hey guys.. i'm trying to figure out why i don't get much heat from the heater. i'd say i'm getting half the heat than what i should be getting.

i recently replaced my thermostat and radiator cap and flushed my radiator fluid and have no leaks whatsoever inside or out.

when i warm up the car, the upper radiator hose gets hot and the lower one is sort of warm (like it should).

but the heater hoses are barely warm. i've bled the system for any air locks also. my guess is there is a clog somewhere along the heater core lines or perhaps the heater core is defective/corroded. i really hope it isn't cuz it costs $400 or more from the dealer.

what do you think the problem might be? any help would be greatly appreciated.

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my guess is the heater core.

ok.. i just finished working on it.

i was able to squeeze my hand to where the coolant hose for the heater is located (the hose between the coolant neck from the block to the heater coolant valve). i squeezed the hose and felt like something was in it, it felt like slush/ice. so i removed that hose and drained the fluid and noticed some dirt particles that remained inside. you see, that hose is like a U shape and the bottom of the U shape is where dirt was getting collected.. this is not a good sign for the heater core and lines. now after filling up with coolant and rebleeding the lines all over again, the heater lines are now heating up like they should. yay!

right now, i'm getting sufficient heat. so i'm happy. and i don't think the heater core is that bad considering the heat i'm getting now.

Case Closed

remove both heater core lines and flush water through it (like with a garden hose) backwards from the normal flow, then replace those old heater hoses. that should bring your heat right back.

nice. good to know it worked out.

thanks Bitter.. i should of thought of that.. it's gonna be pretty tight getting that 2nd heater line out. i'm guessing my heater core is clogged in some areas with dirt because it takes a while to get heat even after my car has already warmed up.

i'll try this out tomorrow

i'm so dumb... there's no way i can do this because it's freezing here and my garden hose is frozen. i'll have to wait til summer

That's so crappy... is the spigot or line to it frozen? If not, bring the garden hose in the house for a day! Thaw that bitch out!

i'm sure the faucet outside will be frozen too. i will wait for this spring to flush it out. thanks for the replies.

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You could just get a really long hose and attach it to the faucet inside...

meh.. i don't think it's worth all that trouble besides, i don't have the same type of faucet outside inside.

anyway, right now, for the most part, my heat is back and feels as hot as it should be. the only problem is it takes a little longer before i feel it.. i've already but a radiator shield i custom made myself (out of cardboard and tape ) and it seemed to help a bit in this freezing weather.. plus i have the warmth of heated seat, remote starter/alarm and an interior electric heater and block heater wired together for quick warm ups.