My 2006 grand caravan blows cold air when calling for heat, long after gauge says engine is warm. Eventually, after 15 miles of highway, the heat works properly. Fluid level was low but problem persists after filling. Help!

2006 Dodge Caravan Rear AC evaporator Blockoff Easy air ...

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Jul 2, 2012 - Uploaded by banshee8989 Most of the time if your AC stops working on a 2002 to 2008Dodge Caravan it is ... 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.8L. No luck so far finding that ...

First you need to put in a thermostat. On most vehicles it is not a hard or expensive job. The gauge going up to very hot is sign the thermostat is sticking and taking too long to open. The heat is fed to interior by hoses from same system as radiator / thermostat. If thermostat is staying open too much (because it can also stick open when going bad) it will take a long time to get warm. The heater box under dash has both the air conditioner and the heater box in it and if the door is stuck to A/C side you will not get heat. Door is usually opened by vacuum hose, cable, or electric motor. If you can look under dash and see the lever that moves the door you may find it is not moving when you move lever from hot to cold on dash. If cable driven you may be able to see cable not connected or door lever broken. But when engine reads warm on gauge - look under hood for round hoses (the size of washing machine hoses) that go from engine into passenger area and see if they feel warm. If hoses cold you are not getting warm water to system (clog in system or thermostat), if hoses warm then door to heat box not moving.

Have you checked the coolant level?

Assuming the radiator is full of coolant, you are describing a faulty thermostat. The thermostat is closed when the engine is cold to restrict coolant flow until it warms up.

blend door actuator failing and sticking on cold setting

I had the same problem with my Lincoln. If the heater valve fails open, it tries to heat the car. This is not the fault of the A/C. To test, when the van engine is cold, start the van and the A/C immediately. If the A/C air is cold, then your temperature control valve is stuck in the open position.
Replace it.
Gary

Yes . Your heater is actually not an Electrical Heater or a Separate Heating system . Actually if uses the same Radiator Line . When Radiator is heated up it is cooled down with radiator Fan and coolant . But when you use the heater function , this hot fluid is passed through a heating coil tube and blower fan is used to take that heat inside the car .
So I think now you understand , why you are not heated up in a short run . You really need to make the Engine + Radiator Warmer ( that is natuarlly happened when you run more) to get Warm air inside.
Please rate my answer fairly and Support me With Regards and Season's Greetings Deepak Richard

While engine running, does the air feel warm to hot blowing through the radiator, if it does water is circulading, if it feels cold, replace thermostat.

sounds like you have a actuator problem or the heater core may be stoped up check and make sure actuator is moving if not replace

make sure both heater core hoses are hot to touch at operating temp if both are not hot replace heater core

and of course check your coolant/antifreeze and insure it is full no water no heat

the most probabale cause of this would be a disfunctional hear core if you replace your heater your heater will more than likley work the the way it's supposed to