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2007 Saturn Relay Repair Question


Topics covered: Heater, Heater core, Engine.
Mileage: 93,000 miles.

Asked on October 28, 2012

Saturn Relay Heater Problem

My heater will only blow hot air at the front while driving and the rear never gets hot, but once I stop even for a red light the front turns cold. What could cause this?
Avatar Asked by henryr79

Answer

Replied on October 28, 2012

Sounds like you have a restricted heater core possibly.

Tiny Answered by saturntech9 (expert)
23,387 answers provided
Replied on October 29, 2012

I am guessing that this vehicle has two heater cores. Am I correct with this guess? I am assuming after readingyour answer that both are restricted, with the back one being totally blocked. Is this a correct thought, since the back seat never gets heat, and the front is hot only while driving and gets cold rather quickly when you stop.

Tiny Response from henryr79
5 questions asked
Replied on October 30, 2012

yes there is a front and rear heater core after the engine warms up heres what i want you to do.Set the front heater to the hostest temp setting with the lowest fan speed.Then see if both heater hoses to the front heater core are getting really hot?Then do the same with the rear heat and see if both heater hoses to the rear heater core are getting really hot?Let me know what you find.

Tiny Answered by saturntech9 (expert)
23,387 answers provided

Replied on November 2, 2012

Both hoses for the front get really hot if you rev the motor up, if you leave it at idle only one gets hot. At the rear both get hot only if you rev the motor, otherwise both hoses at the rear are cold.

Tiny Response from henryr79
5 questions asked
Replied on November 3, 2012

I first check the front heater core for blockage start there.Have you ever used stop leak in the cooling system since you have owned it?

Tiny Answered by saturntech9 (expert)
23,387 answers provided
Replied on November 3, 2012

I have never used stop leak since I bought the van with 43000 miles, of course I don't know the history for the first 43000 miles.

Tiny Response from henryr79
5 questions asked

Replied on November 5, 2012

Have you checked to see if the front heater core is restricted or clogged?

Tiny Answered by saturntech9 (expert)
23,387 answers provided
Replied on November 5, 2012

Not yet, but should I just pull it and try to shoot water through it in both directions from a water hose nozzle? It will be at least next weekend before I can try anything.

Tiny Response from henryr79
5 questions asked
Replied on November 5, 2012

You can do that but i wouldn't remove the heater core to check it i use compressed air to check them.

Tiny Answered by saturntech9 (expert)
23,387 answers provided
Replied on November 23, 2012

Iuntil you rev the motor?I took the hoses loose from the rear and flushed water from both directions. I saw nothing but clean antifreeze come from the heater core, then I took the lines loose up front before the wyes and flushed from there, still nothing but clean antifreeze. I then put everything back together, started the van, got no heat after warming the engine until I reved the motor. The lines at the back of the van never got hot until the motor was reved up for a while, then they got hot and I could feel heat, but after returning to idle everything got cold again. Do these vans have a problem with the water pump possibly not pushing the water through the heater cores

Tiny Response from henryr79
5 questions asked