Does this sound like a Heater core problem?

[stefan]

With my rad completely covered i can get my engine temp 1/2 way up the gauge. But i still have really weak heat. With my coolant that hot shouldn't i get good heat?

[FB71]

yes you should. Could be an airflow problem across the core, the core could be plugged or sludged, could be sludge in the block/head... How's you airflow out of the defroster and floor? Dash vent doesn't count, because that bypasses the core.

[stefan]

terrible. never tried the air in another fest to compare but it barley pushes air on def/floor. Dash vent isnt anything to brag about ither tho.
i assume that since there is no filter, the heater core is the only restrictive part of the system? So its probably plugged with junk after 17 years.

I wouldn't be surprised if the core was plugged coolant passage wise too, with how neglected this car was. The air that it dose manage to move isnt that warm.


That settles it... i just pulled the dash. Ill get the core out tomorrow.

[sasquatch]

i know you know about princess auto... have you seen the universal heater cores they have. they are ment to be in a back hoe or somthing with no heater in it. they have a water inlet and outlet and then has a fan on it i was thinking if you got one to modify to fit then with that in there it should give lots of heat. that is what im planing on doing if my festiva has no heat. i just thought you should know... also if you go in to junk yards alot then look at other cars heater cores and see if you can find a close match where we only have to cut a little tab off the plastic thing that holds the core and fan in place and the air goes through (i forgot what its called) then we can all have good heat

[packrat427]

Re: Dose this sound like a Heater core problem?

With my rad completely covered i can get my engine temp 1/2 way up the gauge. But i still have really weak heat. With my coolant that hot shouldn't i get good heat?

That sounds like 2 problems ..

Can't build any heat in the engine .., are you sure the T-stat is not partially stuck open .

You never know what might have tried to make a nest in the heater box , and is restricting the air flow .

[gdawgs]

Re: Dose this sound like a Heater core problem?

With my rad completely covered i can get my engine temp 1/2 way up the gauge. But i still have really weak heat. With my coolant that hot shouldn't i get good heat?

That sounds like 2 problems ..

Can't build any heat in the engine .., are you sure the T-stat is not partially stuck open .

You never know what might have tried to make a nest in the heater box , and is restricting the air flow .

You have to remember he's in Winnipeg, much colder than Illinois. When the air temp is well below zero F, Festiva engines don't warm up well. The engine temp gage he's describing sounds right(assuming it's working properly) for sub zero temps with the front end blocked off and a properly working thermostat. Sounds like a mouse nest or leaves or something, and possibly an internal blockage as well.

[stefan]

1/2 way up the temp gauge is a problem? I mean in the middle... i thought that was pretty good for when its -20c. When its that hot on the gauge if i stop and pop the hood the engine is very warm and the rad hoses are hot to touch.
I've seen it higher, like 3/4 but that scared me and i stopped and backed off the cardboard.

[gdawgs]

Maybe I didn't word my comment very well. You are doing fine if you can get the temp gage up 1/2 way up when it's cold out(Winnipeg cold, not Texas cold). But it won't get that warm unless the front end is covered up, as you have discovered.

[packrat427]

1/2 way on the gauge sounds normal , I guess I thought you meant 1/2 of what normal was .

Have you pulled the blower out yet to see if there was anything in there , in the box .

[stefan]

LOL. Settles that

[leapin]

PLUUUUUUUGGGED! :lol: :shock:

[sasquatch]

that looks like a dryer lint colector thing. where you doing your laundry in your car :lol: i have never seen one pluged like that :shock:

[packrat427]

Clean that baby out and put it back together , and be careful ..you will burn up now :lol:

[jglutz]

Stefan; very smart to leave the hoses attached...not that they shouldn't be reaplaced later...but how easy it will be on the bench without breaking anything. VERY SMART.

[packrat427]

I am curious how many other Festiva heater cores /boxes look like that :lol: