[4th Gen : 01-07]: No Heat Dies at Light on Occasion Clicking under Dash
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No Heat Dies at Light on Occasion Clicking under Dash
2006 Dodge Grand Caravan SE
Last summer we lost the water pump and had it replaced.
Last fall the heater began to be intermittent. Would blow hot when accelerating but not at a stop. Eventually would work itself out and blow hot for rest of trip.
This winter my wife reported a clicking coming from under the dash driver side or near her feet. I could not replicate.
I drove the van all this week. The heat no longer functions at all no matter what you do. Also when I would stop at a light I would hear a clicking or popping noise coming from near my feet.
Last night on the way to get the kids a king cake I caught a light. Popping sound began when I was decelerating and the engine sputtered and died at the light. It started right back up. Died again at the next stop. Started right back up. Hit the doughnut shop and drove for 30 minutes with several lights with nothing going wrong.
Thoughts? I am pretty handy with the do it yourself stuff but would like a starting spot.
I suspect a clogged heater core based on some of the problems but the killing at idle gets me. Is there something that has these symptoms in common?
Any help would be very appreciated.
Sean
Last summer we lost the water pump and had it replaced.
Last fall the heater began to be intermittent. Would blow hot when accelerating but not at a stop. Eventually would work itself out and blow hot for rest of trip.
This winter my wife reported a clicking coming from under the dash driver side or near her feet. I could not replicate.
I drove the van all this week. The heat no longer functions at all no matter what you do. Also when I would stop at a light I would hear a clicking or popping noise coming from near my feet.
Last night on the way to get the kids a king cake I caught a light. Popping sound began when I was decelerating and the engine sputtered and died at the light. It started right back up. Died again at the next stop. Started right back up. Hit the doughnut shop and drove for 30 minutes with several lights with nothing going wrong.
Thoughts? I am pretty handy with the do it yourself stuff but would like a starting spot.
I suspect a clogged heater core based on some of the problems but the killing at idle gets me. Is there something that has these symptoms in common?
Any help would be very appreciated.
Sean
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Registered User
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2
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Parts two.
Filled up radiator again. It was low a couple of days ago and I filled it then. So water is going somewhere.
Cranked up and let heat up with radiator cap off. After awhile water began to pour over the top. I assume this means the fins on the water pump are good. I put the cap back on.
Top driver side radiator hose began to get hot. Checked bottom hose and it was cool. Bottom hose was still cool after 30 minutes.
Checked under van for water leaks by radiator. Noticed a slow drop under the reservoir. Made note of it to check again since I recently filled and there was a little spillage.
Turned heater on inside. No heat. Fan blows well. When I go from cold to hot I can hear the valve moving back and forth. Reached under the driver side leg panel and felt the two lines going to the heater core. One was slightly warm. The other was not warm at all. Checked them several times over the 30 minute run the top one was never very hot just warm. The bottom was always cool. Heat never worked.
Rechecked water dripping under reservoir. Still slowly dripping. Went for a ride in the neighborhood.
Everything sounded good. Engine sounds fine. Stop light when applying brakes I heard 3 or 4 pops or clicks under the dash. Engine was not affected. Got it to duplicate at the next stop. Still no engine trouble like yesterday after work. Went back home after a 10 minute drive.
Temp indicator never went past halfway between hot and cold. Was very steady. Let me toss in that both of my radiator fans cycle on and off and work well.
Checked the drip. Drip has stopped. Assume it was spillage but where is the water going between 4 days ago and now?
Ideas?
Cranked up and let heat up with radiator cap off. After awhile water began to pour over the top. I assume this means the fins on the water pump are good. I put the cap back on.
Top driver side radiator hose began to get hot. Checked bottom hose and it was cool. Bottom hose was still cool after 30 minutes.
Checked under van for water leaks by radiator. Noticed a slow drop under the reservoir. Made note of it to check again since I recently filled and there was a little spillage.
Turned heater on inside. No heat. Fan blows well. When I go from cold to hot I can hear the valve moving back and forth. Reached under the driver side leg panel and felt the two lines going to the heater core. One was slightly warm. The other was not warm at all. Checked them several times over the 30 minute run the top one was never very hot just warm. The bottom was always cool. Heat never worked.
Rechecked water dripping under reservoir. Still slowly dripping. Went for a ride in the neighborhood.
Everything sounded good. Engine sounds fine. Stop light when applying brakes I heard 3 or 4 pops or clicks under the dash. Engine was not affected. Got it to duplicate at the next stop. Still no engine trouble like yesterday after work. Went back home after a 10 minute drive.
Temp indicator never went past halfway between hot and cold. Was very steady. Let me toss in that both of my radiator fans cycle on and off and work well.
Checked the drip. Drip has stopped. Assume it was spillage but where is the water going between 4 days ago and now?
Ideas?
Have the cooling system pressure checked for leaks. I would also think about replacing the thermostat and housing. But find out where the coolant is going first. The popping sound maybe the engine misfiring.
