Ford Question

trailjeepman

trailjeepman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Location
Raleigh, NC
1999 Ford Explorer


I am having a problem. The heat from the vent dont get very hot until after about 20 minutes of driving. Then it still isnt what I would consider HOT.

2nd the temp guage never gets above the "C" until driving on the interstate for a few miles. When I get off the interstate, the guage goes back down below the "C". This is my girlfriends car and she says its had this guage problem for as long as she can remember.

P.S. The guage does the same thing in the summer.

Oh! I took the cap off the radiator whil it was cold and it didnt look like the water was flowing. I thought maybe the thermostat was stuck open but this makes me think its not. Am I right?

At times I hear the AC compressor cutting in and out. It cuts in and out within 30 seconds or so. There is no switch for the AC. I guess its sopposed to cut in when you turn the control to cold (blue on the dial) but it does it all the time except for in the "OFF" position.

Also the check engine light is on. I took it to Advance Auto to get the free diagnostic test. The code is for something to do with the EGR valve. Can this have anything to do with the heat?

Any help is appreciated!
 
Don't know about the heater. Initially thought maybe the heater line was stopped up, but the rest of it seems to suggest something different. I'm no mechanic so I won't even guess what the issue is.

As for the A/C compressor, it will run while the defroster is on and when the A/C is on, otherwise it shouldn't be running.
 
EGR = Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve. Are you having trouble with idle or when you give it gas? It can affect either one, depending on where the EGR fails (open or closed).
As for the heat thing...Do the radiator hoses feel hot? Do the hoses going to the heater core feel hot?
 
It idles just fine and drives fine too other than seeming to be a little slugish.
I just felt all the hoses after driving for about 10 minutes.

Lower radiator hose cool to the touch
Upper radiator hose warm but I could hold my hand on it

Opened the radiator cap. Could hold my finger in the water without getting burned. It didnt look like the water was flowing.

Heater hoses were both semi warm but deffinitly not not. Prolly cooler than the upper radiator hose.

I know the water tem should be hotter than this after 10 minutes of driving and idleing.

Also the temp guage never moved from its original position....way below the "C".
 
Sounds like a bad thermostat or fan clutch. With the engine stoped and cold can you turn the fan with you hand? If not the fan clutch has locked up. It should not be very hard to turn with engine cold and should get harder with the engine hot.

Sam
 
I am pretty sure it has an electric fan and wouldnt the water look like its flowing in the radiator cap if the thermostat was stuck open?
 
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