Heater Core

I’m sure there is multiple threads about this but i don’t really want to go searching for an answer. My heater core works but it feels as though the heat is weak, even when the engine is up to temp. I’ve watched videos ab flushing the heater core and in one video he had mentioned a manual switch that controls how much fluid goes into your heater core, and it’s dictates how hot or how cold your heat gets. Is this true? Should i even bother moving this switch or should i just go ahead and flush the system? Also i should mention that the tube that goes inside of the overflow tank is swelled, plan on replacing that

 

I had the same trouble. The valve on your firewall is easy enough to check. Set the heat all the way to HOT, with the engine warmed up completely, and feel both hoses to the valve. they should both be about the same temp as the hose to the radiator. Bbbeware! That's pretty hot to the touch.

Inside the cab, take a look at the passenger side. Looking from the floor up, just outboard of the center console, you can see a cable attached to the bottom of the box there. If it's come loose of the clamps that hold the outer sheath, adjusting the temp control will move the outer sheath, but not the inner cable. No temp control. Se the temp all the way one way or the the other, put the outer sheath back into it's clamps, and move the vontrol. You should see the inner cable move the stuff it's attached to, but no motion of the outer sheath.

If you still have no heat, try flushing the system. The heater core may also be clogged with dirt, debris, like leaves and so forth, and other detritus. You may need to remove it and clean it off.

Whatever you find, I wish you all the best.
Pat☺

 

I will try this! Thank you!

 

Is this the cable i should be looking for?

 

Yup! That's the critter. It looks like it's clamped down correctly to me. Does the outer sheath move back and forth when you change the temperature setting, or just the center core part? If only the center core, that is good to go.

Did you take a look at the hot water control valve on the firewall in the engine compartment, too, to make sure it's cable moves back and forth when you change the temp? Did you feel the hose that goes into the firewall from the valve to make sure it gets hot? Did you feel the hose that returns from the cab to the engine compartment to see if it gets hot too?

If that's the case, that both hoses get good and hot, but you get very little heat blowing out of the heater core, it could well be that the fins on the outside of the core are covered in dirt, leaves, whatever, preventing good heat transfer from the water IN the heater core to the air flowing through it.
If the return water line doesn't get very warm, the core could well be clogged up internally, and needs to be flushed out.

Good luck to you!
Pat☺

 

That was just the picture i found on google to make sure i was looking for the right thing!! But i’m glad i know what it’s supposed it look like lol!

Valve in the firewall moves. But the out tube feels colder then the in tube so i am going to guess the heater core is clogged.

the back heat works though, so i’m trying to stay warm with that