Truck not heating up
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: Fairfax VA
Obviously there is a problem with these trucks based off the number of posts with the same problem. On mine I have replaced the water pump, thermostat, thermostat housing, all the coolant (from numerous flushings), All hoses except the bypass, and the belt (and the ignition coil that I broke off while remving the alternator). In addition to this I have also soaked the core with CLR followed by several flushings. All this and still very little heat. The core flows very well. Both hoses get plenty hot. The temp comes up fine. I just don't get very much heat. I am at the point of giving up.
I went through a lot of this myself. The final straw was when I started plowing this winter. The engine temperature was over 200 degrees and there was not enough heat in the cab to keep the side windows from freezing over (on the inside). I couldn't see to plow the parking lots.
I have a copy of the factory service manual and read over the procedures to replace the heater core. The A/C lines have to be evacuated and whole dash has to be removed (see picture). I replaced everything in the heater box at the same time (A/C evap, heater core, blower motor) because I wasn't doing this a second time.
In total it took about 8 hours. My friend helped and he had the equipment to handle the A/C refrigerant. I can't imagine what the dealer would charge for the labour. I bought all the parts from RockAuto and the pricing was pretty good.
Now I can plow with the windows rolled down and still be sweating in the cab. The heater core was partially plugged and the motor was next not spinning very fast.
My suggestion is to bite the bullet, find a place out of the weather and replace everything in the heater box. The job is not difficult, just time consuming.
Take lots of pictures and notes while taking everything apart. Reassembly will be really easy. And yes, that really is the dash sitting on the seats in the picture.
Good luck. Hope this helps.
I have a copy of the factory service manual and read over the procedures to replace the heater core. The A/C lines have to be evacuated and whole dash has to be removed (see picture). I replaced everything in the heater box at the same time (A/C evap, heater core, blower motor) because I wasn't doing this a second time.
In total it took about 8 hours. My friend helped and he had the equipment to handle the A/C refrigerant. I can't imagine what the dealer would charge for the labour. I bought all the parts from RockAuto and the pricing was pretty good.
Now I can plow with the windows rolled down and still be sweating in the cab. The heater core was partially plugged and the motor was next not spinning very fast.
My suggestion is to bite the bullet, find a place out of the weather and replace everything in the heater box. The job is not difficult, just time consuming.
Take lots of pictures and notes while taking everything apart. Reassembly will be really easy. And yes, that really is the dash sitting on the seats in the picture.
Good luck. Hope this helps.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I had the same problem-no heat. Both hoses were hot to the touch. Thought it may be the blend door-no. Took it in for a heater core flush($40+taxes) and she blows just fine now-plenty of heat. Garage says he sees this alot in the Dodge product especially the Caravans-he does not have an explanation for it-just is the case in these Dodges I guess.