt
03-Nov-02 07:52 PM by flyboy2610
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Heater problems
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-Dec-02 AT 05:23 AM (EST)]Yes yes yes!!! I have the same problem. I have a grill guard on in the winter and nothing in the summer. It is next to frigid in the winter and if I run the A/C in the summer I have to watch closely or it'll over heat. I am changing the thermostat today and I will let you know what happens. I already tried a radiator cleaner that I had to leave in for 6 hours while driving, then flush. It didn't seem to help, but in my opinion the coolant/antifreeze is flowing a little better. I would like a definate answer on this one from the FORD techs, seems to be alot of people with this prob, and I am tired of freezing my butt off in the winter. PLEASE let me know about this hose reversal thing. I had to replace a heater core couple of years ago and I couldn't tell ya if I put the hoses on the same, boy would that be an easy fix!
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New User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: USA
Heater problems
Another person with the same problem as me? I feel a little better knowing I'm not just going crazy.....
Anyway, I have never touched the heater hoses, so I'm pretty sure it's not them (but not ruling ANYTHING out at this point). And the difference between bruha and myself is I don't have air conditioning to drive me crazy also!!
I'm about ready to spend the big bucks and take it to a radiator shop, but I just keep thinking it's got to be something simple and I'll kick myself if I take it somewhere and they charge me an arm and a leg and I could have fixed it myself so easily.....I HATE giving up
I'll keep checking back and I'll keep looking for answers elsewhere and if I think I've found it, I'll post it....
Anyway, I have never touched the heater hoses, so I'm pretty sure it's not them (but not ruling ANYTHING out at this point). And the difference between bruha and myself is I don't have air conditioning to drive me crazy also!!
I'm about ready to spend the big bucks and take it to a radiator shop, but I just keep thinking it's got to be something simple and I'll kick myself if I take it somewhere and they charge me an arm and a leg and I could have fixed it myself so easily.....I HATE giving up
I'll keep checking back and I'll keep looking for answers elsewhere and if I think I've found it, I'll post it....
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: morristown usa
Heater problems
im having a simalar prob. myne the air stays cold. i mean my temp gauge says norm but i get cold *** air. ive checked and my duct door is changing to heat. the engine gets warm (duh) but the gauge even reads overheating at times (and i the engine i know is not overheating) so im stumped and cold. i need to know what to do cause i also have no defroster and it cold here.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: morristown usa
Heater problems
did that 2 days ago and still i dont know what diff that would make other than leting the system push out the water. so far my best guess is that my core is blocked and the water just isnt going in it. next theng ill do is a thermo replace.
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New User
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From: USA
Heater problems
I never thought about it being the radiator cap......I guess it's possible that when the radiator froze, it could have damaged the seal or warped it or something......I'll give that a try next....
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Heater problems
When the engine is up to operating temp can you touch both heater hoese and hold them for very long?
What ratio of coolant to water do you have?
Have you checked the temp cable/door on the heater?
Have you looked through other threads on this forum relating to this topic?
Dennis
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What ratio of coolant to water do you have?
Have you checked the temp cable/door on the heater?
Have you looked through other threads on this forum relating to this topic?
Dennis
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: morristown usa
Heater problems
ok no water is going to the core and the rad hoses are just barily warm so i started on the thermo replacement and two bolts brok off. one i got out the other is stil in it so im off to auto zone to get a qwik fix later.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,668
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From: Lincoln USA
Heater problems
>ok no water is going to the core and the rad hoses are just
>barily warm so i started on the thermo replacement and two
>bolts brok off. one i got out the other is stil in it so im
>off to auto zone to get a qwik fix later.
Maybe your water pump isn't doing too good a job circulating the coolant.
>barily warm so i started on the thermo replacement and two
>bolts brok off. one i got out the other is stil in it so im
>off to auto zone to get a qwik fix later.
Maybe your water pump isn't doing too good a job circulating the coolant.