really bad heat

[baxtej44]

88 ranger xlt 2.9L 4x4


any reason why i'd be getting barely hot heat at all? i can run it for like 10+ minutes, and it's just comfortable... it's never HOT like in my other friend's cars (still old'ish, not brand new)

 

[BlackBII]

First thing to check, Are both of your heater hoses getting hott? The in and the out

If so, it's probably the blend door.

If they are both not hot, then for some reason hott coolant isn't getting to them, is your truck getting to operating temp?

If only one is Hott, then your heater core is probably clogged with crap

 

[HareRazor]

Does the temperature gauge on the dash show that your car is getting warm? If it's not I would check to see if the thermostat is stuck and replace it.

 

[modelageek]

+1 on Blackb thought of the heater hoses. if only 1 is hot the core is clogged. you have an older truck if the engine is running at normal temp the heater core could be clogged ( easy fix on your truck)

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Low on coolant, thermostat stuck open, or as stated plugged heater core.

 

[baxtej44]

i've been thinking my stat...

my truck's temp needle either doesn't work, or the stat doesn't work.


these may sound like idiotic questions... buuuuut

1) link or explanation of finding, removing, and replacing a 'stat in a 1st gen?
2) explanation of finding heater hoses..?

 

[RangerFabWorks]

i cant help ya with the t-stat.

pop the hood. with the engine running and up to temp. a nice long drive is up to temp.

looking at your engine. look to the left. there are two hoses running in to your firewall.

feel both of them. the one going into the heater is on the left. and the return is on the right,

if there both hot. its the t-stat.

if only the left one is hot, and the right one is luke warm, the heater core is plugged with crap.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

heres the best pic i could find for ya. look at my firewall on the left. those are the heater hoses.

[/IMG]

 

[master hec0]

just follow the upper radiator hose till it reaches the block. there is a housing with 3 10mm bolts holding the stat inside. just unbolt it pull the old stat out and put the new one in and just bolt it back in. really simple and planty of room to work. or atleast on the 2.9 there is. carbed one i dont know

 

[baxtej44]

i cant help ya with the t-stat.

pop the hood. with the engine running and up to temp. a nice long drive is up to temp.

looking at your engine. look to the left. there are two hoses running in to your firewall.

feel both of them. the one going into the heater is on the left. and the return is on the right,

if there both hot. its the t-stat.

if only the left one is hot, and the right one is luke warm, the heater core is plugged with crap.

heres the best pic i could find for ya. look at my firewall on the left. those are the heater hoses.

thanks, i'll have to let it run for a while... we just got shit on with a bunch of snow, so it's rather cold...

not sure of the temp outside (i can check in necessary), but are we talking about 10 min or so of running at idle?

just follow the upper radiator hose till it reaches the block. there is a housing with 3 10mm bolts holding the stat inside. just unbolt it pull the old stat out and put the new one in and just bolt it back in. really simple and planty of room to work. or atleast on the 2.9 there is. carbed one i dont know

do i lose coolant? would it be worth it to just replace it without checking to see if it works? it's most likely a 21 year old tstat...

also, the coolant system was flushed not too long ago, so that should be fine.

 

[modelageek]

i cant help ya with the t-stat.

pop the hood. with the engine running and up to temp. a nice long drive is up to temp.

looking at your engine. look to the left. there are two hoses running in to your firewall.

feel both of them. the one going into the heater is on the left. and the return is on the right,

if there both hot. its the t-stat.

if only the left one is hot, and the right one is luke warm, the heater core is plugged with crap.

I dont agree with the part of the statement that says if both hoses are hot it is the tstat.

 

[master hec0]

you will lose coolant at the block. one you pull the stat out. just stick a rag in it to stop the flow. you wont lose all that much just top it up once your done

 

[baxtej44]

you will lose coolant at the block. one you pull the stat out. just stick a rag in it to stop the flow. you wont lose all that much just top it up once your done

best coolant for winter in midwest? or is it okay to stay with my normal radiator fluid?

 

[master hec0]

well all im running is junkyard coolant. seems to work just fine its about 50/50 from what im told. picknpull sells it for 2.50$ a bottle in canada

 

[baxtej44]

okay, so after driving home from school (started dead cold), and about a 10 min drive home, both hoses that went into my firewall on the passenger side were approx the same temperature.

does it need to be longer than that to notice a difference?


also, i found where i believe my thermostat would be, it's in a sorta tricky spot.. might help to remove the tube going from my air box to my block. anybody have pictures of what it looks like on the inside of that thing?

also, is mixing coolant bad? like if i just go get some 50/50 from the store, and when i lose some on my 'stat replacement, and just top it off with 50/50 is that bad if the existing fluid is something else?

can i pick up a 'stat anywhere? (advance, o'reilly, etc?) or should i order online? i have heard that hooking up a 180 degree one is a better bet? do i need to do any rewiring or w/e for a non-OEM 'stat?


are these good instructions/tips?
http://duaemanus.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-change-thermostat-on-v6-ford.html