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Heater not working

Tiny
KDLAFF29
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
I have a 1994 Subaru Legacy L not a wagon just a 4 door car and all of a sudden my heater stopped working we have checked the fuse changed the hoses water pump and heater core and it still isn't working do u know how I can fix it?
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 AT 11:35 AM

24 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,822 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like you have a temperature blend door actuator that is not working. But to be sure let's go over this guide to run some easy tests.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-heater-not-working

This will give you an idea of what you are in for when changing the actuator out.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-blend-door-motor

Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers, Ken

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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM
Tiny
MISTYF5109
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 1994 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 224,000 MILES
I was warming the car and turned on the Heat/Defrost expecting to defrost the wind shield but only cold air came out.I hope this is a very easy fix?
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,727 POSTS
Feel the upper radiator hose. It should get too hot to hold onto for very long. If it's cool, suspect a stuck thermostat.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MISTYF5109
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks for the tip. I was doing some research on my own and your answer was a repair that was recommended;also I was told to check my anti-freeze ratio in the radiator. I put a little more water than anti-freeze because my small radiator hose found a hole in it so my anti-freeze was about a third of a bottle so I put in more H2/O. So I will be flushing out that mixture and put in some good anti-freeze to see if that will fix the problem as well. Thanks again caradiodoc
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,727 POSTS
Hold on. If there was a leak and the coolant level was low, it's not going to circulate through the heater during prolonged periods of idling. You should find that you suddenly get hot air when you start driving. If that's the case, just fix the leak, fill the system, and be sure to watch for signs of overheating. If that happens, there's an air pocket that needs to be burped out. If that air pocket forms under the thermostat, it won't open. Thermostats only open in response to hot liquid, not hot air.

Having the wrong ratio of antifreeze to water won't cause overheating unless there's way too much antifreeze. Antifreeze doesn't hold as many BTUs of heat as compared to water. Water is better at carrying heat to the radiator, but antifreeze is needed for freeze protection and for the water pump lubricant and corrosion inhibitor additives.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MISTYF5109
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I will try what you suggested, Thanks again.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MISTYF5109
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
This is my "baby" in question!
Image (Click to make bigger)
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LUNCHMOM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 19,000 MILES
Heater problem
1997 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic 190, 00 miles

The defroster and heater does not work. Are there any fuses that would control this, or is this a problem with the thermostat? The temperature guage in the car is always in the normal range.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Ok what do you mean that the heater don't work. Does the blower moter not come on at all? Does the motor come on and there is not heat? Get back to me with this and we will go from there ok.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LUNCHMOM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks for getting back to me. My husband figured out the problem. A little door behind the glove box had a small cable attached to it. The cable had come off, so the door would not open. All is well now and plenty of heat.
Thanks anyway. I will use you again if need be.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Great glad to hear it. That was on of my thoughts was that the blend door wasn't opening all the way. Thanks for your support and have a great day.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LBFLORES
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1991 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • MANUAL
  • 198,800 MILES
Engine Cooling problem
1991 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Manual 198800 miles

My 1991 subaru is overheating and I have no heat.
Have changed thermostat and water pump but it still overheats and still no heat.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
With car running feel the hoses that goes to the heater, they should get warm to hot depending on how long the car runs. The usual thing for the car to overheat is a bad themastat or a clogged cooling system. Even with new thermatats I have seen ones go bad. Back flush the system and see if that works first. Alsio check in front of the radiator to see if there is anything that would block the air flow throught the radiator.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:46 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ABD141
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1990 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
Engine Cooling problem
1990 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic 190000 miles

I've tried to drive home from college only to have my car's thermometer to red line about 5 miles off campus. I've replaced the thermostat myself and flushed the coolant system. Still have no heat and over heating. I've noticed even when red-lined the radiator is blowing cold air and I am not seeing any leaks in the water pump. There is no "ice cream" seen in the oil cap that would indicate that there is no blown head gasket. I have had a coolant leak problem but I have been unable to locate that leak. As far as I can tell its not near the water pump and might be one of the connecting hoses on the bottom of the coolant tank. Some have suggested the water pump is malfunctioning, are there any ways I can test this or something that I should look for. Could it be another problem?

PS the car isn't worth more than $1000, so I'm trying to avoid costly repairs. But I do need it to get home.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ABD141
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
The thermostat I bought from the auto part store was faulty, and had to be returned, the car worked fine after the thermostat was replaced (again)
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CAMARO69
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 SUBARU LEGACY
Engine Cooling problem
1995 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic

i just changed the lower radiator hose and flushed out the radiator in my 95 subaru legacy and now I have no heat what did I do wrong?
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CRZYDRVR
  • MEMBER
  • 432 POSTS
It would seem to me that there is an air pocket in the cooling system that needs to be bled out.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SONNENMICHAEL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 212,000 MILES
Overheating and putting out no heat from heater. I have replaced waterpump, thermastat, radiator and hoses with new ones. Waterpump is turning good with belt and engine runs great. Takes a long time to overheat with no leaks. Never produces any heat from heater.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Any overheating signs besides the temp gage? Maybe air in the system?

As far as the heater, do the heater hoses get hot? Does the blower motor work? Maybe a temp door under the dash has a problem?
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PATAUSTIN
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Open valve and back flush it to clear crud?
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 3:47 PM (Merged)

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