[acdblujns]

Hey all,

My 01 Chrysler Voyager 3.3 flex has no heat.
Symptoms before this weekend, It starts and came up to the middle line on the temp dial with in about 5 min or less at idle. I would turn the heat and NO WARM AIR at all would come from the floor, dash or defrost vents. The temp stayed constant at the 1/2 mark and did not waiver at idle or Hwy speeds.

My search of the forum led me to a couple of things.
1. Low coolant
2. Broken thermostat.
3 Plugged heater core.
4. Bad vanes on water pump
5. Broken Blend doors, vac leak ect...

My first thing this weekend was to check the coolant level. Low and behold it was way low. I put in about 1.5 gal of 50/50 mix in the radiator and res tank. filled the radiator to just under the cap, ran it a couple of times and topped it off until it stayed steady.

Replaced the thermostat and gasket.

After all that I was rewarded with some nice strong heat. Outside it was about 50 degrees or so yesterday. This morning, the problem returned even worse. It was around 25 degrees out this morning.

The temp after 15 minutes barley reaches 1/4 mark. and Cold air blows from the floor vent. On the way to work, I stopped for some hot coffee and gas, once I got back in the temp rose almost to the 1/2 way mark and I had very weak heat. Once I got on the Hwy it quickly dropped down to the 1/4 mark and no heat. What's up???

I don't think it's the heater core or water pump, got strong heat yesterday. The blend doors seem to be working as they should. Maybe the new thermostat is stuck open? Air bubble in the system? if So what is the proper way to bleed it?

Any help would be great. My Wife gets mad and will not ride in it if she doesn't have to, she hates to be cold.

Thanks,
Pat

 

[Jeepman]

I think your initial problem was low coolant.

Based on your temperature gage reading low, especially when moving, I think your present problem is an open thermostat, I'm guessing a "fail safe" thermostat stuck open, possibly due to hot air bubbles passing through. Put your old thermostat back in or go with a Mopar thermostat. "Fail safe" thermostats are a no no in my books. There's lots of info on the internet about them.

 

[atoman]

Time to check the coolant lever in the rad. again!
If there's a leak in the system, most likely you're low again..

It's possible that the new t-stat is stuck open or was not seated properly but chances are coolant is low again. Don't go by what you see in the overflow bottle..

 

[rash_powder]

My 2001 3.8 is the most cold blooded vehicle I have ever had. I had to make a winter front out of a card board box. It now will heat up aftrer 10-15 minutes of driving.

Radiator is full, new thermostat were installed/checked/topped off. No changes. My Grandfatrher's 06 (I believe that is what it is) is the same.

It seems that Chrysler installed very efficient cooling systems.

 

[acdblujns]

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't able to work on the T-stat last night but I did check the coolant level. It's still topped off, no loss of fluid, no puddles on ground. I'm going to use the a piece of cardboard until I can get the thermostat pulled out to keep the engine temp up.
Can anyone explain what is the correct way to bleed the coolant system? I really think it has air in the system some where.

Thanks,
Pat

 

[Jeepman]

My 2001 3.8 is the most cold blooded vehicle I have ever had. I had to make a winter front out of a card board box. It now will heat up aftrer 10-15 minutes of driving.

Radiator is full, new thermostat were installed/checked/topped off. No changes. My Grandfatrher's 06 (I believe that is what it is) is the same.

It seems that Chrysler installed very efficient cooling systems.

Nope, something is wrong. If the top hose isn't hot, the thermostat is wide open. If you need to put cardboard in front of the radiator to get the coolant temperature up to normal, the thermostat is open. The thermostat controls the internal coolant temperature of the engine and shouldn't open up unless at a high enough temperature is reached.

"Fail safe" thermostats have a reputation for staying open (failing in open position). If you have one, junk it (my advice). Some info on "fail safe" thermostats here: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/warning-fail-safe-thermostat-872316/

 

[Jeepman]

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't able to work on the T-stat last night but I did check the coolant level. It's still topped off, no loss of fluid, no puddles on ground. I'm going to use the a piece of cardboard until I can get the thermostat pulled out to keep the engine temp up.
Can anyone explain what is the correct way to bleed the coolant system? I really think it has air in the system some where.

Thanks,
Pat

If you vehicle is on level ground when you add coolant, you should be okay. My sense is that your only "heat" problem is that your thermostat is stuck open. What brand and type of thermostat did you use?

 

[acdblujns]

I went to the dealership today on my lunch hour to get a Mopar t-stat and guess what.... There is a recall on all of the thermostats that fit this van, the parts guy said none of the dealerships have any stock. His suggestion was to get one from NAPA I think the brands were Murphy and Stant.. Guess I'm going to NAPA this evening.

 

[Jeepman]

Rats!!!!!!

Stant sounds good, likely pricey: http://www.stant.com/Consumer-Products/Thermostats/SuperStat--Thermostat/
and http://www.google.ca/search?q=stant+thermostat&rlz=1C1FLDB_enCA514CA514&aq=f&oq=stant+thermostat&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Murray ..... maybe not: http://www.google.ca/search?q=murray+thermostat&rlz=1C1FLDB_enCA514CA514&aq=0&oq=murry+thermostat&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[atoman]

guess what.... There is a recall on all of the thermostats that fit this van, the parts guy said none of the dealerships have any stock.

That might explain all the recent t-stat related threads

By chance, anyone know who made the parts for Mopar? (that are under recall)

 

[rash_powder]

Nope, something is wrong. If the top hose isn't hot, the thermostat is wide open. If you need to put cardboard in front of the radiator to get the coolant temperature up to normal, the thermostat is open. The thermostat controls the internal coolant temperature of the engine and shouldn't open up unless at a high enough temperature is reached.

"Fail safe" thermostats have a reputation for staying open (failing in open position). If you have one, junk it (my advice). Some info on "fail safe" thermostats here: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/warning-fail-safe-thermostat-872316/

When we replaced the original thermostat it was in a closed position and doing the same thing it is doing now. My father and I were mostly at a loss as to why this would be. I will try another tstat when I get a chance to replace it.

 

[acdblujns]

Well I never really figured out what was going on with the Voyager. After I put in the cardboard to block the radiator the weather warmed up some and it wasn't much of a problem then. Now I'll never really know, I've just traded it in on a 2012 T&C.

Thanks for all the great responses and suggestions!
Pat

 

[04anniversaryedition]

Congratulations on getting the 2012 T&C... if you don't mind me asking, how many miles it got?

 

[acdblujns]

Thanks, it's really nice. The 01 Voyager had 172,000 mi and had a hard life before I got it 2 years ago. The 2012 T&C has 27,000. I had a 99 GC Sport that pushed 325,000 mi before it died, loved that one....