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 Post subject: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 11:44 am 
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Location: Stayner Ontario, Canada.
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2003 SLE [SOLD]
Very COLD up here in the great white north this week! -33C here early this morning! :canada:

Despite having the heat cranked up as high as it will go, its still not that warm inside the car... While the air is warm coming out the vents, its not as warm as it should be. The engine itself is heating up to normal operating temperature. Not sure where to look first...

Thanks for your help!


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 2:29 pm 
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I should add that the coolant level is normal, and the thermostat has been changed. Head gaskets and studs were done too, so I'm pretty confident there are no issues with the engine itself.


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 1:13 pm 
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Start by checking the hoses to the heater core. Are they both the same really warm temperature? If not, the heater core is likely partially plugged. A back flush may help, or it will have to be replaced.

Check the coolant mixture to be sure that it is the proper mix. Too much coolant vs water can lower its ability to absorb heat.

Does the temperature change when you adjust the temperature? If not, it likely a bad actuator.

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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:09 pm 
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Blend door actuator(s).

It is a problem with this generation car (not just a GXP issue), as well as other GM FWD vehicles.

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Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 5:24 pm 
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Location: Stayner Ontario, Canada.
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Thanks guys. I will have a good look at it once temps warm up a bit and I thaw out... LOL!


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 6:03 pm 
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nothing like heat problems when it's too cold out to want to fix them...

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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 9:32 pm 
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A bit of research tells me there are 3 actuators? Left, right, and main? Since both sides heat equally, I'm guessing the main one is suspect?

Thanks.


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 11:43 am 
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Something else I should mention too... Not sure if it's related to the heat issue.

Sometimes, there is a noise in the dash. It seems to be coming from behind the glove box. It's kind of a faint rhythmic type noise, like something is cycling on and off repeatedly. No idea what it is....

Thanks again for your help guys!


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 12:46 pm 
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That does sound as if one of the actuators is not working properly. The gear inside can crack, causing a clicking type noise. You'll have to remove the knee bolsters on each side. Then look in the center part of the dash for the actuators.\
Attachment:
driversairmix.jpg
driversairmix.jpg [ 70.12 KiB | Viewed 1493 times ]

Attachment:
00ACcontrols.gif
00ACcontrols.gif [ 29.01 KiB | Viewed 1493 times ]

Observe those actuators as you adjust the controls. You should be able to see if they are moving properly. In the second picture, actuator #3 is tucked well back toward the firewall, so it will be hard to see.

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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Sun Dec 31, 2017 7:57 pm 
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2003 SLE [SOLD]
Pulled things apart today, and all 3 actuators seem to be functioning ok.... And of course it wouldn't make any strange noises the entire time I was testing it... :roll: :dontknow:


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 12:45 pm 
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There should be 4 actuators. Two on the driver's side, and two on the passenger side. Only one on the passenger side is easily visible. The inlet actuator is hard to see, as mentioned previously. This gives a better view of it.
Attachment:
InletActuator.jpg
InletActuator.jpg [ 62.21 KiB | Viewed 1398 times ]

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*Gone, but not forgotten* - Black 2000 SSEi, HIR Headlights, Angel Eyes fogs, 3rd brake light overlay, hi-flo cat, 180 degree thermostat, HS 1.9 rockers, LSx yellow springs, Intense FWI, PCM, shift kit, push rods, and 3.4 Pulley. ZZP Power Log.


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 12:56 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 26, 2008 6:17 pm
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Location: Stayner Ontario, Canada.
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2003 SLE [SOLD]
Found both on the passenger side, but only one on the drivers side. I will take a second look. Is any one of them more prone to giving out than the others?

Thanks.


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 8:27 pm 
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2003 SLE [SOLD]
So there are 4 actuators, two are for the temp control, [one on each side] and a third for the air inlet, and what does the fourth one do?


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 9:24 pm 
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Mode actuator, which directs which vent the air blows from.

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*Gone, but not forgotten* - Black 2000 SSEi, HIR Headlights, Angel Eyes fogs, 3rd brake light overlay, hi-flo cat, 180 degree thermostat, HS 1.9 rockers, LSx yellow springs, Intense FWI, PCM, shift kit, push rods, and 3.4 Pulley. ZZP Power Log.


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 8:56 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 26, 2008 6:17 pm
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Location: Stayner Ontario, Canada.
Year and Trim: 2004 GXP
2003 SLE [SOLD]
I am really starting to HATE this car....

Took it to my local garage today, and they did a scan for me. I'm told all the actuators are working as they should. They seemed to feel that the fan is not blowing as much air as it should, and that the heater core is likely clogged with dust and dirt. I guess the previous owner removed the cabin filter, and never replaced it... :roll:

So.... I decided to try and clean it out. I removed the console, the duct work needed to get at it, [a real pain in the A$$] and I come to discover the heater core is not dirty at all... :banghead:

Now I'm trying to reassemble it, and I can't get the plastic heater cover to go back on properly... Things just don't want to line up...

Like I said, I'm really starting to hate this car... :cussing:


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2018 12:19 am 
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300sflyer wrote:
Something else I should mention too... Not sure if it's related to the heat issue.

Sometimes, there is a noise in the dash. It seems to be coming from behind the glove box. It's kind of a faint rhythmic type noise, like something is cycling on and off repeatedly. No idea what it is....

Thanks again for your help guys!


You're chasing an erratic problem is the issue...

In this post you noted that it makes a noise. My guess is something like a constant "click, click, click" or a "grinding". This is a tell-tale sign of the actuators being the problem. If it's not making noise, it IS in fact working and won't trigger any issues. It just may be in the wrong position hence why you're not getting the heat. But that's why they're walking past it because it isn't acting up when you need it to.

Case in point, in summer, Our Impala did this when you try to go from open air to recirculate and will do it even after shutting the car off for a few minutes. So I replaced it then and just this past summer it'd do it sporadically. SO when it's not making noise, it's functioning properly and won't flag any issue.

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Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck


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 Post subject: Re: Not Enough Heat!
PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 1:49 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 26, 2008 6:17 pm
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Location: Stayner Ontario, Canada.
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2003 SLE [SOLD]
I managed to get it all back together, and it seems to be making decent heat... at least for now. Hasn't made any more noise either... Intermittent problems can be a real pain in the A$$ to find! I do know one thing for sure though... I do not want to be taking it apart again!


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