Why does it take forever for my gt to heat up

**raverockstar** · 02-21-2013

I have two Grand Prix gt 3.8
One is 98 and one is 99

The 98 it take like 6 mins to hear and I can enjoy the heater and drive

But the new 99 one I can wait even 20 min and it doesn't hit 180
And the heater is ok but not hot and nice like the other 98.

What is it? What do i need replaced?

**Scottydoggs** · 02-21-2013

it the temp gauge's are rising at the same rate, id think the heater core is clogged up some.

you take both hoses off the back of the alt bracket, but a garden hose up to one hose, it matters not which one, as you want to flush it via both hoses.

when you have clear water flowing out as fast as it goes in your clear. hook the hoses back up. i like to keep as much water in the heater hoses as i can when i pop them back on, you'll loose some thats ok. doing this will help air from getting into the core.

**mofford12** · 02-21-2013

thermostat is prolly stuck open.. mine had same issue

**raverockstar** · 02-21-2013

So what do I really need to do? Flush the system and replace the tstate?

**Scottydoggs** · 02-21-2013

once the car is warmed up, carefully touch the 2 hoses behind the engine, that go to the fire wall. if both are hot, like you cant hold it. the core is ok. if one is hot, and one is cold, you have air in the core or a clogged core. flush it then.

now if both are hot, then id change the t stat. and in that case the engine temp would take longer to rise from a dead cold start vs your other car.

**Odi** · 02-21-2013

^^ what he said, but you should replace the thermostat anyways if you havent yet. they tend to take a dump every so often.

**asite57** · 02-22-2013

Sounds like a bad tstat

**raverockstar** · 02-22-2013

ok ill do that. i hope its easy.

**dsmuts** · 02-22-2013

It's very easy.

**asite57** · 02-22-2013

Literary took me about 10 min the longest part of the job was waiting for the car to heat up

**TexasTanker19kilo20** · 02-23-2013

Make sure to open the bleeder screw to let all the air out. Also you don't need any RTV, just make sure the mating surfaces are clean and put the gasket on dry.

**raverockstar** · 02-23-2013

But I have to flush the coolant before or I can just open the hose?

**BoostenGTP** · 02-23-2013

nope, just unbolt the tstat housing and pull out old tstat, put new one in. bolt back down. plain and simple. i suggest doing this with the engine cold.

**raverockstar** · 02-23-2013

Tnx

**asite57** · 02-23-2013

I didn't have any coolant come out of my motor just be careful and you won't make a mess

also be sure to bleed the coolant before driving it

**raverockstar** · 02-23-2013

Originally Posted by asite57

I didn't have any coolant come out of my motor just be careful and you won't make a mess

also be sure to bleed the coolant before driving it

What do u mean by that?
U mean to get the air out?

**Scottydoggs** · 02-23-2013

you have a air bleeder screw a top the t stat housing, i like to idle ( rad cap off) the car and wait for the fans to come on, then bleed it, open the screw a few turns, shut the screw when a stream of coolant comes out, then top off the rad and cap it.

when the fans are on, you can count on the t stat to be open, thats when you want to bleed it.