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stieber73
User
Jan 9, 2009, 6:48 PM
Post #1 of 8
(1990 views)
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I have been having some problems with my car not putting any heat out, the temp gauge will go up to hot and I will get a short blast of heat then my temp will go back down and then no heat again. It does this over and over again. I have a 1995 Chevy Monte Carlo LS, 3.1L engine, I changed the thermostat out and it is still doing the same thing. I did notice that on the thermostat housing pipe there is some kind of screw on there. Could I still be low on antifreeze?? Or could there be air in the hoses. Thanks in advance
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 9, 2009, 6:51 PM
Post #2 of 8
(1983 views)
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Re: Heater problems
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>>some kind of screw on there<< That is there to assist in bleeding the air out of the system. Just like a hydraulic system, you must get all of the air out. Before you replaced the thermostat, was the cooling system low? Loren SW Washington
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Loren Champlain Sr
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Jan 9, 2009, 7:03 PM
Post #4 of 8
(1974 views)
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Re: Heater problems
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You'll need a catch pan to catch the anti-freeze. Open the 'bleeder', and keep the radiator full while it is pushing the coolant/air out of the bleeder. Safest to do with the engine off. Continue doing this until no more air is seen. Run the engine for a while, watching the temp so as not to let it overheat. Bleed it again. (It's best to let it cool down in between bleedings). I am concerned, however, why the system was low, in the first place. The coolant had to have gone, somewhere. But, at this point, you'll need to get the air out and the system full, then check for leaks. If your system had Dex-Cool, don't mix the green anti-freeze with it. Either stay with Dex-Cool or flush the system thouroughly and switch over to the green type. (Prestone is a greenish-yellow, I think). But, you can't mix anything with Dex-Cool (orange color). Loren SW Washington
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stieber73
User
Jan 9, 2009, 7:30 PM
Post #5 of 8
(1973 views)
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Re: Heater problems
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Thanks for the info, where is the drain plug on this car, I cannot find it, i am gonna flush the system out.
You'll need a catch pan to catch the anti-freeze. Open the 'bleeder', and keep the radiator full while it is pushing the coolant/air out of the bleeder. Safest to do with the engine off. Continue doing this until no more air is seen. Run the engine for a while, watching the temp so as not to let it overheat. Bleed it again. (It's best to let it cool down in between bleedings). I am concerned, however, why the system was low, in the first place. The coolant had to have gone, somewhere. But, at this point, you'll need to get the air out and the system full, then check for leaks. If your system had Dex-Cool, don't mix the green anti-freeze with it. Either stay with Dex-Cool or flush the system thouroughly and switch over to the green type. (Prestone is a greenish-yellow, I think). But, you can't mix anything with Dex-Cool (orange color).
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 9, 2009, 7:38 PM
Post #6 of 8
(1968 views)
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Re: Heater problems
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Most cars will have a drain petcock on the radiator, straight down, below where the upper radiator hose connects. If not, you'll need to disconnect the lower radiator hose from either the engine or the radiator. Remember, though, the engine block is full of coolant, also, so the coolant you drain from the radiator won't be all of it. Are you switching over from Dex-Cool to green? If so, you may need to refill the radiator with water, run the engine, drain, do it again, and again, until you get nice, clean, water only, coming out. Then, drain again and install the new coolant, then go thru the bleeding process again. This process, sometimes, is worth paying for, as it is a real pain trying to do it at home. Keep in mind that anti-freeze is toxic, especially to animals, and fish, ect. You don't want it going on the ground, into drains, sewer, ect. Loren SW Washington
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stieber73
User
Jan 9, 2009, 8:45 PM
Post #7 of 8
(1961 views)
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Re: Heater problems
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Well I drained and refilled and got all the air out, and still the same thing, but I did notice after I warmed it back up, the overflow container is almost full and the radiator is not filled to the neck.
Most cars will have a drain petcock on the radiator, straight down, below where the upper radiator hose connects. If not, you'll need to disconnect the lower radiator hose from either the engine or the radiator. Remember, though, the engine block is full of coolant, also, so the coolant you drain from the radiator won't be all of it. Are you switching over from Dex-Cool to green? If so, you may need to refill the radiator with water, run the engine, drain, do it again, and again, until you get nice, clean, water only, coming out. Then, drain again and install the new coolant, then go thru the bleeding process again. This process, sometimes, is worth paying for, as it is a real pain trying to do it at home. Keep in mind that anti-freeze is toxic, especially to animals, and fish, ect. You don't want it going on the ground, into drains, sewer, ect.
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
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Jan 9, 2009, 10:02 PM
Post #8 of 8
(1954 views)
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Re: Heater problems
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It can be a slow process doing it this way, but as the system cools down, the radiator will 'suck' the coolant out of the overflow bottle . After several times, the air should get worked out. Some cars are a real pain the the rear to bleed. I've had to raise the front of the car so far that the tail pipe is touching the ground, getting the air in the system to move forward, to the radiator. Be patient. Loren SW Washington
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