2000 Dakota Sport 2.5L 5 speed
Long story short -
Upper radiator hose blew out 3 months ago from wear and tear.
Replaced hose and just replaced thermostat (replaced with same 195° as original).
I have parked with engine running and heater on full.
I have parked on ramps and inclines with engine running and heater on full.
I have driven up and down hills (what hills I can find here in Oklahoma) attempting to burp the system.
I have observed the coolant without the thermostat to make sure the water pump is working, which it appeared to be moving coolant just fine.
Temp gauge reflects the thermostat temp and the radiator hoses are both warm to hot to the touch.
I've checked the obvious fuses.
I am lost for what to do next.
Do the relays in the fuse box under the hood control heat in any way?
The blower works fine and I had the AC recharged last summer and it works fine.
The service manual says the 2.5L has problems with air settling in the thermostat block but how the heck do I get it out?
I have performed CPR on the heater hoses, pumping them while the engine runs.
It's just starting to get cold and that 20 minute drive on the highway at 70mph may be a little cold on the toes!!
Any ideas? Is there a way to check the heater core?
Thank you Thank you Thank you for any direction.
Rick

 

Have you back flushed the heater core or can anything get through the heater core? Im wondering if the heater core is plugged up.

I have never had any problem with burping the air out of the cooling system in my 2.5 engine all I do is run the engine with the rad cap off till I see the cooling fluid moving that gets any air out.

One thing as I said before my 2.5 dakota has always taken about 20 minutes before any heat starts comming out the vents

 

One thing that may help but I could of been imagining this if you compare the gasket to the bolt on housing there is an extra amount of gasket that kind of covers the heater hose inlet one time I trimmed that off and swear My heat always came on faster after trimming that gasket.

 

Thanks for the ideas, 98DAKAZ. I'm pretty much a rookie at trying things like back-flushing. I'm lucky enough to have enough tools to do the little things. But I will look at the gasket. I have an extra one and once I discovered how to loosen the serp belt, taking the thermostat housing off was much easier. But I just don't seem to be getting any heat at all. I wouldn't even know where to start with the heater core.

 

This is with the gasket trimed to match the outlet.

 

 

Okay, that looks fairly straigtforward (and the guy is entertaining!). I would have to get a hold of an air compressor, but that is do-able.

 

Most just use there garden hose to back flush you dont need a compressor

Do a search on the forum you will find a ton of info on this subject

 

This is for a Jeep and they have the same 2.5 engine in them

If not sure what hose is the out or in just flush both ways

 

Wow, this is getting easier. I owe you one! (one what I don't know!)