1984 Pickup, 22R...how hot does your heater get?

"dumdedumdum" <dfarns.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:vdVhj.469$9b2.363@newsfe06.lga...
> I'm asking this because my heater doesn't seem to produce much more than a
> dribble of warm air with the valve all the
> way on. I wonder if this is normal, or a sign that my engine isn't warming
> up enough, or something else. The heater
> valve is working freely and shouldn't be a problem. My temperature gauge
> reads a little below the halfway mark, and
> never gets above that. The radiator is new, as is the water pump. It takes
> about 10 minutes of driving before there is
> any sign of warm air that makes a difference. If the cabin temperature is
> 42 deg when I leave home, it will be inching
> up to 50 deg after 10 minutes, and maybe 54 deg after 20 minutes. This is
> driving (no stop lights) down a canyon at
> 35-40 mph for 10 minutes, then 55 mph for the next 10 minutes. Seems like I
> should be warming up a bit more than that.
>
> Any comments?
>
> jc


Check your hoses going to the heater core under the hood. Both hoses should
be warm/hot with the engine warmed up. If one is warm and the other is cold
you may have a plugged heater core. Make sure the heater valve is OK. If the
heater core is plugged you should be able to remove both hoses and flush it
with a garden hose, being sure to back flush it as well.
 >> Stay informed about: 1984 Pickup, 22R...how hot does your heater get? 

That's a good idea...there is very little difference between inner and outer
air flow. Some difference, but just barely noticiable without the fan
blowing. Where are the ducts that get plugged up, and are they easy to
access?

jc



"al" <abuonag.TakeThisOut@msn.com> wrote in message
news:359adc1a-2de3-4d16-9ce0-2808d8c1772d@i29g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
On Jan 11, 9:00 pm, "dumdedumdum" <dfa....TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I'm asking this because my heater doesn't seem to produce much more than a
dribble of warm air with the valve all the
> way on. I wonder if this is normal, or a sign that my engine isn't warming
up enough, or something else. The heater
> valve is working freely and shouldn't be a problem. My temperature gauge
reads a little below the halfway mark, and
> never gets above that. The radiator is new, as is the water pump. It takes
about 10 minutes of driving before there is
> any sign of warm air that makes a difference. If the cabin temperature is
42 deg when I leave home, it will be inching
> up to 50 deg after 10 minutes, and maybe 54 deg after 20 minutes. This is
driving (no stop lights) down a canyon at
> 35-40 mph for 10 minutes, then 55 mph for the next 10 minutes. Seems like
I should be warming up a bit more than that.
>
> Any comments?
>
> jc

If the water temperature is OK, the problem could be insufficient
outside air passing through the heater core. There could be blockage
due to leaves/debris or the duct could be bad or the air intake valve
could be bad. When the air intake system is OK, there should be
considerably greater air flow when the air intake valve is turned to
admit outside air as opposed to when it is positioned to circulate
inside air. Good luck. Al
 >> Stay informed about: 1984 Pickup, 22R...how hot does your heater get? 

"al" <abuonag.TakeThisOut@msn.com> wrote in message
news:359adc1a-2de3-4d16-9ce0-2808d8c1772d@i29g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
On Jan 11, 9:00 pm, "dumdedumdum" <dfa....TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I'm asking this because my heater doesn't seem to produce much more than a
> dribble of warm air with the valve all the
> way on. I wonder if this is normal, or a sign that my engine isn't warming
> up enough, or something else. The heater
> valve is working freely and shouldn't be a problem. My temperature gauge
> reads a little below the halfway mark, and
> never gets above that. The radiator is new, as is the water pump. It takes
> about 10 minutes of driving before there is
> any sign of warm air that makes a difference. If the cabin temperature is
> 42 deg when I leave home, it will be inching
> up to 50 deg after 10 minutes, and maybe 54 deg after 20 minutes. This is
> driving (no stop lights) down a canyon at
> 35-40 mph for 10 minutes, then 55 mph for the next 10 minutes. Seems like
> I should be warming up a bit more than that.
>
> Any comments?
>
> jc

If the water temperature is OK, the problem could be insufficient
outside air passing through the heater core. There could be blockage
due to leaves/debris or the duct could be bad or the air intake valve
could be bad. When the air intake system is OK, there should be
considerably greater air flow when the air intake valve is turned to
admit outside air as opposed to when it is positioned to circulate
inside air. Good luck. Al



The heater core itself can be clogged too. Is the radiator fluid clean, or
is it rusted? If there is rust in the overflow bottle, there is likely to be
rust in the heater core too.

You can disconnect the heater hose from the engine block, or both hose if
you can get to them easily, and connect the garden hose and run water
through until the water runs out clear. There are two heater hoses, the
water flows FROM the heater back to the block through the hose that is
connected at the thermostat housing, or nearby. So, if you connect the
garden hose here, then you will push water backwards through the heater core
in relation to the direction coolant normally flows. This will collect any
blockage and push it back where it came from, instead of pushing it further
into the heater core.

You (the OP) didn't say, but do you notice the fan speed change as you
change the setting of the fan switch? If there is little change, or no
change, then you have a failed resistor pack or a worn out fan motor.






lowest one feeds water into the heater, the highest one (where low and high
are in reference to where they connect to the block)
 >> Stay informed about: 1984 Pickup, 22R...how hot does your heater get? 

On Jan 13, 5:55 am, "jbclem" <jbcl....RemoveThis@charter.net> wrote:
> That's a good idea...there is very little difference between inner and outer
> air flow.  Some difference, but just barely noticiable without the fan
> blowing.  Where are the ducts that get plugged up, and are they easy to
> access?
>
> jc
>
> "al" <abuo....RemoveThis@msn.com> wrote in message
>
> news:359adc1a-2de3-4d16-9ce0-2808d8c1772d@i29g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Jan 11, 9:00 pm, "dumdedumdum" <dfa....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:> I'm asking this because my heater doesn't seem to produce much more than a
>
> dribble of warm air with the valve all the> way on. I wonder if this is normal, or a sign that my engine isn't warming
>
> up enough, or something else. The heater> valve is working freely and shouldn't be a problem. My temperature gauge
>
> reads a little below the halfway mark, and> never gets above that. The radiator is new, as is the water pump. It takes
>
> about 10 minutes of driving before there is> any sign of warm air that makes a difference. If the cabin temperature is
>
> 42 deg when I leave home, it will be inching> up to 50 deg after 10 minutes, and maybe 54 deg after 20 minutes. This is
>
> driving (no stop lights) down a canyon at> 35-40 mph for 10 minutes, then 55 mph for the next 10 minutes. Seems like
>
> I should be warming up a bit more than that.
>
>
>
> > Any comments?
>
> > jc
>
> If the water temperature is OK, the problem could be insufficient
> outside air passing through the heater core.  There could be blockage
> due to leaves/debris or the duct could be bad or the air intake valve
> could be bad.  When the air intake system is OK, there should be
> considerably greater air flow when the air intake valve is turned to
> admit outside air as opposed to when it is positioned to circulate
> inside air.  Good luck.  Al

Unfortunately, the ducts and associated plumbing are all buried under
the dash. You have to access the heater unit to get to them. If
there's no center console maybe you can get to it all but working
under a dash is the pits. Trace the cable from the air control level
back to the heater to locate the air control valve. Good luck. Al
 >> Stay informed about: 1984 Pickup, 22R...how hot does your heater get?