low heat on a 2003 ford expolrer

[Moose02]

just picked up a 2003 explorer for the snow season. I seems the heat blows but does not get really hot inside the car. Thermostat good blower good it changes all selections just not hot inside car. any ford people has any suggestions

tia

 

[ripperd]

Does it not move much air?

Often the inside/outside air flapper falls off it's hinges and falls to the bottom of the box it is in. Well the blower fan is in the bottom of the box, and it blocks airflow to about 1/3 of normal. Common issue. Do a search for "explorer recirculation door". Its a PITA to fix properly. A big symptom is that your windows tend to get foggy as it uses a lot of recirculated air vs outside air.

 

[Top_Fuel]

Is the hose going into the heater core hot?
Is the hose coming out of the heater core hot?
Is the coolant level full?
If you changed the coolant recently (or had to top it off) did you do anything to bleed the air out of the system? A stubborn air pocket can screw up coolant flow through the heater core.

Read through this thread. It sounds like the heater core could be a problem.

Also to second what ripperd said...

As far as the fan blowing but little air is moving, it sounds like your fresh air door is broken and has dropped down to the bottom restricting the air flow through the fan. Open your glove box all the way to look into the black grated area behind the glove box to see if it is present. If not then you will need to repair/replace it.

 

[edsauto]

This^^^^^^^^^ and the blend air door can break, then you have lost control from the temp knob.

The fresh air door you can tell if it is working by the sound change of the blower when you switch from max ac to something else.

Dan....

 

[NUTTSGT]

Is the diverter valve working out in the engine compartment if yours still has one.
I believe it's vaccum operated.

Should be in this area

 

[dynahoe]

blend door actuator or the diverter valve on the heater hose the little shaft will break keeping the hose blocked

 

[dodgejunkie]

+1 on the Blend Door Actuator. Happens all the time. I've got a 09 F150 that needs one, but it's on the passenger side, and I don't have too many people riding in my work truck so it can wait!

Also does it have the computer heat/air control? I had an explorer that had the computer go out. It was $700.00 no refund or guarantee. I found one on EBAY for $50.00. Hooked it up and took care of all the problems.

 

[brownbagg]

your thermostat is stuck open

 

[Moose02]

yeah windows do get foggy and feels like air is at minimum flow valve in engine compt seems of hose is hot thermostat was replaced sounds like the blend door now to find it

 

[skidozer670]

my taurus used to plug up the heater core with that crappy pink antifreeze so it had low flow.

 

[Rookie2]

Does it not move much air?

Often the inside/outside air flapper falls off it's hinges and falls to the bottom of the box it is in. Well the blower fan is in the bottom of the box, and it blocks airflow to about 1/3 of normal. Common issue. Do a search for "explorer recirculation door". Its a PITA to fix properly. A big symptom is that your windows tend to get foggy as it uses a lot of recirculated air vs outside air.

What He said !

 

[Moose02]

thanks just ordered the assembly that does the door

 

[Moose02]

replaced door actuator still low heat wound up flushing out the heater core it had flow but real low now works like a charm

thanks for all the suggestions

 

[jwith68]

my taurus used to plug up the heater core with that crappy pink antifreeze so it had low flow.

Umm... unless there is some product out there I am totally unaware of, "crappy pink antifreeze" is to keep your RV's water lines from freezing up in the winter. It ain't coolant.

replaced door actuator still low heat wound up flushing out the heater core it had flow but real low now works like a charm

thanks for all the suggestions

Super, just in time for spring! Just kidding, but if it plugs back up (and it might) I have had good success cleaning out a heater core with CLR (or Lime-Away, basically the same thing.) I just removed both hoses, air purged to remove coolant, filled with straight CLR, let it stand for 30 minutes or so, flushed 3 times with clear water, and hooked the hoses back up. You should have seen the **** that came out of it on the first flush. Heat like a new one, from no detectable heat before.

I figured I had very little to lose by trying it. If it didn't work or caused a leak, I was no worse off because the only other alternative was replacing the core anyway. And that job ***** in pretty much any vehicle made within the last 25 years.