No HEAT

[tedhontz]

Help!! Im FREEZING!! Driving a 95 Aurora with Leather, no heated seats, in the middle of Indiana at less than 20 degrees is not fun.

My car all the sudden has no heat. The blower is blowing just fine. Temp is set at 90 and turned to high. I replaced the thermostat but that didn't help.

I figured maybe the heater core, but i haven't seen any leaks and my windows haven't fogged up on me. Any help??

Im also experiencing my low oil pressure readout dinging at every stop light until i accelerate again. Don't know if this is related or not.

I'd appreciate any suggestions of other things to check for.

[skeeter]

what is your engine temp? if it is normal you may have a clogged heater core. to check this feel the two heater hoses to see if they are equal in temp. if one is hot and one is not that is your problem.. skeeter

[SupaStealth]

yeah, if it's overheating (even just a bit), also are you leaking any antifreeze, or can you smell it?, it could be a number of things waterpump, radiator, hoses, or possibly blown head gasket (very unlikely though)

otherwise if the temp isn't above normal, i agree with the post above.

[tedhontz]

thanks for the input so far. im going outside right now to check. I will post back later.

[Zipzag]

Chances are its your control modual, you better have it looked at.

[Isnibs]

Wot everybody else said, or

This info is for the 96 so may be a bit different for your 95

If the two heater hoses are equal in temp as per skeeter's directions.

When the engine is at operating temp push the 'auto-push knob' and turn it to the upper level. If you get heat then your blend box may not be working.

blend box
Next to the drivers right foot is a kick panel near the floor. Inside are three motors that open and close doors to direct the heat. Chances are that one is a goner.

If you get no heat in the upper level as well.

Then check behind the instrument panel, mounted to the HVAC module are Actuators that control heat and A/C flow doors. I have no idea how you do this on a 95.
On the 96 you disconnect the SIR and remove lotsa stuff to get to it. After replacing the actuator it has to be recalibrated for proper travel..

[tedhontz]

both hoses seem to be hot, but not a ton of flow going through them. im thinking the water heater is shot. Im also thinking the oil pump is bad too. I changed oil 2 months ago. I checked dipstick tonight and it was bone dry. I added oil in it and still had no oil pressure unless i hit the accelerator. The car has always smelled of oil. It even stinks inside now like burned oil. At this point there could be so much wrong that im just gonna take it to GM for an estimate and go from there.

[scottydl]

Check your coolant level too... my heater quit working in my old car and a mechanic suggested I check my coolant. Lo and behold it was low... I topped it off and the piping hot air returned. If your Aurora's coolant sensor is shot (or maybe 95 didn't have that feature?), you might not even realize it's low. Good luck!

[Custom88]

has the climate control display been flashing at all? If so the system has detected a problem. in your case if it is on, is a bad air door mix actuator.

[tedhontz]

nothing has been flashing, just low oil pressure, which i am thinking has nothing to do with the heat problem.

[Zipzag]

Oh crap i hope u dont have any cracked water jackets, check the oil see if theres any coolant in it.

[tedhontz]

yep, theres coolant in it.

[JimW]

Well Ted, you better get that fixed right away, coolant and oil mixing is bad...results in hydrolock...get it serviced ASAP.

[Custom88]

JimW said:

Well Ted, you better get that fixed right away, coolant and oil mixing is bad...results in hydrolock...get it serviced ASAP.

Just a little correction here. Coolant leaking into the cylinders causes hydrolock because water does not compress. If you try to start the engine with coolant in the cylinders the rod for the affected cylinder could easily be bent from the power of the starter motor.

-- Coolant leaking into the engine oil will cause a spun bearing because the coolant displaces the oil. Coolant does not lubricate anywhere near what oil does (virtually none at all. just about as much as water.) The coolant also eats away at the internals in the bottom half of the engine.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but when your oil pressure drops like that and your coolant is already confirmed to be in your engine it is too late. One of the bearings is already going. At this point I would not drive the car AT ALL. Get it towed to a mechanic ASAP to prevent any further damage.

[OldsMike]

Custom88 said:

Coolant leaking into the cylinders causes hydrolock because water does not compress.

I thought that should bear repeating. Water does not compress!!!

If the coolant is coming in off of the top of the head, it can fill up the combustion area. When the piston comes up, the intake and exhaust valves are closed, the water is trapped and then all $@!# breaks loose. Cranks bend/break, rods bend/break, main caps walk/bend/break, piston bends/breaks, valves bend/break. It can be a terrible mess

I agree, if you have coolant in the oil and you can't verify how it got there, do not start the motor. Take it to a mechanic to sort it out. Removing the spark plugs will prevent the hydro-lock but if you know that water is in the cylinder, it is better to take the heads off and clean manually.

[stevensolds]

Omfg, thats a worst nightmare and i can not even imagine. I wouldnt want that to happen to any of us. one of your bearings is probably already shot and is gonna throw it soon man. get it fixed!!!

i hope it goes well

[Zipzag]

Hey dont make it sound as if all is lost, chances are it all in your head { i had to say it,lol } or heads. i bet your block is fine or else some of your cyl. would have shut down.

And ill BET a 100 dollar donation oil doesnt compress either.