- #186 of 237
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Re: No Heat At Idle [westal]
by duecekd
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Jan 09, 2009 (10:18 am)
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Replying to: westal (Jan 08, 2009 9:02 pm)
I am not a mechanic, but my 1st thought is the thermostat not working correctly. When you 1st start the van, watch your temp gauge. It should rise (mine gets to about 250F) then you'll see it drop noticeably. This is when the thermostat opens, which circulates the radiator fluid through engine and heater core. If you don't see it do this, it could be stuck open, in which the fluid doesn't stay hot unless it is running hard. For a quick fix, sometimes you can tap on the thermostat housing (don't beat it to death, you could break the metal) and it will break loose and work for awhile. But if this is the case, it needs to be replaced in any instance.
That's my opinion, if anyone with more mechanic knowledge can correct or add to it, please help this brother out, HE'S FREEZING!!!
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- #187 of 237
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Re: No Heat At Idle [duecekd]
by westal
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Jan 10, 2009 (11:22 am)
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Replying to: duecekd (Jan 09, 2009 10:18 am)
Okay yes the thermostat was stuck open when i took it apart, so i replaced it. Now i can see on the temp gauge when it opens and closes again. I am pretty sure i have an air lock in the system, blows room temp at idle and nice and hot as soon as you get going a little bit. Been trying to burp the system but i just cant get the damn air lock out. Any suggestions its a 2002 GMC Safari.
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- #188 of 237
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Re: No Heat At Idle [westal]
by duecekd
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Jan 10, 2009 (2:41 pm)
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Replying to: westal (Jan 10, 2009 11:22 am)
When the van is idling, does the blower still blow out the lower vents, or does it just die. Or does it come out the lower vents and the defroster at the same time? I have read posts from other guys who had a problem with the blower not working at idle, but works when van is rolling. This is a vacuum problem. Check the vacuum line from the back of the manifold to the black vacuum ball located on the passenger side in the wheel well looking from the front. That vacuum ball I believe is supposed to keep up the vacuum pressure at idle. There could be a small hole in the hose, or a cracked stem on the ball or that other little black check valve looking thing on that line. Apparently these vans are notorious for brittle vacuum hoses that get cooked by the engine heat when the hose runs over the top. If you find a bad hose, I have replaced them with fuel line from the parts store. Just make sure the inside diameter is the same. Take a piece of the bad hose with you. Good Luck!
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- #189 of 237
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Re: No Heat At Idle [duecekd]
by westal
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Jan 12, 2009 (8:24 pm)
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Replying to: duecekd (Jan 10, 2009 2:41 pm)
Hey, no i replaced all those hoses the first time i started working on my van to make sure if wasnt the problem. It still blows hard on whatever setting i have it on, just cools down to room temp and as soon as i start driving it gets hot again. Thinking it is an air lock just cant get it out. Any more info would be great. Thanks
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- #190 of 237
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Re: No Heat At Idle [westal]
by duecekd
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Jan 12, 2009 (9:25 pm)
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Replying to: westal (Jan 12, 2009 8:24 pm)
The only thing left that I can think of is to start the motor with the radiator cap off. The fluid will just sit there as you carefully look into radiator hole. Have someone Rev motor until thermostat opens. You should visibly see the fluid circulate in the radiator once the valve is open. If you see this, that to me would mean that it is circulating throughout the whole engine, including the heater core. I do know there is a damper door somewhere near the heater core inside the van on the passenger side. When you change the settings on the dash from defrost to heat, can you hear that door move? Mine makes a distinct noise when I change settings. I know I'm just grabbing at straws at this point, but I'm out of suggestions, and believe me, I know what it's like to be stuck on a problem, especially when your freezing!! Good luck!
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- #191 of 237
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heating
by fixer5
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Jan 13, 2009 (12:18 pm)
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hi this is josef my chevy astro 97 blow out air but not hot enough rear fen blow only colt air position swich on dash boart works only high speed thenks josef
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- #192 of 237
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by fixer5
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Jan 27, 2009 (2:26 pm)
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- #193 of 237
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Re: 1999 astro blower goes on & off [onemanonevan]
by onemanonevan
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Jan 31, 2009 (6:14 am)
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Replying to: onemanonevan (Dec 28, 2008 1:29 pm)
After checking everything else, I changed the bower motor and that fixed it. Wasn't that bad to install.
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- #194 of 237
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97` Astro Heater problem...help!
by caliastro97
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Feb 07, 2009 (1:19 pm)
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We`ve owned my wifes 97` astro van since 1998,
after a few yrs of use , I started noticing a gurgling sound coming from the heater-core area but never looked into it since there were no puddles or leaks present, then we experienced the problems with no air/ac coming thru front-vents(but heated air came thru floor-vents at the time) but stayed like this for a coupe of years til` I found this site,
I replaced all of the vacuuum hoses which did get the air/ac vent`s blowing cold air again... but now have no heat(I did feel heat at floor prior to replacing hoses), so I tested/replaced the thermostat w/new hoping this would correct problem(old one was ok) but still have no heat & did notice that temp gauge needle started fluctuating after new thermo(it goes well above the midway point to almost overheating(which it never did before)... then lowers itself...then goes back up again.. but it seems to eventually settle in between 1/4 & half on temp gauge which is somewhat higher than normal),
when I turn the control knob to Mid-High Heat-setting I can hear a kind of clicking sound coming from the heat-core area & what I think is the air-mixture vent-door opening or not opening, the clicking/tapping sound is unfamiliar, I`m no mechanic but am somewhat mechanical, to anyone with similar problems....
would the problem be in the Heater-core/air-mixture door areas somewhere?
is the heater core or valve door easy to replace/get to?
I have yet to check the core hoses for heat but this will be doing this if not today tomorrow, &/or will check for water circulation with radiator cap off to see if core may be plugged. Thank`s for any info or advice!
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- #195 of 237
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Re: 97` Astro Heater problem...help! [caliastro97]
by caliastro97
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Feb 08, 2009 (8:07 am)
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Replying to: caliastro97 (Feb 07, 2009 1:19 pm)
Update: yesterday I checked the 2 water hoses that run from the heater-core case to the 4-way metal valve under the air-conditioner evap cannister & find that the 2 hoses going to the core are cold & do not feel like there is water running thru them, the other hoses(water pump & intake manifold) to this valve are hot so I can only assume that this valve is plugged & not letting water flow to core?
is there a way of checking this valve?
will running engine like this overheat or damage motor?
any help is greatly appreciated...thank`s!
Ruben
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