Heater

fingie · **Posted:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:45 pm

Im not sure if is the right board to ask this on but its worth a shot...

I have a 2003 Renegade and it seems as though when Im driving home it will take the usual few minutes to warm up like any vehicle does...but then say 5-10min after its started blowing warm air it will just die off to cold and the only way to get it hot again is to turn it off & then back on. Im going to call the dealership Monday but does anyone have any ideas on what it might be?

TIA

psinsyd · **Posted:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:52 pm

fingie wrote:

Im not sure if is the right board to ask this on but its worth a shot...

I have a 2003 Renegade and it seems as though when Im driving home it will take the usual few minutes to warm up like any vehicle does...but then say 5-10min after its started blowing warm air it will just die off to cold and the only way to get it hot again is to turn it off & then back on. Im going to call the dealership Monday but does anyone have any ideas on what it might be?

TIA

That's weird that you mention that, cuz just yesterday I was flipping through the newspaper and read the typical "auto wiz" section where people are having issues with their cars and they write to this guy to answer what the cause of the problem may be.

Anyways, somebody wrote in with the exact same problem, and his answer was to check the coolant level, as it's most likely low. Not sure if this is the issue in your case, but worth a shot to check it out.

Hope this helps!

fingie · **Posted:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:55 pm

Thank you so much, Ill definately have that checked before I call Monday

(Was the one in the Q a KJ too?- just curious :wink:

)

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:45 pm

Never heard of this issue? Just off the top of my head, I wouldnt think its a coolant issue. the reason I say that, Im fairly sure the coolant flows through the heater core all the time. Turning the heat off, then back on, would not change anything. Sounds like something is wrong with the blend door which controls the amount of heat or cool air that is put out. Could just be a programming error? Or a bad control knob? The dealer can hook it up to a computer and see if its putting out any codes. :wink:

I would still check the coolant though.. Thats just something thats good to check.. :wink:

psinsyd · **Posted:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:26 pm

fingie wrote:

Thank you so much, Ill definately have that checked before I call Monday

(Was the one in the Q a KJ too?- just curious :wink:

)

No, not a KJ. I think it was a 90-something Dodge Intrepid, if I remember correctly.

Average Joseph · **Posted:** Tue Nov 28, 2006 9:33 pm

Funny, just last week I started having the same problem. I only get hot air when going over 35 or 40 mph once the engine's warm. Blower works fine just no hot air. My buddy said it might just need a "recharge" whatever that means. Hope it's not too expensive 'cause my radiator just cracked on me today :evil:

Not looking forward to driving around with frosted-over windows because I can't get any heat!

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:15 pm

Average Joseph wrote:

Funny, just last week I started having the same problem. I only get hot air when going over 35 or 40 mph once the engine's warm. Blower works fine just no hot air. My buddy said it might just need a "recharge" whatever that means. Hope it's not too expensive 'cause my radiator just cracked on me today :evil:

Not looking forward to driving around with frosted-over windows because I can't get any heat!

You probably had the crack in the radiator for a while and lost coolant. Low coolant is probably what caused your lack of heat. Fix your radiator, fill'er up, and you'll probably have heat again.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:20 pm

Average Joseph wrote:

Funny, just last week I started having the same problem. I only get hot air when going over 35 or 40 mph once the engine's warm. Blower works fine just no hot air. My buddy said it might just need a "recharge" whatever that means. Hope it's not too expensive 'cause my radiator just cracked on me today :evil:

Not looking forward to driving around with frosted-over windows because I can't get any heat!

Usually when someone says it needs to be recharged, they mean the A/C system which is different than the Heat.. :wink:

saxdogg · **Joined:** Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:26 pm **Posts:** 199

I'm voting for a problem with the vacuum-assisted blend door...sounds like a vacuum leak letting go of the door. There was even a TSB early on for the repair of something with the blend door, someone may post the link. If your heater hoses are both hot, then coolant is flowing thru the heater core.

fingie · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:12 pm

I took it back to the dealer Monday & they kept it overnight so it'd be nice & cold in the morning...
it acted up for the tech driving it (I was scared it would be fine and they'd think I was nuts haha) and from what I gathered they flushed the coolant or w/e and all is well now

Thanks so much for everyones input!

saxdogg · **Joined:** Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:26 pm **Posts:** 199

INteresting....a flush? I don't see how unless there was blockage, and even then, would it really be blocking..unblocking...etc. etc.

Keep us posted.

jp

fingie · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:54 pm

saxdogg wrote:

INteresting....a flush? I don't see how unless there was blockage, and even then, would it really be blocking..unblocking...etc. etc.

Keep us posted.

jp

He just mentioned a blockage and that they flushed it or something to fix the problem. (Sorry I dont really remember details, Ive got a huge lack of sleep right now)

Average Joseph · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:36 pm

detroit_doc wrote:

You probably had the crack in the radiator for a while and L.O.S.T. coolant. Low coolant is probably what caused your lack of heat. Fix your radiator, fill'er up, and you'll probably have heat again.

That's exactly what happened. Got my new radiator and the heat came along with it. Thanks for the advice. It's always nice to kill two birds with one invoice! Just in time for some cold a## weather tomorrow too.

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