STILL no heat in my 99 Sportage!

[NeilsKia]

Hi folks


Last week I wrote that my 1999 Kia Sportage was not giving out any heat. So, this past weekend, I emptied the radiator, flushed it out and refilled with 50/50 antifreeze and replaced the thermostat. I poured in just the right amount, and my temp gauge is holding steady.

Unfortuantely, this did not fix the problem, so I need other ideas. I have asked work colleagues, but they all seem a bit clueless.

I would be SO greatful if someone could repsond before we get hit with the the bad winter snows they are froecasting.

Thanks in anticipation of the correct fix for thi problem.

[PLP]

OK, let me ask you - does the heater core get hot? Do the lines providing coolant to it get hot?
I believe blower works.
One more thing to check - try all positions of the HVAC system to see if it blows air as it should (if it is on windshield - do you get air there? and so on).

There is one possibility - the heat/cold "mixer" may be faulty. Go to kia tech info and follow it to find access to the device and how to test it.

[NeilsKia]

Thanks for the suggestions, so far.

I searched the Kia tech pages online, and I didn't see too much in the way of troubleshooting for the heating system, only removal and install of various heater components.

Okay, let me be a bit clearer about what's happening. With the engine warmed up, I turn on the heat, and get cold air. Turn on the booster fan, and air gets a little colder, so the booster fan IS working. The heat control switch on the dash turns freely, and I can hear the air diverter/mixer operating. In both hot and cold settings, I check the vents to the windshield, vents on the dash and the vents at the driver and passenger footwells, and cold air is coming out. So, no blockages.

Tonight, I took my car to a lube shop, and had them check out the problem, and they informed me that there are metal shavings in the radiator. I was reminded that about 4 years ago, I let Jiffy Lube carry out a list of "overdue jobs" on my car. At that time, I had that same problem of metal shavings in the radiator, so I let the Jiffy Lube guys put an additive put into the radiator. I would add that this was done in the Summer, and I have never had a problem with the heat until now.

The mechanic I spoke to tonight, said that the additive they used has more than likely choked up the heater core. I am not sure if he managed to get the core out to inspect it, but he did use compressed air in the heater unit (accessing it from under the hood on the passenger side of the car) to clean it out.

After about an hour of inspection, the mechanic DID actually manage to get it to pump out a little bit of heat, and said it should be enough to keep the windows clear. And he came to the conclusion that the fix will be a new radiator and a new water pump.

Before I fork out the money to get this done, I wanted to get someone elses opinion as to whether the expense of these two parts WILL actually be the fix, or is the mechanic trying to fleece me me out of my hard earned money?

BTW. On my way home, the heat died again. Could it be a temporary fix the mechanic carried out so that it'll force me to go back to him to get the work done?

Thanks

[Baratacus]

you need to check the engine coolant lines that supply heat to the core. If those lines are not hot, then your problem is not in the core. If the line in ad the line out of the core are hot, then your issue is with the heating system and most likely the core.

[JH180IQ]

Ditto on the last suggestion.

I've been dealing with heat issues on another car and I agree that checking the coolant tubes leading into and out of the core is the first place to start.

[PLP]

if you do not have problems with overheating, nor have you problems with the engine getting warm - I would exclude water pump at 99.99% probability.
coolant level is a good thing to check, although I believe if it was wrong, it would be already revealed.

You did not say whether the pipes directing coolant to and from the heater core are getting hot.

EDIT:
Listen, I hope it is not related, but...
My father in law had a car that seemed to drive fine. It had only some overheating problems, and sometimes problems to start. We inspected everything. To make it short - it turned out to be a head seal. It was pushing enough gases to block the heater core passage, but not enough to pressurize the system to the "explosion point".
So, let us know if you have any OTHER problems, like coolant in oil, hard start, white smoke... anything.