Lost my heat taking a buddy home tonight. The heat was fine after I started it and it warmed up, but after a mile or so it started blowing colder and got to air conditioning cold, and then right down to the -11* from outside... The coolant level is about right (to the top of th "grid" in the rad) and it seems to cirulate when hot, so I've ruled out pump and thermostat. Inlet line for heater core is warm to the touch, but the outlet is a quite a bit cooler. I'm thinking plugged heater core. Anyone care to respond with an agree or disagree and why?

(insert yotatech search here)I'm going to check the linkage in the morning but failing that, is my best option going to be back-flushing the core, or is there something else I can do short of pulling it out?

Hey take a look at the avatar, too. Finally got around to uploading a pic of my co-pilot. And yes that is a large plate of Subway leftovers from New Year's Eve that he's face down in.

Other than that the only question I (and my copilot) have is:

WILL THERE EVER BE AN END TO ALL THESE STINKIN' REPAIRS

 

It sounds to me like you are a little low on your anti-freeze. Get the front up on ramps or an incline, and top off your system from cold, with the heater control all the way on.

Keep topping through the radiator until the engine is warm enough for the thermostat to open, finish topping off, then put your cap back on. That should eliminate any air in the system, and return your heat to the cab.

 

another place to check is the heater core between the front seats under the little console. I would think that the core is gone , but it shouldnt be too much to replace it.



if it is the main core , try using the secondary heater to keep warm till its done(the one for the back seats)

 

as long as your heater control valve is working properly, I would be suspect of your heater core

 

Try the thermostatits like ten bucks

 

well un like all of the worst case sayers
I have seen on my truck,4runner and my buddys 4runner THIS look under the dash on the passenger side there is a cable that comes from the heater control to the bottom of the heater core air box it pops off some times and the heat will stop working.

 

ya! start throwing $$$ at the problem that should fix it!....you know you can test a thermostat to see if its bad?

I doubt that is the problem....sounds like a blocked heater core. I have good used cores if you want one...

Collier

 

blocked core.

 

Well, I've tried all the linkages, looks like I'll be trying to backflush the core this weekend...at least it's not too cold out, only about -10 C

 

Normally this is a sign you are low on coolant from a head gasket leak. But since you said you checked that...

I'd check the hot water valve on the other side of the firewall (like right where the controls are, but on the engine side of the firewall) and make sure the cable that operates it has not come off or broken.

 

Done that...If I move the arm on the valve, my heater control moves with it. That valve could be another problem, but since I just did head gaskets, I'm guessing that I must have gotten some crud in the coolant passages. I'll see if I can get some pics of what comes out when I do the flush on the weekend.

 

Got it working again guys. Fklushed the core in both directions with the ol' garden hose, and cleaned out my in-line coolant heater/pump

 

Got it working again guys. Flushed the core in both directions with the ol' garden hose, and cleaned out my in-line coolant heater/pump