Heater not heating in Expedition ?

[Mikie]

Guys,
I know its not a stang, but would rather take advice from the guys I know rather than go to some suv site and possibly get bad info.

Here goes...

My good friend brought his 2000 Expy over the other day and the heater core is NOT busted , but it will not blow warm air...only cold. I go to the engine compartment and put my hand on both heater hoses at the firewall and they are very very warm...almost too warm to keep my hand on them. (both of them)

He told me that this guy at work took a pair of vice grips and pinched one of the hoses and walllah, he had heat in the inside. He told him that he needed a flush.
Please tell me what happened in this case as to how pinching or restricting flow even more would tell you that it needed to be flushed?


Thanks a bunch.

Mike

 

[timeless2]

Moved (with redirect) to Other Auto Tech.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

Something doesn't sound right. He pinched one of the heater hoses, and then there was heat? I'd think it might be possible that restricting the heater core inlet means keeping hotter coolant coming from the engine, but a flush shouldn't have anything to do with that. I'd be pointing more at there being air in the system somewhere, and the flow restriction allowed more coolant to build up, thus creating a situation where there was heat. Toss the front end in the air to make the radiator the high point and see if you can burp any air out of the system. That should also give you an idea how bad the coolant looks, too.

 

[85ragtop]

Something doesn't sound right. He pinched one of the heater hoses, and then there was heat? I'd think it might be possible that restricting the heater core inlet means keeping hotter coolant coming from the engine, but a flush shouldn't have anything to do with that. I'd be pointing more at there being air in the system somewhere, and the flow restriction allowed more coolant to build up, thus creating a situation where there was heat. Toss the front end in the air to make the radiator the high point and see if you can burp any air out of the system. That should also give you an idea how bad the coolant looks, too.

I was thinking the same thing. Air can cause all kinds of crazy stuff.

 

[oz]

If your Expedition with the modular 5.4 is like my Marauder with a 4.6, there is a metal tube at the front of the engine on top that carries coolant from one side of the engine to the other. There should be a plug in it that faces upward. I believe I remember it having a 3/8" square driver hole in it so you can turn it. You need to burp out the air. It is best to start with a cold engine. Take the plug out and take a look. If it is not full of coolant, fill it here. Put the plug in loosely and start up the engine. Additional air will hiss out as the engine warms. Once the plug starts leaking coolant and not air, tighten it down. You will have more hot air from the heater than you know what to do with.

Good Luck.

 

[ryansnowvb]

another quick check/ sometimes the knobs break/ pull it off and swap it with the blower knob/ look close at the inside of the heater knob/ may see a crack/ seen alot of them broken