heat takes a long time to come on

[soupnatizzle]

i have a 1995 3.8l mustang and the heat takes nearly 20 mins to turn on in the morning. its 20 degrees here and im driving to school in a freezing cold car..

what might cause the heat to take this long to turn on and what are my options to fix it..

P.S. i new radiator was installed less then a year ago

 

[HISSIN50]

As soon as the t-stat opens, the motor is filled with super-cooled coolant from the radiator. If a cooler t-stat than stock is run (great for summer, crappy for winter), this can happen.

I don't do the cold climate thing anymore but up in Alaska we'd swap t-stats and/or do some shadetree things to get some winter heat (up there if you had an older 4 banger, you could forget getting heat no matter what. Bigger motors were better and big blocks could do pretty decent).

 

[v8only]

as well, be sure that whoever did your radiator didn't leave the tstat out altogether, or it could be stuck open.

careful with what you do though, if it's a pre 99 3.8L, overheat that sucker, and you'll blow the head gaskets right out.

 

[Roland69]

for the $5 it is Try a T-stat first

 

[86bluecobra]

also since the heater core is above the rad level if you do not have your cooling system topped right up sometimes it won't circulate through the heater core.

 

[GTOreturns]

Deal with it!! You "DO NOT" wanna change your heater core! Change the stat,if that doesnt help just deal with it. Buy a portable on you plug into your cigarette lighter.