I am having problems with my 92 bird and was wondering if anyone could help me. First of all the car is under a car port and it only gets driven about 20 miles every other weekend. I am in college and I have a daily driver so the bird doesn't get much action. The problem is that when I run the car for about 20 minutes the temperature never gets above 100, the needle just stays there. If I drive it for about 20 minutes, then let it sit for about 5 it will get to normal operating temperature but If I drive it down the road for 5 minutes the temperature goes straight back down to 100 and it will stay there until I let the car sit. The car used to never do this and it would heat up within 5 minutes of starting up the car. The second problem I have is that the heater isn't working worth a crap. I drive the car for 20 minutes and it just barely starts blowing warm air at the end of the trip. Also, if I turn on the air conditioning or put the heat on vent, hardly anything comes out of the vent on the passenger side, the 2 middle vents are fine, and the drivers side doesn't blow all that great either. What could be the problem?

 

If the heater isn't getting warm, that sounds like the heater core. As for the temp, You can not always trust the factory gauges. You have a bad guage or sending unit.

 

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It sounds like a simple bad radiator cap to me. I bet if you take the cap off; it will just fall apart. in your hands.

 

might also be a bad thermostat

 

well, it shouldn't be the heater core because I replaced it about 3 months ago.

 

I would replace the thermostat before you try to diagnose anything else.

 

Sounds like you have a 160* thermostat. I have one on my car and it does not get very warm in the winter. Not even here in PHX. I would say that my heater is only slightly warm the few times I use it.

If you need the car to warm up faster and need more heat in the engine compartment, you might want to go back to the original thermostat. Especially in the winter.

 

Jeff.. What type of cap do you have, did you 'burp' the sytem of air aftetr the change, and have you double checked the coolant level after it reached operating temp after the HC change? Also have you checked your blower fan?

 

I've had no problems with my heater system since installing a 160 stat. Even in 35* weather it takes only a few minutes for the heater to blow warm air. Take the thermostat out and check the temp setting on it. If it's too low you may want to install a higher temp stat.

 

sounds like the thermostat is stuck open .....had a ford truck from the factory that never really warmed up nice...seems a ford mechanic dropped a cig butt and it stuck in the thermostat not letting it close...brand new truck!!!!LOL

 

hey guys, the car is at home so I will have to wait until the next weekend or two before I check the thermostat. I appreciate all the response though. Also, the car has the stock thermostat as far as I know. I've had it for about 6 years and I haven't replaced it. Could the thermostat be causing the vents to blow like ****? You can barely feel any air coming out of the passenger side vent when you turn on the air conditioner.

 

I could possibly have the answer. you said you did the heater core right? did you take off all the dash? if so then maybe you didn't conncet the the plastic tubes back together that the air flows through to the passenger side. I know this cause my defroster blows like nothing. Its just a possibly to check out.

 

I am a little confused here. Is the problem that the air is not blowing hard enough or that the air is not hot enough???

You said your engine temp only gets to about 100*. If the air is not hot enough, then I would say the problem would be the thermostat.

If the problem is the air is not blowing hard enough, then that would be either a blower problem or maybe some sort of duct work problem.

 

you most likely have the stuck thermostat, as previously mentioned that is affecting the temperature... I had a stuck stat in mine for the longest time, same symptoms as you're having, replaced the stat and good to go. as far as your "lack of air", what all did you take apart on the dash when you changed your heater core?

 

If the thermostat hasn't been changed in 6 years, that's a good place to start!

As for the air not blowing hard enough,,,if you took out the dash and didn't align the air passages correctly when you put it back, this could very well cause that problem.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by azvolfan
[B]I am a little confused here. Is the problem that the air is not blowing hard enough or that the air is not hot enough???

It is both.

I did take the entire dash apart when I put in the new heater core. So I am betting that you guys are right and something did not line up right. That would explain the weak air coming in from the passenger and driver side. I will look into it, looks like I am going to have a fun time taking it all apart again.....

 

your problem is the little plastic vaccuum lines being disconnected..the connect on the firewall next to the heater box in the engine bay......the vaccuum controls thefloor vent and defrost switch or what ever you call it......without it connected you... would only get air out of the defrost.....

 

The dash didn't even need to come out to do the core. I replaced one on an 88 Formula and all I had to do was remove the cover under the dash on the passenger side, remove the heater core housing, loosen the clamps holding the core and remove then remove it. The hardest part of installing is getting the tubes thru the firewall carefully so they don't crack.

However doing the heater core on an 89 S10 pickup is a different story. That was a BITCH!

 

My vents work fine. But when i use the defroster it doesn't blow that much air out is all i was sayin. I know it probably happened when i did the heater core. but im not about to rip out the dash again. my defroster just takes alittle longer.

 

I was told this when I went to take it out. I do not think it's true. Maybe on an 88 model, but not on a 92. I guess the placement of the heater core changed because I could not reach the heater core just taking off the cover under the dash. The heater core was too high up.

 

Hmm,,,maybe they did change it. I hope not though. I own a 91 now and from doing it on my father's truck, I already know what it's like to rip out the dash to do one. Like I said, major PITA!

 

nope, he's right. only the one plastic panel has to come off. i've done them on an 88 GTA and now my 92 TA within a year of each other. the hardest part with the GTA was getting the hose clamps off, which consisted of using a 4" long hacksaw blade with my fingers to cut them. that job took about 90 minutes, the 92 was only half of that.

you can do one of two things to get that highest center screw on the core cover. either get a real good feel for it and do it blind (which is ok to take it off, much harder to put it in that way - definitely use a magnetic tip). or get a 12" flexible socket extension, and bend it to get over the top.

 

That's good news.

 

i will try it, last time I just couldn't get that damn top one off.

 

It's different on 92 camaros. Im sure you have to take out most of the dash cause you can't get to the top bolt to get it off. But go ahead and give it a try from the passanger floor panel but if u can't get some of the bolts the dash has to be pulled back.

 

i have a 92 bird, would that be the difference? Maybe the Camaro one is easier to pull?

 

some years are ...some arent

 

okay, i am going to replace the thermostat but I don't know which one to get. Is the 180 thermostat stock? Should I just upgrade to the 160? Keep in mind that I live in Mississippi and I drive the car once every week or 2.

 

I'd just get a 180, stock is 195, 160 would work, but IMHO it is too cold