Heater doesn't work while idle
 

Sorry if this is the wrong section to post in, didn't see a better one :dunno:

Anyways, 03 coupe: the heat blasts out the fires of hell while the car is moving over 35 but anything slower, or while idling at a light, the temperature drops significantly. Not quite outside temperature, but close. I normally just put it on Auto Econ then cut off the A/C and crank up the temp to 90.

Not sure what it could be...any thoughts?

Thanks :)

how cold is it outside

20's-30's at night and in the mornings, 40's mid-day.

It's probably the case of engine not being able to generate enough heat to counteract the low temperatures outside the car. This is normal (speaking from experience this morning in my G, and in my RSX in the past). You just gotta drive it.

same problem with my car.. today was like 30F and idling is cold as ****... but when im moving 25++ heat works well

FUnny cuz my 1997 beat up dodge neon heat works very well in idle, actually too hot.. How can a V6 280HP not generate enough heat as a V4 130HP?

yea, I have to roll down the windows in my 99 sunfire with a 4 banger because it puts out so much heat, no matter if i'm sitting idle or on the highway.

seems like it would be something more than just the engine not putting out enough heat. the temp gauge sits dead center between H and C, and that's at least 100F.

i asked stealership they said its normal.. Please let me know if you find out whats wrong.. I want to know too

The air is heated by your engine coolant.. so the hotter the engine temp is the hotter the air will come out.. So at an idle the heater isnt going to belowing too well especially on a cold start.... You can have your engine warm up slightly faster by keeping the heater OFF until it warms up..

- Eric

It's not so much an issue of the engine warming up, since it still happens no matter how long I've been driving. My coolant levels are fine, too...checked last night.

The heater should be hot no matter the speed of the engine. The thermostat is more than likely bad. I've done two thermostats in G's in the past week

+1 i would also think that the thermostat is going bad..

thermostat opens up coolant to the engine block..

theres another valve that lets coolant run through the heater core

- Eric

hmm so i tell my dealership thrmostat is bad???

i told them about the problem they said "its normal", but then again with them everything is normal including all my rattles and my 13mpg highway

A/C on lowest setting has to go down to a certain degree and heater needs to heat up to a certain degree.. anything less then that its considered a problem.

Try this.. tell your dealer that heater isnt as hot as before (when vehicle was first bought)... If not then ask the dealer how cool your a/c should be and how hot your heater should be then measure it yourself using a cooking thermometer..

BTW THERMOSTAT OPENS COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE!! If it is faulty you'll either have a hard time getting your engine to running temp in the mornings or be overheating

I'm highly suspect of the thermostat. After parking my car today, I was about to turn it off when I noticed the temperature gauge was uncomfortably close to the H. Only happened that once, but the heater has steadily been getting worse.

I'll replace the it and let you know what happens.