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Hey All

I haven't owned my 91 Legacy GT Turbo Wagon all that long, but from day 1 I noticed the heater didn't work. The A/C blows air and has all different modes, but it just doesnt get hot or even warm for that matter.

The weather doesnt get cold enough to freeze up the lines or anything (6 degrees at the very coldest). It does sit outside over night, but I'm almost 100% sure something in the heating department is busted.

Can anyone give me some noob-friendly advice? I own a Haynes manual, but am just an amatuer when it comes to cars.

Thanks

P.S. If you suggest I check something can you please tell me where to find it.

Sounds like the heater core valve dealie is stuck shut

Is it a complicated process to "un-stuck" it?

Never had to do it myself

My gut feeling is that its going to involve removing the heater core, which is never a fun task.

That wouldnt bother me to much, I don't mind taking things apart to fix something.

What worries me is removing something that would depressurize the cooling system and leak gases or coolant or whatever is in there out into the car/air/all over me.

Anyone have any further advice?

You have to drain and flush the coolant system to remove the heater core

Its not pressurized...

Read your haynes manual, it explains the procedure.

When you say coolant, do you mean the green/yellow fluid that runs through the radiator?

If so, I think I can manage that, but would like to have a little more confirmation thats the problem before I do so.

Yea... thats the only coolant the car has.


You sure you're ready for somethin like this? Its a pretty major procedure and the coolant system is vital for the engine, screw it up and your engine goes kaput.

Probably not, but I suppose I was looking for simple "not so invasive" solution to my problem.

Something along the lines of "Replace a fuse here" sort of thing.

Is there anyway to test to make sure its the heater core and not something less complex?

I'm grabbing for straws here I know.

Make sure your coolant is topped off. If the level is too low then it won't make it into the heater core.

Check to make sure you have coolant lines going to your heater core. There are 2 lines that go into the firewall, both can be seen from the driver side of the engine bay. If you see a hose that loops 2 coolant passages on the engine then the heater core might be bypassed. Same thing if you see 2 metal coolant hoses coming out of the firewall with no hoses attached or cut.

Hopefully the person that sold it to you did not get a leaky heater core, bypass it and then sell it. Changing the heater core is not incredibly hard, but definitely not easy. You pretty much dissasemble everything bolted down in front of your arm rest.

And the heater core itself has no valve that I am aware of.

Thanks a bunch, I'll check under the hood when I get home from work tonight. Muchly apreciated.

Brat is correct, there is no valve in the heater core line.

Do you have a manual lever to adjust the air temperature, or do you have the automatic climate control system where you raise/decrease the temp with buttons?

I'd recommend verifying that the flapper door that bypasses air around the heater core is actually moving. If you have a manual lever, it's pretty easy to tell. You can stick your head under the glove box on the passenger side and see the cable/lever moving. If you don't see it moving, there's your problem.

If you have automatic climate control, then it gets more complicated.

Also, as others have mentioned, make sure your coolant is topped off.

- My coolant is topped off.

- I have the automatic climat control system (buttons that raise/lower the temp)

- As for the heater core being bypassed. I'm not too sure what I'm looking for, so I've taken a few photos, maybe someone can tell me?


Far Left Side


Whole Left Side


Right Side[/b]

Would I need to drain the coolant to check the flapper doors if I have Automatic Climat Control?

Ohhhhh AWIC

/me drools

AWIC ???

Whats that?

Sorry, i like such an amatuer when it comes to cars. I just have to ask when I don't know something.

You're from overseas!!!! I guess I should have read your sig that said 91 GT Turbo Wagon.

My best guess was going to be the flap too. It could be a clogged or plugged heater core too, though that usually results in overheating or some sort

Faithbleed wrote:AWIC ???

Whats that?

Sorry, i like such an amatuer when it comes to cars. I just have to ask when I don't know something.

Air to Water Intercooler

Faithbleed wrote:Would I need to drain the coolant to check the flapper doors if I have Automatic Climat Control?

Well....probably not....let's hope not. Because if you did, you'd have to remove your whole dash to get at the heater core box.

I'm not sure how the heater core box is situated. But your best course of action is to stick your head under the dash and have someone push some buttons on the HVAC system, and see if you notice any levers or what not moving.

For the US cars, typically the heater core box is directly behind the center dash portion slightly offset to the driver's side.

Thanks for answering my questions.

I have 1 more:

Whats special about an air to water intercooler?

they didnt come on the us spec turbo legacies and are a popular upgrade.

we got no intercooler at all

Oh I see. Thanks. Now I feel special

Faithbleed wrote:Oh I see. Thanks. Now I feel special

BUT we have fully functioning heaters.

Ouch....

Where are you from Faithbleed?

Let's see, your car is RHD and a Legacy, so either New Zealand, Britain or Japan.