Anyone got any suggestions as to why?

It is cold, and I like to be warm! it takes around ten minutes or so for the air (on the lowest setting) to get warm.

Anyone got any ideas on how to speed it up?

Thanks,
Daniel

 

Well that is a tricky one b/c the only way that the heater works is off the heat of the engine. Maybe it takes that long for your engine to warm up so the heater can actually blow out heat. Mine takes about 5-10 minutes depending on how cold it is outside. But I donubt that there is anything wrong w/ you car.

- Mike Harvey -

 

did u check the coolant level if its low u will not get heat from heater core

 

The coolant level is normal.

Is there anything else that can affect the heating of the air?

 

termostat not opening.... or not thermostat installed

 

Starting in '87, a heater control valve was used on the f-bodies. It's controlled by a vacuum line. When it's activated, it "opens", and sends hot coolant to the heater.

The purpose was to stop hot coolant from "always" going to the heater core... so basically the air conditioner works a bit better. I think it's a stupid part, and I'd bypass the sucker right away if I had an '87-up car.

Anyway, maybe that heat diverter valve isn't opening all the way? If your upper radiator hose is very hot, you should also feel the lines to the heater core and DV, they should be hot too- that would mean heat "should" come out of your vents. If the hoses are hot and you've got cold air blowing, the valve is probably shot. Stupid thing. I had to replace one on a friend's car at 8:00pm in a Mcdonalds parking lot- I had no idea what the thing was. His snapped and coolant went everywhere!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Reach around the center consel on the passenger side up by the firewall. Find antifreeze on your finger? Your heater core may be leaking or in the first stages. You said the antifreeze level is normal, so this may be the reason, especially if the core has never been changed before. I had the EXACT problem, now the heat works more than twice as well. Replacing the heater core will not only cure the problem, it will familiarize you with the dash and consel. Good luck...

 

I have the same problem. No heat period. Heater core, thermostat, and relay valve have een replaced. Vacuum is good ath the controls and the valve. I'm going nuts thying to figure this out.