Buick Century themostat

BHUCKINS

MEMBER
1997 BUICK CENTURY

I have a 1997 buick century. When I turn my defrost on in the morn it doesn't heat up but if I turn the control down to cool and back to heat a couple times it heats up. The next morn it was fine and then the following morn I had to keep switching the control back and forth this time it took several times and minutes to finally want to heat.

Friday, January 28th, 2011 AT 4:21 PM

1 Reply

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

With the engine at full operating temp, locate the 2 heater hoses where they go into the firewall and feel them to see if they are both hot to the touch. If not too hot to hold, then you have to look at the actual engine temp and if that is up, if it is, then your looking at a restricted heater core.
If you find that they are both too hot to hold, then the heat in that vehicle is controlled by a blend door that regulates heated air flow. It is operated by an electric motor/actuator. The problem can be that the actuator is stripped or inoperative or the door itself could be damaged. This is what needs to be determined by examining the actuator and see if it is responding to heat change commands or not.
If they are both not too hot to hold on to, then you either have a restricted heater core or the system is not completely full and getting air pockets for some reason.

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Friday, January 28th, 2011 AT 4:51 PM