1996 ranger 2.3, heater doesn't work

[puke]

1996 ranger 2.3 5 speed with a/c 160,000M

Bought it, owner said a/c was ice cold, but heater didn't work. He was right.

I then blew out the heater core with water a few times until the water coming out was crystal clear,..there was a lot of crud the at the beginning of the cleaning. The heater BARELY works now. takes 10 miles to warm up, and then you can only have the fan on low or the air coming out isn't even warm enough to tell.

I blew out the heater core with water again after about 10,000 miles. It was basically still clean.

I replaced the thermostat when I bought it just in case, but that did nothing , of course. The truck seems to warm up (motor, not heater) very quickly.

Using my infrared thermometer, the difference in the inlet and outlet hose for the heater core is about 3 degrees. You cannot feel the difference, but you can see the difference using a thermometer.

I have read that the inlet and outlet hoses need to be exactly the same temperature. Is this correct???? It stands to reason that if you transfer some of the heat to the cab, the inlet and outlet CANNOT be the same temperature if it is functioning properly.

I am at a loss as to what to do next. I love this truck, the air is ice cold and 28 mpg...which is why I love it. But in the winter I end up letting it sit a lot of the time because of the heater issue.
Using my n

 

[enjr44]

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Summer2009/blend-door.htm

A common reason for no heat. It would also explain why the in and out temps of the heater core are the same. If the door or controls are always commanding cold, there is no air flow over the heater core, so in and out temps are about the same.

 

[puke]

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Summer2009/blend-door.htm

A common reason for no heat. It would also explain why the in and out temps of the heater core are the same. If the door or controls are always commanding cold, there is no air flow over the heater core, so in and out temps are about the same.

Seems I recall that I used my snorkle camera to check the "door". But it has been quite a while and I could be wrong. I will check it again.