So I'm just trying to figure out, my heat only works when I am driving. I was told the fluid I have in the radiator effects that, because I have water in it, it will only work when driving. Any help?

Anyone?

Sounds like a thermostat issue, replace it and see if that fixes it.

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2000 XLT 4x4 EXT. CAB 4.0/Auto Trans/3.73 gears/
31x10.50 BFG Rugged Terrains on MB Motoring Wheels/Pioneer Head Unit/JBL 12"/Camo Interior/'03 black and grey 60/40 seats/ green LED's Under Dash/T-Bar Crank/Windows-20% on the front, 5% on the back/Mustang Dome Light/06 Tails/

I agree, also drain out the water & use a 50/50 mix of anti freeze & water, or you could use the premixed 50/50 mix. When I got my truck a little over a month ago the heat was so so. I replaced the thermostat & refilled the system with 50/50 mix of coolant & water & the heat is working great now, I would try that first.

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2000 Ranger Extd Cab XLT, 4X4 Off Road, 4.0L, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, 01 grille & lights swap.
69 Mustang, modified 5.0, & 5spd.(project)
99 Explorer Sport, 4.0 SOHC, Auto, 8.8 - 4.10's, PW, PL, PM, Cruise, Tilt. (Wife's DD)
05 F-150 2WD Regular Cab. ( My DD)

Also to see if it is the thermostat, rev the truck and see if the heat works when your doing that

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2000 XLT 4x4 EXT. CAB 4.0/Auto Trans/3.73 gears/
31x10.50 BFG Rugged Terrains on MB Motoring Wheels/Pioneer Head Unit/JBL 12"/Camo Interior/'03 black and grey 60/40 seats/ green LED's Under Dash/T-Bar Crank/Windows-20% on the front, 5% on the back/Mustang Dome Light/06 Tails/

Even the water wont make a difference but defiantly use the 50/50 water glycol split. definitely check the T-stat and a good way to see if it is opening without taking it out is to feel the hose while the engine is warm and running and the you should feel the flow be careful it will be hot. If you have been running straight water do a flush with conditioner to clean the system out.

Question from this dumb Canadian why do you need heat in Texas isn't it always warm there?

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It's not the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog
2011 Ranger Sport 2wd 4L
Kenwood stereo and speaker system
Under dash and behind Grill LED lighting
Weston Bull Bar
3 in Body lift 15x8 Rock Crawler rims 32x11.5 Goodyear A/T

Yeah I rev the truck up and it starts to blow out warm once I stop it goes cold. And yes heat in Texas sounds funny, but it's snowing where I'm at right now hahaha

Thoughts:

*What are you driving?
*Low coolant level
*Bad T-stat
*Bad valve in heater hose (depends on what you're driving).
*Air blockage due to system recently being open and not properly purged. Encouraged by use of inexpensive, non- Ford t-stat with no weep hole.

Then again, I don't know exactly what you mean by heat only works when driving. Does this mean you have no working fan and the only way to force air across the heater core is with wind against the windshield? or is it the cooling system, etc? You also be running a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled (or filtered rain) water. If you don't, you're promoting rust in your cooling system, the crud breaks lose and clogs stuff. No antifreeze = destruction of cooling system and to fix it will cost much more than two gallons of 100% Prestone.

Edit: your non-working heater won't be caused by running only water in the cooling system....................unless it's constantly leaking that water and you're filling it and the level is low/system needs bleeding. There are also only two ways to test a thermostat and one real good one, you take the t-stat out, put it in a pan on the stove with a thermometer, turn on the heat and make sure it opens at the temp stated on the t-stat. The other is to use one of those super cheap infrared thermometers from harbor freight and point it at the t-stat housing, right at the top. There are no other ways to ID a bad t-stat.

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2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000

Then do what I suggested bro feel the hose when warm on idle and see if the stat has opened up. sorry about the snow it's so cold here that you could freeze the balls off a brass monkey
Don't Forget to do a good flush of the system running straight water causes all kind of build up you will see when your draining it

Dave

__________________
It's not the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog
2011 Ranger Sport 2wd 4L
Kenwood stereo and speaker system
Under dash and behind Grill LED lighting
Weston Bull Bar
3 in Body lift 15x8 Rock Crawler rims 32x11.5 Goodyear A/T

Hahaha I appreciate it guys!

1) create a detailed SIG. We don't even know the engine, year ., etc

2) you should not be running water, especially tap water. Water=rust and it has no lubricants.

3) what is temp gauge doing?

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

No clarification of the problem?

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2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000

I mostly agree. We need details. If he had the Torque app he could see what the ect was reading if he has obd-2. We don't know the year.

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Maybe we can bring him around and get him to do things correctly in an organized fashion before he gets corrupted by the BSers?

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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

Okay my bad guys,

2003 ford ranger 4x4 4.0L v6 extended cab

Heat works good when the rpm's are in the 2k and above, once the vehicle has stopped it goes back to blowing cold air.

If I need a new thermostat, what kind should I buy?

Go to control panel ->edit SIG. Add that info plus tranny, mileage etc.

Buy and install a new MC 190f tstat and all new coolant. Make sure all the air is out. Report back.

__________________
2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).