Heat... right away or in 5 minutes?

[Carol]

I recently purchased a 1996 850GLT wagon. When I turn on the car and the heater switch is set on automatic, (let's say 78/80 degrees) should the blowers start blowing right away (on a cold winters day in Chicago) or do the blowers wait until the car is heated up before they start blowing?

I am having intermittent problems sometimes the heater starts blowing right away other times it takes several minutes or it will only blow when set at the highest temp. The Volvo dealer has told me it needs a new temp sensor, yet the dealer I purchased it from does not want to replace the temp sensor since it works when they try it. However I'm not sure how it is supposed to be working when functioning correctly. Can you tell me how this automatic heat setting is supposed to work? Please advise

Thanks!
Carol

[matthew1]

My climate control always waits until it can blow warm air before activating. This is a welcome improvement from my previous cars, when you'd have to keep checking the temp of the air before turning up the fan.

It shouldn't take more than 4 minutes or so to blow warm air. The only exceptions would be if you're not driving (just turning it on to idle) or if your thermostat has failed.

You'll notice if the t-stat has failed by watching the temp guage next to the tachometer... if it's not at the 3 o'clock position or higher, your t-stat needs to be replaced. If it's too high you have an entirely different problem

Having said that, it does sound like a wacky temp sensor. If you don't get anywhere with the repair shop, and it continues to not work, have them replace it.