2002 Pontiac Aztek Logo
Don Wall Posted on Aug 19, 2011

Need logical suggestions to fix temp. problem. In cool weather (fall/winter) I can only get lukewarm heat. Need it to get much warmer. I suspect that thermostat may need change. Have already taken care of rad & fluid. all ok. No overheating problems. Temp guage reads fine. Your input appreciated.

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Robert Colliau

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  • Contributor 14 Answers
  • Posted on Aug 19, 2011
Robert Colliau
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Joined: Aug 15, 2011
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Check for flow through the heater core. I suspect it is severely restricted. If so, replace heater core and the issue will be resolved

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I have a '98 Olds Silhouette cooling fans work when A/C is on but will not come on even when temp is above normal operating temp if A/C is off

Just saw your second posting, so the temp is still above normal. Could the sensor
that controls the fan be not reading the heat properly ? The antifreeze/coolant
issue could still be relevant, so I will re-post that info. Tho.
Electric cooling fans will sometimes come on after a vehicle is parked,
(It actually heats up when stopped), but not when it is rolling down the road
because the movement is applying some cooling effect to the engine.
\
If the engine is not actually overheating, then the fans may be working
normally. Also, make sure your water/antifreeze mix is correct by using a
specific gravity tester. It is a tube with 4 or 5 balls, some of which will float
to give you a reading. Contrary to popular belief, More is not better when it
comes to antifreeze/coolant. It needs water to work properly. Too strong a
mix will actually make your vehicle run cold so that the temp sensors and
heater will not function properly. The engine will not achieve proper operating
temperature and may actually damage some of the components by running
it cold, affect timing, spark, etc. This could also cause the symptoms you
describe. The engine would not actually reach the proper heat threshold
until you added the extra demand of the AC heat transfer. But the first criteria
would be whether the engine is actually overheating / or in normal range .
It may be that the colder weather is allowing the sensors to come on a little
later, warming the engine and heater components a bit more than they would
in warmer weather. Would be good to know what the actual coolant temp is.
Could check that with a guage, and also check to see what temp thermostat
you are using. 195 degrees in the winter would be better, 165/180 or so in the
warmer months
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My 2007 Chevy HHR 2.2L, coolant temp sensor is reading that the coolant temp is 20 degrees warmer than the outside temp after sitting for over 12 hours and the operating temp gets to 214 degrees without...

Sure the engine coolant will be warmer than the outside temperture and if the car has been sitting a long time in cold weather and the outside temperture warms up it could be the other way around. The coolant temperture sensers aren't real accurate as they are a relaitive senser beween hot and cold and the numbers reported don't have to be real just the change from hot to cold and the reching of the coolant to the operating temperture. Noe it the senser doesn't read the opertating temperture coprrectly you'll have all kinds of problems. The therostaste will try to set the temperture of the water to it's set temperture and can open or close completly to get 195 degrees F. Many times if it's too cold then the stat is bad and needs to be replaced This shows up in alot of cars first thing after winter and the first onset of cold weather when the daily tempertures vary the most from day to night.
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The heat on my 2000 Ford Taurus is not that good. Takes forever to heat up, but still not that good. Turning the fan up on high makes it worse. Best lukewarm heat is turning my switch to halfway on fan....

these cars are infamous for coolant contamination cause restrictions in the heater core. i suggest performing a heater core flush followed by a complete cooling system flush. i have seen this dozens of times in these cars and this has been the fix nearly every time. good luck!
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99 Regal Shuts off w/ engine at normal temp. Starts when cooled.

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Oil pressure decreases significantly after 30 minutes of driving

This indicates bearing wear or a plugged oil screen on the pump pickup. First have the actual oil pressure checked with a reliable mechanical gauge.
Oil pressure readings will change with ambient temps because the oil is cooled down while in the pan. As weather gets warmer, it does not cool as much so it gets a bit thinner and is able to go around worn bearings easier. A bearing job is expensive and requires engine removal to do it correctly.
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94 Ford 4.0L Thermostat Problem?

Hmmm,

That's a strange problem.
Do your run antifreeze all year round? Or water in the summer and antifreeze in winter/fall?

One suggestion I can make is try replacing the thermostat with one of a lower temp. I believe OEM thermostat's for your truck open at 190 try using one that opens at 165 or so, less heat means less wear and tear. Either way you should not be eating up thermostat's like that.
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