Heater and coolant question

[Clunkerball Run]

I have been doing all kinds of repairs to our Clunkerball Run 990 Festiva. I replaced the water pump and put in new coolant. I started it and it took a while to heat up and the heater is blowing cold air inside the car. The top radiator hose is hot but the bottom one is cold. I checked the thermostat in boiling water and it opens fine. Also, there is a small leak from the passenger side hose going into the firewall and heater core. Any ideas Festiva Gurus?

Thanks,

Clunkerball Run

[twopass]

I bet the heater core is plugged up ,I had to use a garden hose and flush mine back and forward many times before I got out all the alumasil the po used and now I have good heat .

[HondaSlayer]

Are you getting cold air out of the vents and the floor and defrost or just vents. The festivas don't blow warm air out of the vents. Try putting the heat on the floor and check it then. My car takes a little while to heat up.

[Clunkerball Run]

Thanks for the fast reply guys. The air blow cold from the floor, defrost or vents. I just bought this car and the guys said the heater worked great. The water pump was leaking like crazy when I bought it so I never let it get hot up to check stuff like that. I will flush the heater core I guess. Any advice on doing that? Also, could it be anything else other than the heater core?

[hotfordcat]

An airlock in the system will do the same thing!!!

[Clunkerball Run]

thanks hotfordcat. How do i get air out of the system?

[Movin]

You can evacuate and charge just like AC and have no air in system..
at home there is a little coolant hose that makes a u turn by the
fan shroud. With the radiator fill you can let air out there by almost
pulling it off the upper nipple until coolant with no bubbles comes
out. If you can tip the car with a jack or ? and crack a heater hose,
the uphill one while tipped, should get the air out of the heater core.

[Movin]

About heat, there are some threads about where heat comes out, like feet
and windshield only. AC and fresh air in the face. I didn't like that so I
changed it.

[91mcnasty]

Ooooohhh , how how how!!!!!

[Clunkerball Run]

I filled the radiator using a funnel and leaving extra in the funnel. I left the radiator cap off and as soon as the engine started turning over coolant shot out of the open radiator through the funnel. What do I need to do now?

Thanks guys.

[Movin]

Air..see post 7 , then put cap on to start car, watch temp gauge, at about
3/4 through gauge thermostat should open..upper hose warms up.

If car is not drive-able rev engine a little to move remaining bubbles.

Let it cool down before remove cap and topping rad and res.

If test driving, a hard pull to the end of the block and back..

no farther just in case some air is still hanging out.

[Clunkerball Run]

Thanks Movin. I am confused on which hose you say I should disconnect to let the air out. There are 3 hoses coming off the radiator: the top hose going to the engine block, the bottom hose coming from the water pump to the radiator and the overflow tube going to the overflow container. Which one should I disconnect to let the air out while its running?

[Clunkerball Run]

wait. it figured out the u-turn tube you are talking about. going to follow your instructions. i will let you know how it goes.

[xcracer411]

core

I flushed my core couple weeks ago had no heat on pass side and some on drivers flushed the core for 15 mins and the heat is hot works great I would try that

[georgeb]

I filled the radiator using a funnel and leaving extra in the funnel. I left the radiator cap off and as soon as the engine started turning over coolant shot out of the open radiator through the funnel. What do I need to do now?

Thanks guys.

You need to fill it to where it just covers the tubes and wait till it warms up and expands (engine running, cap off). Then fill it up and cap it. Drive a short distance and let it cool. It will probably need more added. Also replace that small hose that Movin mentioned because they burst on 2 of my cars.