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Radiator replacement no heat in cabin
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mike hammer
User
Feb 28, 2009, 9:39 PM
Post #1 of 6
(4176 views)
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Radiator replacement no heat in cabin
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I have just replaced the radiator in my 93 plymouth acclaiam ( 2.5 litre). The replacement operation was easy enough and went well but with the new rad installed i am getting no heat in the drivers compartment, the old rad broke quite seriously during a 200 kilometre trip and as far as i can tell emptied completely except for the liquid in the large rubber hose which exits the rad at the bottom and connects to what i believe to be the water pump. I refilled the new rad to the point that it would take no more fluid and during a short test drive realized that there was no heat. Does this hose need to be filled with fluid\primed does the water pump need to be filled with liquid and what is the chance i have burned out the water pump. The heater seemed to have worked very briefly (2 minutes).I do not know if I have neglected to do something during the rad swap and would apreciate any help. With the rad cap off I can see the fluid move in the rad when i start the car. Am i supposed to fill the rad with the car started and the heater on or just with the engine off. Thanks.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 1, 2009, 3:14 AM
Post #2 of 6
(4174 views)
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Re: Radiator replacement no heat in cabin
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There could be damage from overheating but for now heater isn't working because it's still low on coolant IMO.
You can fill a running engine but begin from cool/cold and it may burp back at you so beware of that. It will drop level when thermostat opens - can't be totally filled just once so easy so expect that. Don't add to totally hot engine and if adding while running do so VERY slowly at radiator or tank but SLOWLY is a key to not causing shock of new cool, coolant to the engine. Chances are pump is not the issue at the moment.
BEWARE OF WARM/HOT ENGINES AND OPENING A COOLING SYSTEM! FEEL FOR PRESSURE WITH A GLOVE AS NEEDED ON A LARGER HOSE LIKE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE TO KNOW IF SAFE TO ATTEMPT TO OPEN AND BY TEMPERATURES OBSERVED!
T
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mike hammer
User
Mar 6, 2009, 8:09 AM
Post #3 of 6
(4158 views)
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Re: Radiator replacement no heat in cabin
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when i rechecked the coolant level i found i could add about 1 cup of fluid i then started the engine with the in cabin heat on maximum at which point i was able to add 1 cup more i then stopped the engine and poked around at the hoses. The large black hose on the bottom of the rad that goes to the water pump seemed to be only partially tull of liquid i squeezed this hose many times at which point an air bubble appeared in the refilling hole at the top of the rad . I continued squezing this hose many times and air continued to rise to the surface to the point where in total i was able to add about a litre of coolant. I now have heat in the cabin the hose doesnt seem to release any more air when i squeeze it and the rad will accept no more coolant. I have heat and everything seems ok but i dont understand why the hose was not full because it is at the very bottom of the system. Is there anything that could account for this. When i feel the hose now it is very heavy and seems to be full of coolant. The heat works and everything is working but i wonder if the overly complicated refilling process could be indicative of other problems. Would apreciate your overvue of the problem. Thanks.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 6, 2009, 10:32 AM
Post #4 of 6
(4155 views)
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Re: Radiator replacement no heat in cabin
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Ok: Glad it's up and working now. Purging air can be a nightmare. I tried to explain with a link here.......
http://autoforums.carjunky.com/...ling_Systems_P36410/
True - when squeezing a hose if you see air bubbles come up there's air - duh - and coolant returns. Car is supposed to do that on an ongoing basis so normally it's just a problem when it's been drained for any reason and refilled. Air could be sucking in thru odd leaks when system cools instead of drawing it back from recovery tank OR vapor (essentially air) is getting in thru a head gasket flaw as the combustion pressures far exceed the cooling system pressures.
If the problem recurs you should check for exhaust gasses in the recovery bottle and other testing for head gasket issues before it gets any worse. Plain pressure test may help find a problem too.
Air in lower hose is a bit odd but you need to understand that the thermostat is a trap and locks up sometimes air tight and disallows flow. I would think lower hose would just let air rise on its own but it's possible to get trapped there or almost anywhere.
Whatever you do, do keep an eye on it and you will know if heat quits there's more air. Now that it's working it really must be new air introduced and not just hidden now so be warned,
T
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mike hammer
User
Mar 11, 2009, 8:43 AM
Post #5 of 6
(4140 views)
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Re: Radiator replacement no heat in cabin
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Car now overheating and in cabin heat works sporadically. I have drained the rad and will now re-recheck all hoses and clamps. When i removed the rad hose to the water pump a great deal of liquid poured out of the engine\pump side but what seemed like very little from the hose side. With the pump side of the hose connected and the rad side disconnected can i fill this hose with water/coolant and start the car as a water pump diagnostic( if the water in the hose gets sucked away then the pump works ?). I replaced the thermostat after the last cooling/ heating failure in hopes it was simply stuck or broken it seems to have made no difference.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 11, 2009, 9:08 AM
Post #6 of 6
(4136 views)
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Re: Radiator replacement no heat in cabin
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It's time to test for head gasket failure - been long enough without purging itself so test for exhaust gasses, pressure test system etc.,
T
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