Need help Diagnosing my heater problems

[TroubleMarq]

So my heat only seems to work when i'm pushing on the pedal and i tried reading the heater section but im pretty sure i dont tha ATC climate control so I'm now sure where to start or what needs replacing?

[purplebomb302]

Check to see if your antifreeze is low. Revving up the motor sends more antifreeze to the heater core when its low allowing heat to come out.

[porschpow]

Although my problem is not as severe as the OP, my problem is similar, I flushed and put in new coolant (approx 65-35 antifreeze water mix) and when im driving and the motor is warm/hot:

if one heat floor-when i accelerate, no heat goes to the floor (or if so, very little cool air), but when I let off the gas pedal, boom I have nice warm air coming in
When its on defrost- (its the oppositem eaning)- i HIT THE ACCEL PEDAL, I HAVE A RUSH OF WARM AIR GOING TO THE AIR vents, i let off the gas, little to no air running (cool air) running through the defrost, dash.

What gives??

Troublemarq, is the kinda what you're having, it sounds vacuum related

what gives????

[sly]

probably the check valve at the vacuum tree behind the engine that goes to the 2 small lines. Or a vacuum line is loose or broken in the AC system or the soupcan has a hole in it. Check the soupcan to make sure it's holding vacuum first. If it isn't... replace it (I've seen folks use the vacuum reservoirs for GM B-Bodies to replace since those are plastic and cheap and easy to mount. If the soupcan is good, check for leaks in the system especially at the thermal lockout on the heater hose. If all of that is good, check the check valve. One of those is bound to be the issue.

[porschpow]

where can you get the check valve at if you had to replace it?

Also, the TBL is bypassed,. The vacuum lines are blocked off separately. OR ARE YOU SUPPOSE TO CONNECT THEM TO EACHOTHER? Like the wires?

How do yo ucheck the soup can, blow into it and if your cheeks are not about to explode, then you have a leak?

[TroubleMarq]

I'm guessing the soup can is this black looking thing in the hood that looks like it's dented the anti freeze looks brownish im gonna add sum to see if it helps I always wondered what the soup can did

[porschpow]

Yeah, the soup can (I call it the coffee can) is on the drivers side wheel hump

[sly]

the check valve is motorcraft part YG337 (search for it, many places offer it and you shouldn't pay more than $20 for it... avoid any place that wants $50 for the silly thing).

there's a couple of ways to check the soupcan... one is with a hand vacuum pump that has a gauge on it. connect it up and pump it down. It should hold vacuum period. The check valve should leak no more than 1psi per minute (check the same way but connecting to the double port side and closing the other port).

Supposedly the two vacuum lines that go to the TBL allow the recirc/fresh door to move. With them blocked off, it will never move. I forget which is default, but I think it's recirc.

[TroubleMarq]

I wish i took car of this before it got cold so i checked the coolant looks like theres brown sludge in there which is great since the radiator is new hmmm where to start any suggestions not sure where some of these things are

[porschpow]

Well, what I did was attach a rubber hose to the soup can (just one port on the soup can) and I blew into it. I didn't have to keep blowing and didn't hear air escaping. Additionally, I sucked and held it in, then let go and I could hear that there seemed to be a vacuum held. I know its a crude way to check, but it seemed to work.

I put my finger on the hose that went to the soup can and I did indeed feel a suction.

I guess my next issue is to check the check valve, hwo the heel do you do that???

As for the TBL, I still need to connect the two wires together. But the vacuum hoses are capped off. Am I suppose to connect those two vacuum hoses that went to the TBL TOGETHER?

[porschpow]

Troublemarq, You need to flush out you system STAT! Its usually not good when there is sludge!

[sly]

I wish i took car of this before it got cold so i checked the coolant looks like theres brown sludge in there which is great since the radiator is new hmmm where to start any suggestions not sure where some of these things are

Troublemarq, You need to flush out you system STAT! Its usually not good when there is sludge!

This!
also, if it's milky looking and not just brown (rusty looking) then you may have other issues (hole in the timing cover, leak in the timing cover gasket or head gaskets). I really hope, for your sake, it's just rusty looking.

[porschpow]

No mine is just really rusty looking, but know I have problem with no pressure in the radiator and inconsistent heater

[sly]

the no pressure issue is probably a small leak located high in the system. It could be the EGR spacer coolant lines or the spacer gasket. I bypassed that on my 88 many moons ago since it doesn't get cold enough here to really need that.

[porschpow]

the no pressure issue is probably a small leak located high in the system. It could be the EGR spacer coolant lines or the spacer gasket. I bypassed that on my 88 many moons ago since it doesn't get cold enough here to really need that.

Could it be a radiator cap?

Where is the EGR Spacer cooler lines?

And where is the spacer gasket?