Possible heater core issue in my 91 Escort?

ReallyRedCobra

ReallyRedCobra

Club Member
I'm pretty sure I have a problem with my heater core on my 91 Escort but figured I would ask some of you. The blower works but the heat that comes out really isnt all that hot. When the temp drops low like the past few mornings my side windows will pretty much fog up and freeze over. The windshield is ok, but I have the blower basically on full blast all the time. I replaced the coolant. The thermostat seems to be ok. The engine never overheats. The car only has 39,000 miles on it though and it did sit a lot for most of its life. We bought it from my wifes great aunt who only drove it to doctors appointments and church.

I suppose its possible the heater core is plugged up? I also heard that there was a trick to get to it without having to remove the entire dash?

Anyways, what do you guys think?
 
pull the hoses off, and blow some air through the bottom opening. Basically blowing it out backwards. Youll be surprised what shit comes out.
 
how hot does the temp gauge show the engine getting, sounds like a stuck open thermo stat.
 
Well I just blew out the lines and some nasty old coolant came out. I put it back together and its pretty hot now. The temp gauge was always a little iffy on the car. If I was driving it would usually be around L, and at idle it would creep up to normal, but as soon as I start driving it goes back to L. So I'm not sure. All i know now is the my heat is working really good.
 
ReallyRedCobra said:
Well I just blew out the lines and some nasty old coolant came out. I put it back together and its pretty hot now. The temp gauge was always a little iffy on the car. If I was driving it would usually be around L, and at idle it would creep up to normal, but as soon as I start driving it goes back to L. So I'm not sure. All i know now is the my heat is working really good.
Click to expand...
Good to hear. I had a similar issue with a car. I took it to a shop and they back flushed it. That did the trick for me.
 
ReallyRedCobra said:
Well I just blew out the lines and some nasty old coolant came out. I put it back together and its pretty hot now. The temp gauge was always a little iffy on the car. If I was driving it would usually be around L, and at idle it would creep up to normal, but as soon as I start driving it goes back to L. So I'm not sure. All i know now is the my heat is working really good.
Click to expand...

If you received all that gunk from back flushing the heater core, just think what you'll probably find in the radiator.... If you do flush the radiator, be prepared in replacing it as it sometimes blows the tanks from the seal or disturbs an already brittle core.
 
ReallyRedCobra said:
Well I just blew out the lines and some nasty old coolant came out. I put it back together and its pretty hot now. The temp gauge was always a little iffy on the car. If I was driving it would usually be around L, and at idle it would creep up to normal, but as soon as I start driving it goes back to L. So I'm not sure. All i know now is the my heat is working really good.
Click to expand...


It should sit around dead center of normal, if its cooling off as you drive the T-stat likely needs replacing, good to hear the heater core flush helped.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top