Wife bought car new in 03 or 04. It was last 03 they had - not sure, but we've had the car since beginning. So the heater hasn't been intentionally bypassed.
Here's what I found last night. I drove home - 30 miles. Had heat on occasion, if I left it off, then turned it on - like it was "saving up". Soon as I turned car off, popped hood and checked htr hoses, both warm but not hot, as well as upper hose. They all felt about the same to my non-calibrated hand. upper rad hose was squishy, would gurgle back thru expansion tank.
After dinner, went back out and started car to let it warm. And warm. And warm. Would not get to 185, which by my guess would be the big mark btw 160 and 210. So then I sat there with foot on pedal, "idling" at 2500 or so, which finally got it above the 185 mark, but never to the 210. The engine fans came on and I could make it produce some heat inside. upper hose still soft, squeezable, not really hot to touch, with car off or on.
Played with heat sliders and can hear an audible change in both with fan on. So I think the blend doors are working
So my theory is that it has either or both: air in the system and maybe a stuck open thermostat. The coolant is not warming enough to heat the heater core? My uncle, who is pretty mechanical, thought the same thing.
May try to bleed it out this evening, and check that. I don't have my manual here, so am kinda dependent on you guys and net for instructions.
Thanks for the help.
Randy
