No heat, just cold air
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Amateur
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: EE
No heat, just cold air
Hello.
Searched the forum but decided to ask.
I have 97 Dodge Avenger, with 2.0L engine.
The engine warms up normally, gauge is in the middle, no overheating or anything.
Problem is with the heater, its pretty cold outside but the heater doesnt work.
It just blows cold air. If i just start the engine and idle, very small amount of warm air will start coming out and as soon as i start to drive around, that small warm air goes away and just cold comes out (ok almost cold).
The coolant is old, thats true. Thermostat is never changed (didnt have any reason so far), coolant level is between LOW and FULL (or how that was called?).
When the engine is fully warmed up (after long drive or lots of idling), the hoses from the heater are both hot, cant hold my hand on them for more that 5-8 seconds.
Both are pretty much the same, the lower hose is input and upper hose is output from the heater core? Or im wrong?
I looked at the radiator cap, the bigger seal or gasket is pretty old, it comes off piece by piece if i touch it and looks more like plastic than rubber.
I dont know, what else to check. Maybe there is air in the system, i have added coolant 2 times in 2-3 years i owned it. I never bleed the system.
I found one tip:
Should i do the same? I have that plug near the radiator cap, it looks like its never opened. I will buy new cap and will bleed the system, but..
What else to test?
Tia.
Searched the forum but decided to ask.
I have 97 Dodge Avenger, with 2.0L engine.
The engine warms up normally, gauge is in the middle, no overheating or anything.
Problem is with the heater, its pretty cold outside but the heater doesnt work.
It just blows cold air. If i just start the engine and idle, very small amount of warm air will start coming out and as soon as i start to drive around, that small warm air goes away and just cold comes out (ok almost cold).
The coolant is old, thats true. Thermostat is never changed (didnt have any reason so far), coolant level is between LOW and FULL (or how that was called?).
When the engine is fully warmed up (after long drive or lots of idling), the hoses from the heater are both hot, cant hold my hand on them for more that 5-8 seconds.
Both are pretty much the same, the lower hose is input and upper hose is output from the heater core? Or im wrong?
I looked at the radiator cap, the bigger seal or gasket is pretty old, it comes off piece by piece if i touch it and looks more like plastic than rubber.
I dont know, what else to check. Maybe there is air in the system, i have added coolant 2 times in 2-3 years i owned it. I never bleed the system.
I found one tip:
Most GM vehicles have a little brass plug located near the thermostat that one can loosen while the engine is running. When coolant comes out tighten it and the air is gone.
What else to test?
Tia.
Professional
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 129
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Possible causes. Clogged heater core. Thermostat stuck open. Some people replace the thermostat with lower temp ratings than oem causing the heater to blow cool air. I did that in my daughters eclipse. You could have a gate in the dash that is not moving. Could be air, but I have not had a problem with my venge and I have drained and filled multiple times in the last few months. Sounds more like a gate problem in the dash.
Thread Starter
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Amateur
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: EE
Thank you for the reply.
Some guys say its possible that there is air in the system. Brass plug is for bleeding, but im unable to turn it out. Completely welded in place. Could try some butane heat gun.
Is it possible to bleed without involving brass plug ?
About the gate in the dash, how far it is? Near the heater core?
The engine temperature gauge is always in normal, there is no overheating or low engine temperature as i drive around and use the heater. It could be thermostat but i doubt.
I had warm (not so much hot) air before the winter, but at one moment i started to feel only cold or very very little bit of warm air.
But yes, by looking the fact that both heater hoses are hot (cant touch them for longer than 7-10 seconds). Its either the gate in the dash as you said, core is clogged or air in the core.
I will remove the piece of rubber hose from one line of the core and will use piece of clear hose, so i can see maybe, if there is a water flowing around or not.
Maybe its just a steam that warms up the heater core hoses.
What causes the gate just stop moving or not working properly? Just the old age?
I have factory manual, but it doesnt go so deep. I shows how to remove the dash and heater core and the "big box" itself.
But nothing about how the air is moving etc.
I cant remove my dash atm, i dont have garage and its too cold outside.
Some guys say its possible that there is air in the system. Brass plug is for bleeding, but im unable to turn it out. Completely welded in place. Could try some butane heat gun.
Is it possible to bleed without involving brass plug ?
About the gate in the dash, how far it is? Near the heater core?
The engine temperature gauge is always in normal, there is no overheating or low engine temperature as i drive around and use the heater. It could be thermostat but i doubt.
I had warm (not so much hot) air before the winter, but at one moment i started to feel only cold or very very little bit of warm air.
But yes, by looking the fact that both heater hoses are hot (cant touch them for longer than 7-10 seconds). Its either the gate in the dash as you said, core is clogged or air in the core.
I will remove the piece of rubber hose from one line of the core and will use piece of clear hose, so i can see maybe, if there is a water flowing around or not.
Maybe its just a steam that warms up the heater core hoses.
What causes the gate just stop moving or not working properly? Just the old age?
I have factory manual, but it doesnt go so deep. I shows how to remove the dash and heater core and the "big box" itself.
But nothing about how the air is moving etc.
I cant remove my dash atm, i dont have garage and its too cold outside.
Last edited by DodgeAvg; Jan 31, 2014 at 05:01 PM.
Professional
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 129
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I have a v6. I don't know about the bleeder on the 2.0L. Bad Venge is the expert here and may need to chime in. Not sure if Venges are self bleeding. Also my advice is from being an auto mechanic years ago and the info is based on many cars other than Avengers. Can someone chime in on the gate system in the dash?