engind cooling and heater problems related?

**manymarius73** · 11-09-2011

Hi all. I'm new on here. My name is Jason. I have a 2006 grand prix with 150k on it. the 3800 NA engine. I have 2 problems that i think might be related, but I'm not really a mechanic. I can do simple things, but that's as far as it goes. Anyway...
I have a problem with my heater not heating. The air flow is greatly decreased when the temp knob is on hot, and when turned back to cold it opens back up. I also have a cooling problem that i've noticed getting worse for a while. The car will cool normally on the highway, but idling or in long city driving it will heat up a bit more than normal (beyond the middle point). I'm thinking these are related (maybe i need to flush the radiator?) Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

**shart** · 11-09-2011

Not sure with the heat, but as far as the engine temp being to high I'd start by draining coolant and replacing the thermostat and adding fresh coolant... and obviously open the valve to get the air out..

**BillBoost37** · 11-09-2011

On the highway you have constant airflow. Sitting still you do not. Your factory fans (at least 97-03) were programmed to come on at about 216F and 228F. This can give the illusion of the car getting pretty warm. When you say a bit more than normal, it sounds like the car isn't overheating...but does get warmer. Which sounds pretty normal.

On the speed of the blower. That is normal to a degree as well. When you call for heat, the various blend doors close to give you full heat.

**manymarius73** · 11-09-2011

but the heater only blows cold air, even with recirculation on. and it heats far to hot for my tastes. Question: in order to bleed air out of the system, is it different for the radiator and the heater core? or is it just the one on the thermostat housing?

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 11-09-2011

our cars have a bleeder on the thermstat housing.

If your up to it, you can drain the rad and fill it with water and run the car for a few minutes to help get all the old coolant out then drain again. Then I would take one of the heater core hoses off and flush it out with water and once done start filling the car with coolant and then bleed the system of air.

It wouldnt hurt to toss a new t-stat in there aswell.

The problem could also be a blend door issue, they may not be opening to allow the heat into the car.

**manymarius73** · 11-25-2011

I have found that with outdoor temps of 50s, it blows kinda warm, just enough to not be cold in the car. At 40s and below, it gets colder, with upper 30s being just cold air. Any diagnosis?

Thanks

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