heater box ain't heatin

my heater is putting out cold air until i get on the highway, and up till then the temperature of the air fluctuates from cold to warm to cold until I've been driving for a good while. my temp gauge is pegging in the middle of the range, so i should have hot air but only cold.

any ideas?

97 explorer, sohc
Reply to
Jeffrey Scholen
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Is that an automatic temperature control system?

=Vic= Bear Gap, PA

Jeffrey Scholen wrote:

Reply to
Vic Klein

Ignoring his agents wishes,"Jeffrey Scholen" flung open the hotel room door and announced to the gathering crowd:

your thermostat is defective.

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People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.

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Remove "die spammers" to email

Reply to
wideglide01diespammers

A related problem that I have is the heater box does nothing but heat. I have the Climate Control System in a '96, and recently all it can do is put out heat, unless the max AC is on. Then it seems to get cold, but I think its just the AC is overpowering the ongoing heat.

The air flow directional controls work ok (vent, floor, defrost, etc.), and, when the "automatic" is selected the fan responds properly, varying its speed relative to the difference between desired temperature and the actual inside temp.

Engine temp is running lower than normal, coolant level is ok. I guess its just the heater core functioning as an additional radiator?

Any ideas as to what's up with this? Thermostat? Heater core valve switch stuck open? Is it a pneumatic switch? Or, maybe some valve or switch within the dreaded climate control system itself, buried deep within the dash. (Dealer wants $1K to get into that box.)

Its not too bad a problem right now with the cold weather, but I gotta get this fixed, cause I want to keep the car.

Larry El Cerrito, CA

Reply to
Lawrence Radcliffe

Sounds like the infamous 'blend door syndrome'...... search google for variations on your theme - it's been well covered in the past. $1K sounds a tad rich..... if you find a tech that doesn't mind cutting the crap out of the back of his hands, the AC doesn't need to be breached..... The dashboard comes out, no matter what and runs about $800 CDN

Reply to
Jim Warman

Yup I have that problem on mine. I wish I could figure out how to fix it myself and whether it will be worth it or not. Sad thing is it did that when it was on warranty but then it went back to normal. I didn't get a chance to get the dealer to fix it for free. Oh well at least max AC works.

Reply to
MD

Check out the blend door fix at

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on page 2 - 3

I'm not sure about the part, maybe one has to buy the whole plenum fixture just to get a new door.

I found this link on

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interesting info there. Possible class action lawsuit too. Larry

Reply to
Lawrence Radcliffe

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