i have a 1996 dodge ram 1500, when i turn my truck on and leave it going for awhile the heater will get luke warm, the a/c works pretty good. i checked the tubes going into the cab from engine and they are semi warm, what is my issue and how would i make that issue go away (in simple terms) i also don't have alot of money and would just like a heater that keeps me warm after long day of work

 

Does your engine get up to operating temp?

when the engine is all the way warmed, the hoses should be pretty flippin' hot to the touch. You might have an air bubble in the heater core, or, it might simply be plugged up with crap.... and not getting enough flow. Make sure your coolant level is up to snuff, and if that's ok, try backflushing the heater. when you are done, try to keep as much fluid in the core as you can when you put the hoses back on. Burp the cooling system again just for fun. (get the passenger side front as high as you can when doing so) and see what comes out, and if it improves its attitude any.

 

What temp stat do you have installed?

 

Sounds like a plugged heater core to me, I had this same problem on my truck. Here is a good video on how to unclog it that helped me out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcL_0TWeZJY

 

alright well i did that movie said and i recieved alot of junk out of heater core, but still not hot. i felt the tubes and they are buring hot. so what else could it be? also if i turn it so it just reuses heat its gets hot but that fogs up my windows alot.

 

what is the recommended or best one to use? And how do you know what you already have?

 

that is a googd point i dont know that either

 

Factory is 195*. If your temp gauge runs around 200 when fully warmed, chances are, that's what ya got. 180 is another popular one, but, not sure how much of a difference it makes on the gauge.

If both hoses are too hot to touch, there is probably still an air pocket in the heater core, or, your blend door isn't functioning properly, or, there is a blockage of air flow thru the heater core.

If putting it on recirc fogs your windows..... is your heater core blown? (leaking..)

 

not that i know of, i have no leaks under truck or in cab so im assuming its not. ill do the trick with parking on hill (front passenger side) and see if i can get bubble out

 

I have found that back flushing the core is more effective... just keep fluid loss to a minimum when hooking the hoses back up.