Couple Odd Heating Issues

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 06 Nov 2017, 11:58

First off, I'm driving a 94 850 base wagon.

Been having some issues with the heating most of the year, but been too lazy/broke/unbothered in the summer to worry about it. Now it's getting colder, I have cash, and I want to get it done.

First off is that when it's set to blow hot air, at best I get lukewarm. When I first bought it, it had what I call "melt your face off" heating. Set full blast I'd be down to a t shirt in 10 degree weather in under half an hour. Now I'm not hardly getting anything.

The second is a problem I had with my last 850 as well. The driver and passenger vents blow air the temperature I'm asking them to, but the middle vents ONLY blow cold air. Used to think it was an airmix issue, but even after closing that, I still have the issue. And if I close the middle vents, it just redirects the cold air to another vent, so I've taken to turning them on and pointing them away from me (and if other people are in the car, turning it all off entirely).

For some background, about two and a half years ago I replaced a faulty heater core at home. It leaked antifreeze for a little while so I thought I'd messed up one of the gaskets, but it stopped. About 8 months ago I replaced a thermostat, but I'm gonna do that again since it's like $5 just to see what happens.

My thought is thermostat or heater core personally. I wanted to see if anyone had any other ideas or if those are the likely culprits. And if anyone has any clue on why the middle vents never blow warm.

Thanks ahead of time, folks!

Post by **kahl** » 06 Nov 2017, 13:48

Does your engine temp gauge move from cold to the 3 O clock position with 4 or 5 minutes?

Post by **kahl** » 06 Nov 2017, 13:55

Does your car have the manual heater control or electronic control?

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 06 Nov 2017, 14:30

Heats up usually in about 10 minutes or 5 miles, whichever is first. Manual knobs, cranked all the way up.

On a side note, turns out the middle vents were just the airmix knob. The day I tried it, all the air must've been blowing cold and I was mistaken.

Post by **abscate** » 06 Nov 2017, 14:32

The manual knobs break out of their plastic holders and that will kill your heat and cold

You are right about the climate system on these cars , it’s top notch. It should burn You out of the car in the dead of winter when its working right

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 06 Nov 2017, 14:38

So should I try replacing them or pull them off and turn them with a pair of pliers? I had that happen with my main control knob sometime ago and had to pull out pliers anytime I wanted something other than defrost.

I still hear the temperature knobs click as I turn them, even if they're somewhat stiff to move and don't usually stay all the way over (maybe a click or two shy, not enough that I'm gonna get cold air I don't think)

Post by **abscate** » 06 Nov 2017, 18:04

Get under the dash and have a look at the wires and how they attach to the climate System. There is a recent thread on this, try searching , Manual climate control,

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 27 Nov 2017, 06:32

Just wanted to follow up on this replaced the thermostat with some success (it is now consistently lukewarm instead of occasionally). Had some other issues with mine and wife's vehicles that taking precedent right now (gotta have them working before I can worry about heat), so I'm gonna revisit once I get those taken care of. Got stuff on mine done (intake manifold is a bear to get off. On the bright side, I could probably do a whole PCV replace in a weekend by myself now, just got do the wife's

If I get some spare time, I'll take a look at the wires and see how they look. I'm still kinda leaning toward heater core because I didn't have the problem before I swapped it out, but both the lines coming from it are hot, so I'm not sure.

Post by **abscate** » 27 Nov 2017, 08:13

The heater cores in these cars always full flow, so if they are hot, it is working ok and probably not plugged. That really only leaves the mixing in the climate system which is the wires, cables, flaps mechanical stuff to go wrong, if the fan is working ok.

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 03 Jan 2018, 13:18

abscate wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 08:13 The heater cores in these cars always full flow, so if they are hot, it is working ok and probably not plugged. That really only leaves the mixing in the climate system which is the wires, cables, flaps mechanical stuff to go wrong, if the fan is working ok.

Fan is working fine. It blows like a mother. It's just cold air. Was willing to let it slide for a bit, but we've had below zero wind chills out here in Ohio (for any New Englanders out there - just damn).

I'm gonna try finding the valve next and seeing if it's gunked up. Any clue if there's a post about how to do that somewhere else? I'd search myself, but I'm not sure what it's called so I keep finding videos that aren't relevant and finding out ten minutes into them.

If it's not that and it's electrical but not in an obvious place, my experience is it isn't usually worth it. That about right?