Dodge heater issue

[Guest db99wj]

Wife's 05 Dodge Grand Caravan. Regular heater, not the digital zoned one, does have rear. Will heat for a little bit, then won't blow warm air anymore, mess with it, will come back on, then go off again. Fan works fine. Air works fine.

Other issue, not sure if related, but maybe. The door locks stop working, you can't lock them with the key transmitter, they won't auto lock when you hit 15mph. I pull a fuse, 15amp, or one of the BUS fuses, the door locks start working again, for a little while.

Any ideas? Had a friend that said the computer might need to be flashed, that he, when in the car business, heard of this and the taking the fuse out only works for so long, that sometimes, the computer, like a PC, will become messed up and you need to reflash them.

I hate this Dodge.

Could it be a vacuum hose? It was wrecked a couple of years ago and the work was less than stellar, little small things we noticed later, like the windshield washer fluid not working because they ran the line wrong and it pulled it loose. Or low antifreeze?

No obvious smell or puddling of antifreeze on the ground or in the passenger side floorboard, that I recall. I'll examine closer later.

Edited November 17, 2010 by db99wj

[Guest SLT Kota]

I'm not sure for your situation but I have heard on dakotas that pulling the heater hoses and spraying water (from a garden hose) reverse through them to flush the heater core can help.

To be honest I'm really don't know about your situation but figured that might be worth trying before you take it to a shop or pull the heater core.

[Guest db99wj]

I'm not sure for your situation but I have heard on dakotas that pulling the heater hoses and spraying water (from a garden hose) reverse through them to flush the heater core can help.

To be honest I'm really don't know about your situation but figured that might be worth trying before you take it to a shop or pull the heater core.

I'll try anything at this point, going to flush the radiator this weekend to see if I can figure it out on my own, don't want to replace the core, part is only $110, but I don't want to, never done it on this one, pulled the dash. Doesn't sound like fun.

[dralarms]

When my son's did that it was the control box for the heater/ac. Do the lights flash on the panel or does it take a min for the blower to start? Those are 2 symptons of a bad module.

[Guest db99wj]

When my son's did that it was the control box for the heater/ac. Do the lights flash on the panel or does it take a min for the blower to start? Those are 2 symptons of a bad module.

Will check when I get home. I hate the thing, hate driving it. I stay out of it!

[strickj]

First to check is for low antifreeze. If that's not it then stick your ear upto the center dash vents and listen for the door to open and close as you switch from a\c to heat.

Next I would check for flow problems. Pull the outlet hose off of the heatercore to see if coolant is properly flowing.

[LazyAce]

You might check this. I was told by a repair shop that Chrysler uses a different anti-freeze and it won`t mix with the regular stuff. It will ball up and plug the heater core. I know that I have bought some made just for Chrysler just to have on hand in case I need it. Just another thing to check.

[Guest ADAM]

As far as your heating problem replace the thermostat its not closing its staying open. Just fixed my wifes van it was doing the same thing, and

as far as your doors not unlocking you are correct get your computer reflashed, most of the time it will be anywhere between 75.00 to 125.00

bucks depending on if a dealer does it or just a regular mechanic. hope this helps......I agree with you I HATE vans.

[Guest db99wj]

First to check is for low antifreeze. If that's not it then stick your ear upto the center dash vents and listen for the door to open and close as you switch from a\c to heat.

Next I would check for flow problems. Pull the outlet hose off of the heatercore to see if coolant is properly flowing.

Man I hope it is not the blend door. Had the problem in a Ford Expedition once, which is why I don't want to pull the dash! Will be checking the antifreeze.

You might check this. I was told by a repair shop that Chrysler uses a different anti-freeze and it won`t mix with the regular stuff. It will ball up and plug the heater core. I know that I have bought some made just for Chrysler just to have on hand in case I need it. Just another thing to check.

Will check.

As far as your heating problem replace the thermostat its not closing its staying open. Just fixed my wifes van it was doing the same thing, and

as far as your doors not unlocking you are correct get your computer reflashed, most of the time it will be anywhere between 75.00 to 125.00

bucks depending on if a dealer does it or just a regular mechanic. hope this helps......I agree with you I HATE vans.

It is probably due for a radiator flush, will try to get to that this weekend. Will check the antifreeze before then.

The wife had a meeting, but I did check the passenger side, dry and no smell of antifreeze inside. Will check hoses tonight for vacuum leaks.

Never replaced a thermostat, but I have friends. That same friend has access to a scanner tool that will work, so ill get him to help on both projects. Since I will be changing the antifreeze, might as well change the thermostat, it's only $11.

Edited November 18, 2010 by db99wj

[Sean]

Good ol Dodges. My Ram goes in the shop Monday for a heater core.

[Guest db99wj]

It was low on antifreeze for sure, none in the reservoir cod or warm, filled with 50/50, reservoir between max and min. Can hear the blend door change over when going from heat to AC, can hear it then feel the cold ac air immediately. Heat is hotter, the first time I tried it right after I put in the antifreeze it got cool again. Been running for 5-10 minutes still blowing hot air. Temp gauge was right in the middle, it is a notch below now. No leaks, no smell in floor board. Turned motor off and I heard bubbles sound in reservoir, the level after 10 minutes is close but above the minimum line. The hose from the radiator to the block is hot, too hot to touch. Wife came out the heat is hotter than it has been, she also said she usually got no heat when sitting still. Shes got a meeting in the morning, will se how it does then.

Do I need to fill up the reservoir any more?

Any comments?

Thanks guys for the help so far.

[strickj]

It was low on antifreeze for sure, none in the reservoir cod or warm, filled with 50/50, reservoir between max and min. Can hear the blend door change over when going from heat to AC, can hear it then feel the cold ac air immediately. Heat is hotter, the first time I tried it right after I put in the antifreeze it got cool again. Been running for 5-10 minutes still blowing hot air. Temp gauge was right in the middle, it is a notch below now. No leaks, no smell in floor board. Turned motor off and I heard bubbles sound in reservoir, the level after 10 minutes is close but above the minimum line. The hose from the radiator to the block is hot, too hot to touch. Wife came out the heat is hotter than it has been, she also said she usually got no heat when sitting still. Shes got a meeting in the morning, will se how it does then.

Do I need to fill up the reservoir any more?

Any comments?

Thanks guys for the help so far.

You have air in the system. Take your caps off and let it run for a while to purge it.

As far as your heating problem replace the thermostat its not closing its staying open. Just fixed my wifes van it was doing the same thing, and

as far as your doors not unlocking you are correct get your computer reflashed, most of the time it will be anywhere between 75.00 to 125.00

bucks depending on if a dealer does it or just a regular mechanic. hope this helps......I agree with you I HATE vans.

I meant to say to do this too. 15 bucks and 5 minutes.

I'll try anything at this point, going to flush the radiator this weekend to see if I can figure it out on my own, don't want to replace the core, part is only $110, but I don't want to, never done it on this one, pulled the dash. Doesn't sound like fun.

One of the things the company I used to work for manufactured was cores. Cost on heater cores is less then 5 bucks. I sold them to parts stores individually for like 15 to 20 usually.

Who ever priced you $110 is making a killing!

Edited November 20, 2010 by strickj

[Krull]

My blazer did this exact symptom as yours. I purged, replaced thermostat and nothing worked. Was heater core, 2 weekend later and several busted knuckles and a cracked dash, but I had heat again.

[Guest db99wj]

You have air in the system. Take your caps off and let it run for a while to purge it.

I meant to say to do this too. 15 bucks and 5 minutes.

One of the things the company I used to work for manufactured was cores. Cost on heater cores is less then 5 bucks. I sold them to parts stores individually for like 15 to 20 usually.

Who ever priced you $110 is making a killing!

Caps??

Thermostat is where the hose goes into the block, right?

Autozone website for that price.

Wife still at meeting, not sure if the heat worked the whole time. Hopefully it is.

[Guest db99wj]

Front heat worked whole time , rear heat is not.

[Guest db99wj]

Wife came home, check engine light came on, P0406, EGR sensor A circuit high, looks easy enough to replace except the bottom bolt of the EGR is obstructed by the alternator on this 3.3L. :bangshead: