HEATER NOT WORKING

Tiny
SEFL
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 50,000 MILES
Heater not working when car is idling, when you drive heat works
Friday, January 4th, 2008 AT 11:53 AM

58 Replies

Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Check coolant level and adjust as needed this guide will help us fix it

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

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Monday, October 29th, 2018 AT 11:40 AM
Tiny
VESTALSIN
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  • 2 POSTS
I got a new water pump stopped the leak and fixed the heater cost $143.00
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:42 PM
Tiny
DUSTYDUCK
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  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 43,000 MILES
Our Impala works amazingly well but. At idle, it blows cold air from the heater until you rev the engine, then it's hot again. At last oil change, the tech said it was full of dex. I suspect it's low on antifreeze although it does not run hot. I have checked the reservoir when it's cold but can't see any antifreeze. Any thoughts?
LB
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
Fill her up with antifreeze, that should solve the heat problem. Now the other problem is where did the antifreeze go? There must be a leak somewhere.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRIAN 1
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,030 POSTS
Actually you might want to fill it this way. Here is a bulletin for this problem. Poor Heat At Idle - keywords 9C1 9C3 coolant cooling core defrost enforcement engine floor flow heat heater HVAC law mode no police poor vent 2006 - 2007 Chevrolet Impala and Monte CarloPoor heat at idle, however, if the engine RPMs are raised the concern no longer occursWith the engine cooled off, remove the coolant pressure cap.
Remove upper heater core hose from the metal pipe on the engine.
Add coolant to the metal pipe, until full.
Raise the rubber portion of the heater core hose as high as it will go with it still attached at the heater core. Using a funnel, add coolant until the hose is full.
Reconnect the heater core hose.
Start engine, have assistant raise the RPMs to about 1500 to 1700 RPMs, top coolant off at engine, then before lowering engine RPMs, install the coolant pressure cap.
Fill coolant reservoir as necessary, then check the heat at idle.
This should fix it.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEXREN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA
Heater problem
2006 Chevy Impala 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

I have a problem with my heater it dose not warm up when you start it and let it warm up the engine warms up fine but the heater dose not it just blows cold air until you start to move and in Minnesota this cause a bit of a problem
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RENAUDTN
  • MECHANIC
  • 636 POSTS
Okay so from what I understand you don't have heat when your car idles, but you do when you're driving right?
Start by checking your level of coolant. With engine cold, your coolant in the radiator should be at least at the bottom of the radiator neck. In the overflow tank it should be a little over the cold mark. If it's low, add some GM 50/50 dex cool coolant (orange color), and check for leaks.

If your level of coolant is fine, check the following:
-when you first start the car in the morning (or whenever your engine is cold), grab the upper radiator hose with your hand; if you can feel coolant flowing through it, your thermostat is bad and you need to replace it. Also tell me: is your car taking an unusually long time to warm up? If so, try replacing the thermostat as well.
-with car idling at normal temperature and heat set on high, feel the heater hoses (the two smaller hoses that are hooked to the heater core inlet and outlet); are they both hot or is one of them much cooler than the other? If one is much cooler, your heater core is probably clogged up. Back flush your cooling system.

There are other possibilities for your problem but the ones above are the most likely. Come back if you need more help or if I misunderstood your problem.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RICH111
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
My 06 Impala, does warm up and when sitting idle cold air blows out.
When driving, then stopped at a stop light, the warm air turns cold, until I start driving again.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RENAUDTN
  • MECHANIC
  • 636 POSTS
Okay,

Have you checked all my suggestions?

Here are a couple more:
-Weak water pump (less likely, but possible)
-air trapped in your system (bleed air with bleed screws)

Let me know what you find out, or if you need more help.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAF
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  • 2 POSTS
  • 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 76,800 MILES
My car blows cold air while it idles, but when I start to drive the heater will get warm.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKAL99
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I had the same problem with my impala.

They bleed the heat system.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RHALL77
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,361 POSTS
Have the cooling system inspected. Does it do it all the time
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAF
  • MEMBER
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Yes it does
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DENNYP
  • MECHANIC
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It sounds like you have air in the cooling system.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CLAYBOY73
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 40,000 MILES
Just this morning, on the coldest day of the year, I get in my car and there is no heat. No anything coming from the air conditioner/heater. I switched and pushed every button, but nothing happened. Yesterday, it was working just fine. There were no sounds or smells or any indication of impending trouble. The lights on the dash were working, but aside from that, it was like it was "unplugged." What would cause that?
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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I would start by checking the fuses
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKAL99
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 63,000 MILES
I am having problems with my car and wanted to do some research before going to the dealer in the morning about the on-going car trouble.

Well on Saturday, November 08, 2008, I took my car for an oil change and mention to the guy that when warming my car up for about 10 minutes the heat is blowing out cold air and not heat. After I feel my car has been running for about 10 minutes I leave going to work. I have to drive for approximately 1 - 2 miles before the heater starts blowing heat.
Anyway after explaining to the dealer tech guy, they diagnose was to "bleed the heater system." Cost was 85.00.

Now on Monday and Tuesday Nov 10 and 11, The heater is now blowing out heat, but now I have notice that something is now leaking out of the front of my car (pinkish color substance) that never leaked prior to going to the dealership and having my car serviced on Saturday (11/08/2008). I took my car back to the dealer Wednesday November 12 and they diagnose (from the invoice) "(OP Code J3362) Hose, Engine Coolant Upper Replace. Upper Hose ($22.76), coolant ($28.58) + $119.00 for labor. So they replaced upper radiator hose; filled coolant system and bleed heater system again.

Now after two days of raining (11/13/2008 and 11/14/2008), I could not see whether the car was leaking or not. Now Saturday 11/15/2008, I noticed that the car is still leaking (I guess anti-freeze, it is a pinkish color substance)

My questions:
1st Is it possible that the dealer could have messed something up after the first repair of bleeding the heater system on 11/08/2008 that cause the leaking of antifreeze (pinkish color)
2nd Is it necessary to bleed the heating system for the second time when they replaced the upper radiator hose; filled coolant system
3rd Now I have noticed that when parking my car in my driveway that, if I pull-in the left side leaks and if I back-in the right side leaks.

Any suggestions. I need some guidance. What I am thinking is going to the dealer and say very politely that I have given you all ( $85.00 to fix the heat blowing (which is working); $186.00 for repairing a leak that was not leaking before the first visit on 11/08/2008 and still leaking and slinging fluid from the car belt under the hood. I refused to pay any more money to have the problem fixed and also the dealership should be responsible for performing something to clean under the hood where the fluid is leaking and cleaning where the belt was slinging the fluid. Does that sound like a good idea

Please help; what do you think.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
Just a couple questions. Antifreeze is usually, but not always, green. What color is the coolant in your reservoir? If your drivrway slpoes a little to one side, this could explain why the leak moves from side to side running along the frame. From the way you describe the leak, it sounds like it could be the water pump as it's being slung around by the belt. Keeping in mind, I'm on your side, not the dealership's. If it turns out to "be" the water pump and the dealership changed a hose instead, I would think they would be willing to negociate the hose cost into the pump replacement. Any, lst me know on the color of your coolant ASAP, and we can go from there. Jim
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKAL99
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Well I am reading my manual and running back and forth to the car. When I open the hood of the car there is a container on the back left of the engine That stated "Dex-Cool" and it is a pinkish color And you would not believe how little is in the reservoir.

The bottom of the conatiner is empty. However there is a little portion of the container that has a extra drop that has about a cup of the pink color left.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKAL99
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I am trying to upload some pictures I took
Having no luck in uploading these pictures from to this site.

I can email them to you.
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Monday, January 13th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM (Merged)

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