Thread: Heater Issues

Hi, just have a few questions. I have a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix. I have been reading alot about Dexcool and the good ol' green coolant. I am supposed to have Dexcool, but the coolant in the resovior is green. I assume that means that the dealer we bought it used from flushed the system and added green coolant as my husband and I have not done that. My heater and defrost used to get HOT. Now its luke warm. Its takes FOREVER for it to heat up and then cool to warmish air is blown. Its never gets hot. If I turn it up from low/mid to high, its worse and cooler. My husband told me to check the coolant level (he is in Iraq or he would do it himself) but I cant tell and the manual is no help, to see where the fill level is. 2 reps at Schuck's couldnt tell me either.

I am trying to avoid a major repair bill by consulting your advice first. I am also trying to figure out that if there is green coolant in there now, do I need make sure the new coolant that is added (if not done professionally) is green too?

Could it be the heater core? thermostat? do all cars have a blendor motor (?spelling) or should I just suck it up and take it in?

Hello!

Well it could reallybe any of those things you listed... The heated core and thermostat would need to be changed out by someone that knows a car, if either is an issue. I would kind of rule out the core myself being that it really is not that old. Are you the original owner of the car? If so, then it should still have Dexcool in it, unless you had it flushed once.

For the coolant bottle, yes if it is low, it will be slow to warm up. I cannot comment on where it is under your hood, but mine is on the left side of the engine compartment. The bottle is somewhat clear and has line on it that should state COLD, WARM or LOW, ADD on the side. Open the hood, take a flashlight and look for it. Then look for these lines, add coolant if it states LOW or COLD, tkae it up to WARM or HOT. Then you will know it is full and can suck out a little more if needed to top off the system. The owners manual should show the bottle.

You can also remove the radiator cap. If you do this, make sure the engine is stone cold! You could get burned if you open it after it has been running. Remove the cap and check the fluid there.