No Heat

[sickcars]

Ok this morning i was awaken by my parents talking. Seems like my moms car has no heat, No air is even coming out of the vents when its turned on. So if there is no air at all then its no something simple like a thermostat.

Any idea what it could be? Maybe the motor for the heater or something? Any idea how much the repair would cost?

Car = 1993 Pontiac Sunfire 125,000-140,000 (something like that not sure did not check) 3.1L Engine.

Thanks for the help

[Mouse]

Could be just the fuse, but they generally blow for a reason.

[Dr.Dan]

9 times out of 10 it's the blower resistors that go (that's what gives you the different fan speeds).
They are located close to the fan motor... under the hood; on the left side of the firewall..

[sickcars]

Ok i talked to my mom and apparently while driving to work this morning it started to work again. Hopefully that gives you an idea of what the problem could be.

Thanks

[Dr.Dan]

No, actually it doesn't...

It can be anything from a loose connection, to the blower resistors, to Ice jamming the fan motor... :rrg:

[Mouse]

Yes, when all else fails, jiggle that switch-thingy. :)

[Lesster]

When a blower motor is about to permanently fail they will sometimes stop intermittently but restart if you thump the actual blower motor (which powers the fan for the heater). Going over a bump might restart it also. A loose connection could have the same effect.

Just some info for you. Don't know the exact labour or parts prices for that make & model.

[Mr. Apollo]

Hopefully it's not your heater core.

Also, are you sure about that milage? Even if it has 140,000 km on it that's only like 12,000 km a year.

[Dr.Dan]

Hopefully it's not your heater core. A heater core isn't going stop the fan from blowing air ;)


Also, are you sure about that milage? Even if it has 140,000 km on it that's only like 12,000 km a year.
Nothing unusual about that... just lower than average.
My 91 truck has 158,000Km on it.... The car I sold this year, also a 91, has 50,800Km :d

[Mr. Apollo]

A heater core isn't going stop the fan from blowing air ;)


Nothing unusual about that... just lower than average.
My 91 truck has 158,000Km on it.... The car I sold this year, also a 91, has 50,800Km :d
D'oh! I just saw that "no heat" bit missed the part about no air coming out too. That 91 with 50,800, did the odometer roll over or something? Was it a farm vehicle or something?

[sickcars]

Hopefully it's not your heater core.

Also, are you sure about that milage? Even if it has 140,000 km on it that's only like 12,000 km a year.


Not sure on the milage i could be wrong, since my mom leaves early in the morning and usually comes late I have not actually gone out and checked. They will probably have it checked this weekend or something. Just that with all the snow that we are getting she has to drive the car since our Van will probably get stuck or something lol

Thanks

[Ken_ver_1_5]

this may be of some help.

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/1890/91sunbirdheatkver7ui.th.jpg (http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?image=91sunbirdheatkver7ui.jpg)

[Dr.Dan]

Hey, that's great Ken... you scanned a page from your book :)

Can you find one that shows the blower motor resistors too?

[sickcars]

Nice thanks, i'll see if i can find it when my mom gets home with the car.

Thanks

[Rustynut]

Ok, just one thing to add, if that blower motor actually does work and you still get no air, you may have a clogged filter for the heater intake ( Ford's better idea ) since it's a Sunfire I don't think that this would apply. Just mentioned it for those that have models with that filter system as part of the air intake system.

[Dr.Dan]

A 93 Sunbird doesn't have an air intake filter... not even as an option.

It's pretty much the same as your old Cavilier ;)

[Rustynut]

A 93 Sunbird doesn't have an air intake filter... not even as an option.

It's pretty much the same as your old Cavilier ;)
Yep, I was pretty sure that this wasn't and option on the Sunny bird especially back that far.
Just thought it good to inform those that may have the filter system in their vehicles that this too is a cause of no heat.
The filters only last about a year depending on the amount of driving you do.
We do roughly 25k/yr and the filter lasts about 2 years. But then it is black and clogged.

[Dr.Dan]

If you don't care about it being filtered, just leave it out...
Or in the case of some of them that it needs to be in there; remove the filter area leaving the frame and install that.

Most people don't need to have one... it reduces airflow, and it's just another expense.

[MSE OP]

I once had no heat in my old 1990 Buick LeSabre, cause was clogged vents, used a air hose to blow out the junk and it was as good as new.

[Ken_ver_1_5]

the resisters should be in the fan cover or so it said.