93 Ranger HELP!!!!

[boneyard360]

Ok I will try to do my best to explain all this. About 3 years ago my ranger started blowing only cold air in the winter. I had the thermostat replaced and everything was great again. Now just this month same problem started again on cold days my truck does not heat up at all. Its not a problem of blowing air cause it does that, also I can change from defrost/panel etc.... with no problem the air redirects fine. So after doing some research I was thinking it was the heater core. So I let the truck run and checked the hoses going into the heater core and the one closet to the driver side was always colder so I thought that was the problem,but I then noticed that my engine was not even getting warm so I was like wait a min that is a problem like the thermostat is stuck open but that cant be because I just replaced that a few years back(yes I do understand it could have went bad just not assuming that). So back to the heater core....well on days that its not so cold I was getting heat blowing in the truck like nothing was wrong so I checked the hoses to the heater core again and they were both hot. So I figured its not the heater core cause if that was bad I wouldn't get heat at all. It wouldn't matter if it was a warm day or a cold day. So right now I have ruled out the heater core as the problem, so I decided to a flush and change the coolant. Ran prestone flush and added new coolant and engine was still running cold so decided to just change the thermostat. So now here is were I stand and need help. Like I just said I did a flush and fill this weekend changed the thermostat, burped the system and the engine is still not warming up to "normal" and it still blows lukewarm air(sometimes on warmer days it does blow warm air while driving but when at a red light gets cold again). I also noticed that my heater core hoses are hot and the top radiator hose and the top of the radiator are hot while the bottom hose and bottom radiator is cold(is this normal on a 93 ranger)should the bottom hose and radiator stay cold?. So I ask could it still be a blockage or maybe the water pump(if that was bad I would think the engine would over heat, its not its running cold). Or does it still sound like a thermostat/heater core problem....or am I way off base and it sounds like something else. Its just got me confused cause as soon as I think its one problem another symptom rules that out...... sorry for such along post and for probably confusing anyone who reads this I just want to get all the details in 1 post. Thanks for reading.(wow time for a beer)

 

[cocoasranger]

So did you change the thermostat or not? You kind of hint that you did, but then wonder whether it could still be the thermostat causing the problem. If you have not changed it at least pull the old one (yes, they can fail in three years easily) and see if it's stuck open.

I test them by dropping in a pan and boiling the water and verify that they open quickly and close when the water cools. Personally I would put in a new 195 degree stat as a first step.

 

[boneyard360]

Yes....I did replace the thermostat yesterday with a fail safe thermo 192 degrees but were I stand is today I ran the truck and had heat in(everything seemed to be working) in the truck however the truck's engine was still running cold(and yes i know the temp gauge is functioning fine). But it was kinda warm outside today like 60 degrees and it seems when its warm my heat works better not great but better. So I dont think its my heater core since I do have heat and I dont think its my thermostat since I just changed that and I did a flush and fill so it shouldnt be a coolant issue (i did burp it also). So I seem to think it might be a water pump issue. But if it was the water pump wouldnt the truck be overheating? Then like I said I noticed the top radiator hose was HOT and the bottom hose was COLD is this a symptom of a bad or leaking water pump?...or is this normal?

 

[Bryan22]

that is normal.... it means your radiator is doing its job. Is the truck still running in the normal range? Could be a problem with the blend door. check this out and see if it's any help .... http://www.blenddoorfix.netfirms.com/

 

[boneyard360]

I tested the blend door today when I actually had some warm air blowing through the heater. I moved it all the way to cold and did it click by click and it seemed to work just fine. Now I know what everyone is going to say and that is well if you had heat today whats the problem......Well the problem is still that my engine is running a little on the cold side still and as for getting sufficient heat from the heater I guess I will have to test that over the next few days cause its only going to get colder. Today was a rare day. But I guess I can now rule out the water pump right.......? Since the truck is not over heating and I was told that the top radiator hose being HOT and the bottom radiator hose being COLD is normal. And since I had heat today I can rule out the heater core so what do you guys think..............??????

 

[cocoasranger]

I'd run it and see if you get good heat when the outside temperature drops. Don't pay much attention to a stock temp. gauge reading low; mine never goes past the N in NORMAL even when the truck is driven hard.

After you run the truck for about a half hour check the two heater hoses. They will both be hot if you have good good circulation through the heater core.

 

[boneyard360]

Ok so today I did notice a small leak of coolant below my truck I am not to sure were it is coming from. To me it looks to either be from the thermostat housing or from behind the water pump.........(which that gasket may be toast I am sure its original) my ? is I went and got some prestone leak stop should I try that or stay away from that stuff....? Also on a side note I talked to a mechanic today and he told me that my bottom radiator hose should not be cold and that it should feel close to the same temp as the top hose. He went on to tell me that because of that it sounds like a circulation problem......that kind of sounded correct but some one here in a earlier post lead me to believe that the bottom hose being cold was normal.....................anyone with some insight one this??????????

 

[boneyard360]

here is a update on my problem.......so I got the leak stopped....or so it seems by using the prestone leak stop. Its actually seemed to work quite well considering most people told me to stay away from that stuff. Anyway back to my problem so like I said no more leak and I now have some good pressure in the radiator tubes and some rather good heat blowing from the vents.......however it only seems to blow hot air now when I have the selector set on OFF. Now my selector is very basic as I only have a heater in the truck NO AC so I have the fan speed knob and a lever to select off/panel/panel floor/floor/floor defrost/and just defrost.....I need help as to why it only seems to blow hot air now when it is set to off???????? If I switch it to defrost the air being blown goes to lukewarm/cold rather quickly.......anyone got any ideas on that one????????????(and by the way I always have my temp selector set all the way to warm)

 

[cocoasranger]

Sounds like the blend door position does not match the selector position; not sure why. Something could be bent, broke, or has slipped out of adjustment. I would check there again.

 

[cocoasranger]

Check out the first picture by Beefstew under parts for sale forum. It's of a heater box assembly and shows the sheathed cable actuator that operates both blend doors. These often slip and result in getting different settings than those marked on the dash. I would check this out first and manually move the doors through their range of motion and see what comes out the vents.

 

[warrior24]

take the adjustment thingy off on the dash, the one that has all the knobs and a/c controls on it. My cables keep popping off only allowing for hot air. I dont know if my rambling makes any sense but hope this makes some sense.

 

[jay jigless]

your going to get air coming from the vents to some extent as long as its not alot. what you have to do is conrol the temp with the selector so that you dont roast. and if your heater core is bad then you will get antifreeze on your floor board. and if your willing to do a lil work id say change your water pump they only cost around $30.00. a gasket somes with it. but try filling your radiator fill tank about 1/2 inch above the full mark, you should get pretty good heat after that.

 

[boneyard360]

Just wanted to give everyone an update on my problem... I know it been awhile, but I got the problem solved this weekend.....................................................................It was kinda easy to what I did was sold the truck.........lol yep had to part ways. It was just getting to be to much of a hassle with all the problems plus trying to use it to transport a 16 month old baby around had to give it up. It was a good truck had it for 11 years only got 93,000 miles on it and all I ever did to it was a new clutch,new battery,and just did a tune up last year plugs and wires....everything else I had done was just normal wear and tear, but thats what got me in the end just to much wear and tear in a 16yr old truck so thats my story...lol.........by the way bought a 2005 ford explorer xlt with the sport package its super nice....well gota run thanks for all the help guys!!!!!