I have a 2000 s10 with the 4.3. The heat Works ok (not great) while driving or revving engine but cools off when at idle. I checked the coolant and it was low so I topped it off. That seemed to help a little bit but not that much. Engine usually warms up to 160 when it's not 0 degrees outside. Doesn't smell like coolant inside the truck and I don't have any noticeable leaks anywhere. I can feel a difference in the temp by adjusting the temp knob in the truck. The problem started about a week or so ago. Any ideas? Thanks
they are know for clogging in the heater core. try to back flush it and see if that helps. here about this all the time. i bet that is the issue.
How would I go about doing that? Never done it before
Pull the heater hoses off and take a garden hose and run water thru it backwards. Top hose should be the outlet so that's the one u will want to put the garden hose on. What u could do before this is go for a drive then check both heater hoses and see if there is a diff in temp between them.
That's pretty much what I just read on google. Will give it a shot tomorrow. Thanks
No prob
dump white vinegar in it instead of water had to do it on my jimmy every winter
Dont use a hose go to the car wash n take both hoses off the heatercore, spray big side first till clear the little side till clear that way u wont get much of a bubble or barly any coolant lost, just did it to my new truck and had to do it to my blazer in the fall
I wouldnt use high pressure on it...
My zr2 did the same thing,new thermostat fixed it.
Sounds like a stuck open thermostate to me. It ain't got enough pressure to build heat. And as jc stated DON'T use a power washer to flush the heater core.
I say put thermostate, it sould run at 195*
i changed the t-stat not too long ago so thats why i wasnt thinking that was it. but there only $5 or so so ill throw a new on in.
Quote from: J.C. on January 24, 2013, 12:26:45 AM
I wouldnt use high pressure on it...
x2 garden hose works fine. ive done it on several vehichles. i flush them both ways?
Car wash power washer is fine, ive done it many times garden hose doesnt have enough pressure to get everything out, used a garden hose 3 times in a row, id have heat for a day (thats after completly flushing the system n new coolant) I finally said screw it n went to the car wash and now it will cook you outta it
And its not the t stat, argued with the guy for an hour who I bought it from, stopped at the car wash on my way home n wah la I had heat
had the same issue with my sons Zr2 changed t-stat no difference pulled hoses of heater core flushed out with garden hose works great very simple fix
what about compressed air? my spigot is frozen out side
blew out the heater core with air, poored some water in and blew that threw both sides. little improvement. going to get a t-stat. engine wont heat up over 120 even while being hard on it so hopefully thats the issue
Still a clogged heater core, seriously take it to the carwash it will not hurt it
changed t-stat now it warms up to 160 at idle in the driveway and the heat is much better now. thanks guys. might still try and blow the heater core out again with the hose once the temps warm up and my spigot thaws out.
are you running a 160 t stat?
i put a 195* since thats what it called for at the store. just went for a short drive and it heated up to 195* and the heat works great. actually had to turn it off it got so hot lol
Quote from: 4x4ZR2 on January 24, 2013, 04:33:59 PM
what about compressed air? my spigot is frozen out side
No, compressed air wil make it explode loll Hold both hoses up higher than the core and pour CLR in there, let it soak in for a while then back flush, it will be like show room new.
Quote from: old school truck dude on January 24, 2013, 09:40:43 PM
Quote from: 4x4ZR2 on January 24, 2013, 04:33:59 PM
what about compressed air? my spigot is frozen out side
No, compressed air wil make it explode loll Hold both hoses up higher than the core and pour CLR in there, let it soak in for a while then back flush, it will be like show room new.
guess i got lucky. lol but i didnt blow 200 psi through it or anything. just enoungh to move the coolant and fresh water through it. also read some bad reviews about putting clr in it as it eats away the aluminum.
I'm having similar issues too. Hopefully have time to mess with it soon, doesn't even blow hot enough to melt ice off the windshield.
Quote from: lilred on January 25, 2013, 02:38:27 AM
I'm having similar issues too. Hopefully have time to mess with it soon, doesn't even blow hot enough to melt ice off the windshield.
its easy and doesnt take long
Quote from: 4x4ZR2 on January 24, 2013, 10:12:52 PM
Quote from: old school truck dude on January 24, 2013, 09:40:43 PM
Quote from: 4x4ZR2 on January 24, 2013, 04:33:59 PM
what about compressed air? my spigot is frozen out side
No, compressed air wil make it explode loll Hold both hoses up higher than the core and pour CLR in there, let it soak in for a while then back flush, it will be like show room new.
guess i got lucky. lol but i didnt blow 200 psi through it or anything. just enoungh to move the coolant and fresh water through it. also read some bad reviews about putting clr in it as it eats away the aluminum.
5 minutes or so, flush it real good, it would be fine
Gumout also makes a radiator flush you can use. Id flush the radiator an heater core by them selfs an then flush out the whole system.
Is the coolant all brown n muddy lookin?? If so it needs a complete coolant flush then heater core flushed seperatly. Otherwise the heater core will just plug up again. I deal w this everyday at work. GM vehicles are the worst!! We use a flush gun hooked to a garden hose n shop air. Just gotta use ur head on how much air presure u use.
Id start with a stat... 120 isnt anywhere NEAR warm enough. May have gotten a bad one. Get that truck runnin around 190 degrees like it should be i bet after that and that backflush u will make some heat
Quote from: jbeery78 on March 21, 2013, 01:17:57 AM
Id start with a stat... 120 isnt anywhere NEAR warm enough. May have gotten a bad one. Get that truck runnin around 190 degrees like it should be i bet after that and that backflush u will make some heat
Haha nevermind i missed page 2. maybe i need glasses now haha ??? ==doh