Heater is blowing cool air after replaceing radiator.

[pkennedy]

I replaced the radiator in my 96 Accord now the heater is only blowing cool air. I bled the system as called out in the manual. Still on luck. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[nootrac22]

did the heat work before the swap?

 

[TurboMirage]

thermostat?

 

[nootrac22]

thermostat?

that's the same thing i was thinking, but if it worked before??? cheap and easy I say change it, but if the heat worked before.... who knows if that's it

 

[reikoshea]

just me thinking out loud, but if the thermostat was bad, wouldnt the car be overheating as well...or take forever to get to temp because the water is running open.

 

[nootrac22]

even if it was stuck open?

 

[Nickg4c]

When a thermostat breaks it is usually in a partially open position, and being its getting cold out now it will take a long time to reach temperature, because you are continuously cooling it as it flows freely through the system. Thermostats are cheap and easy to replace, so I'd start there.

 

[93AccordEX]

could that also be the cause for the car overheating unless i keep the AC on?

 

[norcalgsr]

No that sounds like a cooling fan problem. When you turn the A/C on it also turns the fans on to draw air through the condenser and help cool the car as well. If you have a bad fan switch it will keep the fans from turning on when the car gets hot.

 

[get_nick]

could that also be the cause for the car overheating unless i keep the AC on?

no, that sounds like a blown headgasket. keep an eye on your oil and coolant. see if one is burning off or if they are getting mixed together.

 

[93AccordEX]

na no mixing going on here and i change my oil way more often then i need too thanks to being bored with a suspended license but its always 100% pure dirty oil im hoping to one day drain my oil and it look clean hahaha

 

[pkennedy]

Heater blowing cool air.

Answer to everyone
1. Yes my heater worked before rad replacement.
2. Yes the thermostat is working I see the anti freeze goes down when the thermostat opens and the fans come on.
3. I don't have a blown head gasket.

 

[cv14500]

I have A idea Take it out and toss it and buy a new one put it in and see if you have the same problem if so than it is the thermostat and if thatwas if you just fixed it.

 

[reikoshea]

I have A idea Take it out and toss it and buy a new one put it in and see if you have the same problem if so than it is the thermostat and if thatwas if you just fixed it.

if you do not start using punctuation, i will smack you with a herring.

 

[MXDesa]

There is air in it somewhere. Try driving it and see if it gets warmer as the rpm's go up and while you are in motion

 

[Remedy]

I replaced the radiator in my 96 Accord now the heater is only blowing cool air. I bled the system as called out in the manual. Still on luck. Anyone have any ideas?

You didn't mention why you replaced the radiator so I assume that is was leaking coolant.
The most logical thing to suspect is that you did not get all the air out which means there is a shortage of coolant in the system. Keep checking and topping off the system and make sure the overflow bottle has adequate coolant. If there is a bleeder on your car to get the air out, keep using that as well.

It is also possible that you damaged/disconnected the heat valve while you were working and that is keeping the coolant from flowing to the heater.

Be very careful of running an engine without adequate coolant, a simple radiator replacement can result in a blown head gasket. If there isn't enough coolant to fill the system you will have trapped air in the highest point...the head. That is also the hottest part of the engine and the spot most prone to failure due to heat damage.

 

[norcalgsr]

You did run the engine with the radiator cap off after replacing the coolant, correct?

 

[93AccordEX]

You did run the engine with the radiator cap off after replacing the coolant, correct?

Wonder if he figured it out?

 

[Nickg4c]

I'm interested too, as I'm now having the same problem. Only I didn't replace anything and it worked last winter. Maybe we have the same problem? I've checked all of the above to no prevail.

 

[norcalgsr]

Could be a bad/clogged heater core, but I haven't seen that too often on a Honda. Make sure your heater valve is opening in the engine bay.. both hoses going through the firewall should be hot when the heater is open. If not it's probably either the control valve or a clogged heater core.