heater question

ColinS · #1 03-02-2011, 07:47 PM

hey guys quick question.

my ranger has a super hard time keeping itself warm enough to blow heat.

here is what i have done so far.

Rad flush and cleaning and new coolant

New thermostat

it seemed to help a lil bit but when in 5th gear cruising with the fan on it just sucks the temp down and it stops blowing heat. now if i downshift it helps warm it up in the upper rpm band.

mind u it does this in 35* and under weather.

is this a common thing with 2.3l with a 5spd or is it just my truck?

Thanks in advanced

BT24 · #2 03-04-2011, 05:38 PM

Common problem with the blower door breaking. There is a kit you can buy to repair it permanently. Sorry I cant remember the site. Just search ford blower door fix...good luck

modelageek · #3 03-05-2011, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostZ

hey guys quick question.

my ranger has a super hard time keeping itself warm enough to blow heat.

here is what i have done so far.

Rad flush and cleaning and new coolant

New thermostat

it seemed to help a lil bit but when in 5th gear cruising with the fan on it just sucks the temp down and it stops blowing heat. now if i downshift it helps warm it up in the upper rpm band.

mind u it does this in 35* and under weather.

is this a common thing with 2.3l with a 5spd or is it just my truck?

Thanks in advanced

what t-stat did you use? was the problem there before you changed the t-stat and coolant? you could have air in the system

ColinS · #4 03-05-2011, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modelageek

what t-stat did you use? was the problem there before you changed the t-stat and coolant? you could have air in the system

i used the stock 190*. and yes it was cause that is why i changed it all because i figured it was old and not picking up the heat as well. as soon as i did the flush and change it worked like a dream npw it just died off.

pooleo · #5 03-05-2011, 05:41 AM

sounds like the motor is "overcooling" might be because of the cold air temp. In 5th gear the motor is not turning out higher RPM's not heating up enough. Try some cardboard infront of the rad to see if anything changes. Also, grab the heater core hoses to make sure BOTH are hot/warm. If there is any change in temp from one to the next, its not circulating.

ColinS · #6 03-05-2011, 05:44 AM

thanks pooleo. i will try the cardboard thing i was hoping not to resort to thaat but o well. and i checked my hoses and both are hot along with the t-stat hose so i kno that its all circulating

pooleo · #7 03-05-2011, 05:55 AM

ok, yeah it sounds like the truck just cant get hot enough. when the blower is turned on it sucks the heat from the system, kinda like a double cooling effect. Before I put my flex fan on my ranger that I plow with, I had to always run the heat on high as the truck would overheat if the heater was off. Simply because the blower takes heat out of the coolant.

Do you have a 2 core radiator by chance?

ColinS · #8 03-05-2011, 06:03 AM

i did notice if i leave my fan on off or lower than the middle setting it will get a lil bit hotter.

and bout the rad. i'm not sure what ever came stock in it is what is has i will do some research and get back to u here right quick

pooleo · #9 03-05-2011, 06:05 AM

1 core will be real thin, about an 1" the 2 core will be about 3" thick. If you have the 2 core, then you have to much capacity.

ColinS · #10 03-05-2011, 06:08 AM

by the lmc truck thing it says i only have a 1 row rad.

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and it only holds a lil over a gallon so not much at all

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ran and checked its real thin so only 1 core

pooleo · #11 03-05-2011, 06:13 AM

good. Well, I would try the cardboard. If nothing else it will help narrow down the problem. If the carboard works and you have good heat, then that is the problem. Just overcooling. If nothing changes then you will have to look else where, like the blend door, fan clutch locked up, etc.

Remember not to completely block off the radiator make a V in the top center.

modelageek · #12 03-05-2011, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostZ

i used the stock 190*. and yes it was cause that is why i changed it all because i figured it was old and not picking up the heat as well. as soon as i did the flush and change it worked like a dream npw it just died off.

it's not your blenddoor and it is not your radiator........did you use a motorcraft tstat. the motorcraft tstat has a hole in it to allow the system to bleed it also sits properly in the housing so there is no water bypassing it.....if you dont have a hole in the tstat you can drill a small one it it. ........you most likely have air in the system......there are a few ways to bleed it. loosen the radiator cap to half way turn the heat on and park on a hill..........

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what is your temp gauge doing?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostZ

i used the stock 190*. and yes it was cause that is why i changed it all because i figured it was old and not picking up the heat as well. as soon as i did the flush and change it worked like a dream npw it just died off.

I might have spoke to soon about the blend door. if your temp is running at the right temperature ie. your engine is runing at the right temp, then it could be the blenddoor.......you can go here http://www.heatertreater.net/index.htm and read about it . they sell a kit to fix or you can use there concept and just buy the part and replace it......

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do you have AC.....if so check the heater control valve...

FireRanger · #13 03-06-2011, 05:38 PM

Cardboard might help as a bandaid, but isn't fixing the cause. The only way your engine is running LOW temperature is a busted thermostat or worn out water pump. If both of those are working properly, your engine can and will easily maintain operating temperature (190) even with the temperature -20 or more.

ColinS · #14 03-06-2011, 05:49 PM

no it has a brand new stant t-stat and i did bleed all the air out of the system did it by the ford manuel. Not sure bout the water pump. recently i did notice that u cannot turn off the heat anymore if switched to off it just keeps blowing threw the panel vents.

FireRanger · #15 03-06-2011, 05:54 PM

I can count many times on this forum alone where people have gotten defective or improperly installed t-stats causing the problem to remain.

Is the gauge indicating lower than normal, or just the heater air temp is not warm enough? If the gauge is normal, then based on your description, it is the blend door. What you describe about air still blowing even in OFF is also odd. That's a seperate door, vacuum controlled, that probably also needs to be fixed.