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2nd Gen Ram Tech1994-2001 Rams: This section is for TECHNICAL discussions only, that involve the 1994 through 2001 Rams. For any non-tech discussions, please direct your attention to the "General discussion/NON-tech" sub sections.
I just recently bought a '00 5.9 4x4 185,000 miles for my daughter from an individual. The water pump and thermostat was replaced prior to me buying the truck. The heater will not heat up and the temp. gauge inside the cab only registers maybe 150. At times, if I "gun" the engine the temp will start to register about 180-200 and the heater will start to work. When it starts to work there is a anti-freeze smell in the cab. Then if I turn off the truck for a while (like go into the store) it goes back to not working until I gun it again. The defroster also seems to not work well either. Any ideas guys? I have flushed the heater core once and am about to do it again since reading other posts.
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1999 Ram 1500, 5.2, 4x4, lot of goodies.
Dodge Forum April 2008 Truck of the Month and January 2012 Ride of the Month www.cardomain.com/ride/799288
First you should make sure there is no air bubbles in the system, second, if you smell AF in the truck, odds are the heater core is leaking. Any moisture on the windshield when using defrost? Or puddles on the floor? And third, the PO probably used a POS thermostat from autozone or wherever, and it no good.
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2000 2500HD 4X4 5.9 and 4:10's,HF tuned SCT,Red-Head gear box, HS 1.7's,
50mm Fastman TB, Hughes Plate,2" Hell Bent ,Volant CAI
Flowmaster 50 series, Rock Solid Ram Steering fix,B&M trans cooler
1) Wrong thermostat or no thermostat.
2) Leaky heater core or heater hose.
3) Plugged heater core. Might try disconnecting your heater hoses at the engine and then back flush with low pressure water through the hose coming off the water pump and letting the trash drain out the other hose.
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98 Ram 1500 QC 5.9L, 2WD, Hughes heads and cam, 52mm Fastman, B&G reflash, 180 t-stat, Edelbrock shorties, Magnaflow cat, and Flowmaster 50HD -- SOLD 12/09
I flushed the heater core and everything looks good. No trash came out. I flushed both directions for about 10 minutes. I have no leaks on the floor driver or passenger side. Would a bad thermo. cause smells in the cab? and cause the defrost not to work?
No. A bad thermostat will either not open and cause the engine to overheat or open too soon and not allow the engine to warm up like it should. Depending on the amibient temperature, running without a thermostat will not allow the engine to reach normal operating temperature.
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98 Ram 1500 QC 5.9L, 2WD, Hughes heads and cam, 52mm Fastman, B&G reflash, 180 t-stat, Edelbrock shorties, Magnaflow cat, and Flowmaster 50HD -- SOLD 12/09
The temp problem sounds like a thermostat that is stuck open and doesn't let stuff heat up. When you romp on the gas, the engine gets hotter and heats up the whole system and that is probably why you get heat.
The defrosters will only work well if you are getting heat to your cab (which is your main issue).
As far as the antifreeze smell. NO, a bad t-stat would not cause a thermostat smell in the cab. Most likely the heater core is leaking, that is a tell tale sign that it is bad.
Usually when a heater core goes bad you start to smell antifreeze, your windows fog up a lot from the inside, and they have a slight film on them. Also, when my heater core went bad I noticed that I would be really congested if I drove my truck and would be fine if I let it sit!
2000 Ram 5.9 Heater and Temp Problem
