Can't Use Heating At All

[strafingmoose]

Hi there!

 

This is crazy, I barely can use the heater in my 2003 Sierra. As soon as I turn the heat up, 2 mins after I get lots of frost/fog on side windows and windshield. Running with the AC on and an open window at 5F really does suck!

 

Is there a filter in the ventillation system that could have gotten permanently wet ? I make sure the vent intakes near the winshield wippers are clean so they don't suck in humidity and I shake my floormat making sure there's as less ice and snow on it too.

 

What else ?

 

Thanks!

[marko]

Hi there!

 

This is crazy, I barely can use the heater in my 2003 Sierra. As soon as I turn the heat up, 2 mins after I get lots of frost/fog on side windows and windshield. Running with the AC on and an open window at 5F really does suck!

 

Is there a filter in the ventillation system that could have gotten permanently wet ? I make sure the vent intakes near the winshield wippers are clean so they don't suck in humidity and I shake my floormat making sure there's as less ice and snow on it too.

 

What else ?

 

Thanks!

 

Sounds like you might have a leaky heater core. Check ur coolant level. There is no cabin filter for your year I don't think. It's possible some moisture got into the system from the cowl and you need to dry it out.

 

Drive two more miles and see what happens! Seriously, pick a cold dry day and run the thing until it, hopefully, dries itself out, unless it actually is the heater core, in which case your interior will smell like antifreeze.

[strafingmoose]

Hi there!

 

This is crazy, I barely can use the heater in my 2003 Sierra. As soon as I turn the heat up, 2 mins after I get lots of frost/fog on side windows and windshield. Running with the AC on and an open window at 5F really does suck!

 

Is there a filter in the ventillation system that could have gotten permanently wet ? I make sure the vent intakes near the winshield wippers are clean so they don't suck in humidity and I shake my floormat making sure there's as less ice and snow on it too.

 

What else ?

 

Thanks!

 

Sounds like you might have a leaky heater core. Check ur coolant level. There is no cabin filter for your year I don't think. It's possible some moisture got into the system from the cowl and you need to dry it out.

 

Drive two more miles and see what happens! Seriously, pick a cold dry day and run the thing until it, hopefully, dries itself out, unless it actually is the heater core, in which case your interior will smell like antifreeze.

 

 

Dexcool level is the same as last time I had it flushed like 3 months ago, but I'll check again. i don't want to be losing coolant, that also means problems with the head gasket

 

Also, any job involving the heater is quite costy I hear, since most of the interior needs to be taken out grrrr...

[ALange]

Hi there!

 

This is crazy, I barely can use the heater in my 2003 Sierra. As soon as I turn the heat up, 2 mins after I get lots of frost/fog on side windows and windshield. Running with the AC on and an open window at 5F really does suck!

 

Is there a filter in the ventillation system that could have gotten permanently wet ? I make sure the vent intakes near the winshield wippers are clean so they don't suck in humidity and I shake my floormat making sure there's as less ice and snow on it too.

 

What else ?

 

Thanks!

 

Sounds like you might have a leaky heater core. Check ur coolant level. There is no cabin filter for your year I don't think. It's possible some moisture got into the system from the cowl and you need to dry it out.

 

Drive two more miles and see what happens! Seriously, pick a cold dry day and run the thing until it, hopefully, dries itself out, unless it actually is the heater core, in which case your interior will smell like antifreeze.

 

 

Dexcool level is the same as last time I had it flushed like 3 months ago, but I'll check again. i don't want to be losing coolant, that also means problems with the head gasket

 

Also, any job involving the heater is quite costy I hear, since most of the interior needs to be taken out grrrr...

 

 

 

I don't know about a 2003 truck, but some heater cores are quite simple to replace. Blown heater core has nothing to do with the head gasket. The last one I replaced was a 88 LeSabre and it took about 30 minutes and a 50 dollar heater core. Anti-freeze has a distinctive sweet smell that would be present in the cab if it was leaking (usually). Placing the air control to outside instead of inside may help if your rig is so equipped.

[2000DV4.8]

I don't know about a 2003 truck, but some heater cores are quite simple to replace. Blown heater core has nothing to do with the head gasket. The last one I replaced was a 88 LeSabre and it took about 30 minutes and a 50 dollar heater core. Anti-freeze has a distinctive sweet smell that would be present in the cab if it was leaking (usually). Placing the air control to outside instead of inside may help if your rig is so equipped.

 

The heater core is NOT easily accessible in these trucks. It is freaking buried in the dash.

[strafingmoose]

I don't know about a 2003 truck, but some heater cores are quite simple to replace. Blown heater core has nothing to do with the head gasket. The last one I replaced was a 88 LeSabre and it took about 30 minutes and a 50 dollar heater core. Anti-freeze has a distinctive sweet smell that would be present in the cab if it was leaking (usually). Placing the air control to outside instead of inside may help if your rig is so equipped.

 

The heater core is NOT easily accessible in these trucks. It is freaking buried in the dash.

 

 

Just what I thought, an 8 hours job if it is indeed the problem. But I can't smell anything sweet (ie: coolant) though.

[ALange]

The heater core is NOT easily accessible in these trucks. It is freaking buried in the dash.

 

 

That sucks. I have seen them easy and hard to access.

[Rat4go]

If it's not coolant (heater core), it might be that you're just tracking in lots of water (snow) and once the heater melts and evaporates that water, it condenses on the cold glass. Another source of water is a leak....have you had your windshield replaced since last winter (making the assumption that it was good last year)?

 

If it's not a heater core or a leak of some sort, get the truck warm, turn the heater to the mode that's both heat AND defrost on full hot, max fan and get the interior of the truck really warm to drive the moisture out. Once the interior is good and warm, try to get as much water out of the carpets/floor mats as possible. Once you can see thru the windows, drive it with the heater still on heat and defrost at max temp and fan for a while to get it even dryer in the truck.

 

Good luck!

[strafingmoose]

Welp, that was easy.... I just let the truck with full heat on for like 20 mins coming back from work a few days ago. I work really not that far from home so it never has the time to really heat up and evaporate all the ice and snow. Now I have a perfectly dry cab. I almost feel stupid