Front heater doesn't work

[Guest]

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm new to the forum and It's nice to have something in common with most of you. Anyway, I recently bought a 1998 Eddie Bauer Expedition and I'm truly loving it! I have only one problem that I was hoping someone could help me with. The front heater does not blow warm air at all, while the rear does. The truck has a small V8 engine, with about 100,000 original miles. Does anyone know what might be the problem? Heater core, thermostat, heater valve, in need of antifreeze flush? Thanks in advance...

 

[Guest]

Anyone???

 

[rwinch]

elejes,

Does the fan blow at all???

I would do a flush in any case.

I will check my manuals to see if there is anything else to check.

 

[Guest]

Yes, it does blow air. It's not warm at all though. I hope it's not the actuator because I hear it's a pain to fix it. Thanks for your response...

 

[Guest]

I have the same issue with a 97, only it is blowing hot all the time. The rear will blow cold though. Actuator, what do you mean by that?

 

[monsta]

With the fan motor on LOW, move the temp. control from hot to cold. Listen for the actuator door (blend door) to open and close. It may be a two person affair...

If you don't hear anything be prepared to open it up and repair it.

I do not know exactly how the older Expys blend doors and actuators work but when you're under there (under the dash; Passenger side) make sure that all the wires and hoses are tight. Some are vacuum actuated and some are electric. Check all the connections either way.

Also make sure your temp control switch is working.

 

[Guest]

I think my issue is the temp. control knob. has anyone ever replaced one of those? Is getting the dash open in order to get to the temp knobs a a big deal. Thanks in advance.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by monsta
With the fan motor on LOW, move the temp. control from hot to cold. Listen for the actuator door (blend door) to open and close. It may be a two person affair...

If you don't hear anything be prepared to open it up and repair it.

I do not know exactly how the older Expys blend doors and actuators work but when you're under there (under the dash; Passenger side) make sure that all the wires and hoses are tight. Some are vacuum actuated and some are electric. Check all the connections either way.

Also make sure your temp control switch is working.

I think I hear something flap when I do this, I guess it's something else then. Will I smell the anti-freeze if it's the heater core? I'll check carefully this weekend, thanks!

 

[Guest]

I fixed the problem!! Turns out it was the control switch that controls the warm and cold air. I pulled out the knob and noticed it was sitting in there incorrectly. I repositioned the knob correctly, making sure the inside of the white plastic insertion was correct. Lord it be hold, I have warm air. Thanks to everyone who responded.

 

[monsta]

Cool!

Do you actually use heaters in Texas?

 

[1999xlt]

Thats Kind of like you using a heater Monsta. Isnt it hot as :reddevil: there?

 

[Guest]

I also have a 1998 EB Expedition with the same problem. I pulled the knobs and heater control panel and all looks good. At first mine was completely cold even after a 12 hour thanksgiving trip. Although recently (last couple of days) it has gotten a little warm but definetly not back to full capacity. I am in Maryland and its snowing as I sit here. If it was the heater core wouldnt anti-freeze be leaking in the floor board. Does anybody have any instructions on changing the heater core. ANY SUGGESTIONS

 

[Guest]

Try having the system flushed. Replacing the heater core isn't a fun job even if the core is in the best possible place. Alot of vehicles, you have to take the whole dash out....I'm not sure with the expedition.

It is a GOOD idea...to run your heat every once in a while in the summer in any vehicle. If you dont all the coolant in the heat system sits. It is also a good idea to run your air in the winter. If you put your air conditioning on...and turn the temp to warm...you still get heat... Its not good to have the compressor not run for extended periods of time.

 

[Guest]

Make sure the knob does not have a hairline crack in it where it slides in.

 

[Guest]

The knob is fine. I found this problem another forum. There seams to be a problem with explorers with the same sypyoms.

Has anybody seen this on a 98 expidition.



http://www.ford-trucks.com/framered....earthlink.net/~kandc1/ford/blenddoorfix.html

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by Unregistered
Make sure the knob does not have a hairline crack in it where it slides in.

Exactly what I just ran into, this expidition had 3 heat knobs, so I just switched a good one with the front one that gets used the most, superglued the cracks on the broken one and put it in the back that gets used the least, my customer is "ecstatic" that she has heat in the front and it didnt cost her a dime and only took 15 minutes to figure out, ive got a customer for life on anything that needs done on her or her families vehicles. She was without heat for the last 3 weeks because the dealership couldnt find the problem and wanted to replace everything involved with the heater and needed another week to do it.