Intermittent front heater

[Satchmo]

Hey guys,

Was driving around this morning, everything working fine.

Tonight, I get no heat from the front. It warms a bit, then gets cold again.

Rear heater works fine.

If I move the temperature switch all the way to the right I here a "_thwack" from somewhere near the glovebox.

Any ideas?

 

[giro]

Is the antifreeze topped off? In draining and refilling my system twice in the last 2 weeks, both times before it was completely "settled" and topped off there was an air bubble that made the heater (front, didn't try the rear) not give heat.

That would be the easiest thing to check, and if not that you'd move to the thing that decides if the heater heat exchanger gets hot coolant or not. (and it's probably more limey this if you hear something)

 

[brifri01]

Yes check the anti freeze level bet your low. The lines and heater core are up a lot higher than the rear.

Under the hood by the firewall you should see two black hoses going into the cab one should have a valve hooked to it for the heater control. Once engine is up to temp feel these hoses should be hot to touch. If not no heat.

 

[KidVermicious]

If I move the temperature switch all the way to the right I here a "_thwack" from somewhere near the glovebox.

That's just the damper closing, I believe. I third the previous suggestion, the first thing I'd check would be coolant level.

 

[Satchmo]

Thanks guys I'll check it out.

 

[bills86e]

If your water pump is failing, you may see small water leak on pump lower side, or signs of rust at its weep hole. This may be culpret for looseing water and the resulting no heat.

 

[Satchmo]

If your water pump is failing, you may see small water leak on pump lower side, or signs of rust at its weep hole. This may be culpret for looseing water and the resulting no heat.

I have a feeling this is it.

I popped the hood and definitely am losing coolant. Enough that it sprayed everywhere.

Looks to be at the lower bolt on the water pump. Yippee.

How hard is it to change a water pump?

 

[KidVermicious]

How hard is it to change a water pump?

Which motor?

 

[Satchmo]

Which motor?

1991 22re automatic trans.

 

[KidVermicious]

Not hard at all. Drain the radiator, disconnect the intake tube, pull the fan shroud, pull the fan and clutch, disconnect the belts, unbolt the water pump (keep careful track of which bolt goes where, it matters), pull the water pump off (and be ready for the gush of coolant trapped in the pump to spatter all over your driveway). Clean the mating surface on the block, gasket the new pump, put everything back together.

Consider duct taping some cardboard over the inside of the radiator to protect the fins if you're a clutz. Pay close attention to the torque levels in the FSM when you're putting the water pump bolts back in, and do not trust a crappy torque wrench. It's very easy to snap those little bolts off in the block, and then you will teach yourself new swear words and probably break your toe from kicking the bumper.

 

[Satchmo]

Sweet. Thx man.

 

[KidVermicious]

Tonight, I get no heat from the front. It warms a bit, then gets cold again.

So for what it's worth, mine just started doing the same thing a couple days ago - intermittent heat. Topping off the fluid didn't help it, so I just replaced the thermostat and will see what happens tonight.

 

[Satchmo]

So it's definitely my water pump. PITA.

With the weather like this, I'm probably going to have to pay someone to swap it out - not having a garage is incredibly frustrating.

For some reason I'm starting to get a BB in a can sound that increases with the engine rpms as well. Any notion of what that could be?

 

[541joseph]

So it's definitely my water pump. PITA.

With the weather like this, I'm probably going to have to pay someone to swap it out - not having a garage is incredibly frustrating.

For some reason I'm starting to get a BB in a can sound that increases with the engine rpms as well. Any notion of what that could be?

It's probably the bearings in your water pump.

 

[giro]

Not hard at all. Drain the radiator, disconnect the intake tube, pull the fan shroud, pull the fan and clutch, disconnect the belts, unbolt the water pump (keep careful track of which bolt goes where, it matters), pull the water pump off (and be ready for the gush of coolant trapped in the pump to spatter all over your driveway). Clean the mating surface on the block, gasket the new pump, put everything back together.

Those steps sound the same as the 3.0, except on a 3.0 having to muck with a timing belt instead of just leaving the timing chain on a 22re in place.

Is that basically the difference for calling it "not hard at all", or are there other things on the 3.0 to deal with?

It's about time for a timing belt on the 92, and the Sienna. I've never done one, but it shouldn't be too bad and it would be good to do it at least once.

 

[KidVermicious]

Those steps sound the same as the 3.0, except on a 3.0 having to muck with a timing belt instead of just leaving the timing chain on a 22re in place.

Is that basically the difference for calling it "not hard at all", or are there other things on the 3.0 to deal with?

It's about time for a timing belt on the 92, and the Sienna. I've never done one, but it shouldn't be too bad and it would be good to do it at least once.

I've never worked on a 3.0, I couldn't tell you what else is involved. Maybe somebody else can chime in.

 

[541joseph]

Those steps sound the same as the 3.0, except on a 3.0 having to muck with a timing belt instead of just leaving the timing chain on a 22re in place.

Is that basically the difference for calling it "not hard at all", or are there other things on the 3.0 to deal with?

It's about time for a timing belt on the 92, and the Sienna. I've never done one, but it shouldn't be too bad and it would be good to do it at least once.

The 3.0 you just have to deal with more plastics and little crap. But its still pretty easy just remember the way everything goes. And look at a service manual. So you know how to line all the timing marks up. Good luck.

 

[541joseph]

And as for doing it in a van, just pay someone to do it. It's a pain in the ass you have no room to get to what you need.

 

[giro]

And as for doing it in a van, just pay someone to do it. It's a pain in the ass you have no room to get to what you need.

The write-ups on the van looked pretty straightforward. The same as a camry, and it sounded like the hard part was one piece that needed to come off that often had bolts that broke. But that if you lifted the engine about an inch instead, you avoided some of that.

But I'll likely pay someone to do the minivan. It's our primary transport, the only one with a carseat for our youngest, and still worth over $10k. If I mess something up on the 4runner I can have it out of service for a week without too much problem.

Thanks

 

[KidVermicious]

So it's definitely my water pump. PITA.

You thought the water pump is a PITA? Be thankful it's not the head gasket. My coolant came back low again, and I don't see any under the truck or behind the dash. Only one other place it could be disappearing to...