Hey i have a 2000 focus and the heat blows hot but it only stays hot for about 1 minute then it goes cold. I have to wait 5 minute
Hey i have a 2000 focus and the heat blows hot but it only stays hot for about 1 minute then it goes cold. I have to wait 5 minutes before it blows hot again. It cant be the thermostat if it does blow hot could it?
My car has 117349 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi There,
If your heat blows warm and then cold in addition to the engine overheating, this may very well be a thermostat issue. This may also be an issue of air being trapped in the radiator or heater core. This causes this type of cycling effect with hot and then cold air being blown into the cab of the vehicle. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
If your heat blows warm and then cold in addition to the engine overheating, this may very well be a thermostat issue. This may also be an issue of air being trapped in the radiator or heater core. This causes this type of cycling effect with hot and then cold air being blown into the cab of the vehicle. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common reasons a Ford Focus heater isn`t working are a broken heater blower motor, a problem with the thermostat, or a failed heater blower motor resistor.
If your coolant level is a-okay, but your car heater is blowing cold air and your engine is overheating, then you have a clog in your cooling system. Conversely, if your engine temperatures are unrealistically low after a drive, your thermostat is likely the culprit.
One common reason engines overheat while idling is a faulty or broken cooling system. This could include problems with the radiator, water pump, or fan belt. If any part of your car`s cooling system is not functioning properly, your engine may be at risk of overheating.
First, and most common is that a fuse has blown. Second, is if an obstruction exists in the heater core (such as air bubbles or debris) or third, the coolant is low. Since your coolant level is OK, it`s more likely that you have an electrical relay or fuse blown or the heater core is clogged with debris.
The lukewarm air appearing in your heater can be the outcome of a leaky duct. If your air ducts are leaking, cool outside air is making its way into your ductwork. This can cause the air to really feel only lukewarm. The repair: Duct sealing.
One of the most common reasons your car AC is blowing hot air is because of a refrigerant issue—specifically, a loss of refrigerant. This loss of refrigerant can occur either due to a leak or because your car`s refrigerant levels are too low.
If you don`t have enough coolant running through the system due to leaks, ruptured hoses, loose hose clamps, whatever heat will build up, and your engine will overheat. So check the coolant level regularly, make sure the ratio of water to antifreeze is correct per your owner`s manual, and have it changed every year.
Engines can overheat for many reasons. In general, it`s because something`s wrong within the cooling system and heat isn`t able to escape the engine compartment. The source of the issue could include a cooling system leak, faulty radiator fan, broken water pump, or clogged coolant hose.
Overheating is the most common cause of an irreparably damaged engine, so you should always take a temperature warning light seriously. The temperature warning light is on the dashboard gauge cluster and usually contains the words “temp” or “engine overheating.” Or, it may simply show a picture of a thermometer.
It`s most likely an incorrect thermostat setting if you find your furnace blowing warm air, not hot. The fan is set to “on” instead of “auto.” Furnaces only pump hot air until the thermostat setting is reached, so if your fan is always on, it will blow both hot air when the furnace is heating and cold when it`s not.
A faulty or broken thermostat is the most common cause of your car`s failing heat. Stuck open or stuck closed, the part can not only cause issues with your heat but also with your engine`s cooling system.
Faulty heater cores and low or contaminated coolant levels often come hand in hand, and both issues may lead to your engine overheating and your heater not blowing hot air.
If the heater isn`t blowing hot air at you when you turn the system on, the blower fan might have a problem. Either it`s not getting electrical power or, more likely, the motor itself has simply burned out. A blower motor in an older vehicle is likely to burn out over time, and may need replacement.
Common Car Heater Problems
The heater switching system might be faulty. The cabin air filter might be choked, restricting the airflow through the heater core. The thermostat valve might not be working right. The heater core might be clogged.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Hey i have a 2000 focus and the heat blows hot but it only stays hot for about 1 minute then it goes cold. I have to wait 5 minute
ANSWER : Hi There,
If your heat blows warm and then cold in addition to the engine overheating, this may very well be a thermostat issue. This may also be an issue of air being trapped in the radiator or heater core. This causes this type of cycling effect with hot and then cold air being blown into the cab of the vehicle. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
If your heat blows warm and then cold in addition to the engine overheating, this may very well be a thermostat issue. This may also be an issue of air being trapped in the radiator or heater core. This causes this type of cycling effect with hot and then cold air being blown into the cab of the vehicle. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
My air is blowing cold-hot-cold-hot-cold-hot…
ANSWER : It is possible that you have a leak in the AC system. There are pressure switches that will turn off the compressor if the pressure is too high or too low. The low refrigerant level could cause the AC compressor to cycle on and off. If you would like to have this done, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the AC system and make the correct repair.
Heater blows hot for 10 minutes, then it blows cold.
ANSWER : Hello, thanks for writing in. This problem could be either an engine thermostat that is not keeping the engine at a constant running temperature (temp gauge steady in the center), or the heater control valve or controls are malfunctioning not allowing engine coolant into the heater core (passenger compartment). It is also possible that the heater controls are allowing cold outside air to "blend" with heated air by not closing one of the ducts in the HVAC unit. I would recommend having a heater inspection completed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
Heat inside car stays warm for minute then blows cold until I turn heat off for a minute and try again.
ANSWER : Hi there. The engine always at operating temperature leads me to believe, the thermostat is not the cause, for no heat inside the vehicle. There are several possibilities for no heat inside, the heater control valve is malfunctioning, the heater core is restricted, the temperature blend door actuator is malfunctioning. Replacing components without diagnoses, can be expensive and time consuming without resolution. I recommend having your vehicle’s inoperative heater be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
Ac blows hot in summer heat blows cool in winter
ANSWER : I can understand your confusion and frustration, I believe your Kia is experiencing a few different issues that could all together duplicate the concerns you are experiencing.
It would appear that one or more blend doors, these are inside the dashboard that direct or block fresh air from outside the vehicle entering the cabin, is stuck open. This would explain why you experience cold air in the winter and hot air in the summer. There is a different blend door that will direct or block heat from the heater core inside your dashboard, this door may also be stuck. In regards to the air conditioning, there are a few reasons why it is not working as it is supposed to, however the most common is due to lack of refrigerant.
As you can see, there is a lot going on, therefore I recommend enlisting help of a certified mobile mechanic to stop by and go over your Sedona with you in person and diagnose why you are experiencing these temperature concerns.
While driving defroster set to hot blows hot air as it should, while idling it is blowing cold air.
ANSWER : First, the coolant level should be checked to make sure the radiator is full. While the overflow tank may be full, the radiator cap must be taken off to check the level inside the radiator. If you find the level is very low, you have a coolant leak that must be fixed. If coolant levels are normal, an engine thermostat or heater control problem may be what you’re experiencing. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out and take a closer look at your lack of heat concern to offer a more personal diagnosis.
Overheats When Blowing Warm With Heat & AC But Not When Blowing Cold AC
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. There are so many different codes being triggered, that it is unlikely all of these systems are having issues at once. We need to focus in on the fact the engine is overheating at all. You will want to check the level and condition of the coolant and the overflow tank. If the level is full then you may have an issue with the thermostat, radiator cap, or water pump. These can all be tested and changed relatively easily. If the main cooling system is okay, you will want to look into the heater core and climate control module. For more diagnostic help, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
When heat is on temperature gauge goes towards cold. When heat is off it goes back to being in the middle. 2001 Buick Regal
ANSWER : Hi there – the temperature gauge behavior you describe would indicate that you need a new thermostat. The thermostat should keep engine temperature within a close range – close to the center of the gauge from a visual point of view. The fact that turning on the heater allows the engine to cool down indicates that the thermostat is not doing it’s job. It’s impossible to know what the service center put in your cooling system prior, but you are correct – Dexcool, the GM-recommended coolant, has an orange tint to it, and should be used in your engine. I would recommend having your thermostat replaced by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, replace your thermostat, refill your cooling system, and bleed it. Your temperature gauge should remain centered from then on, and you can be sure the correct coolant will then be in your engine.
