I'm having trouble with my 1998 Accent (2dr) heater. The **** for the heater switch is broken off, and all that remains is a metal rod sticking out a little bit. I've set this metal rod to the hot position (by pulling a grey lever type thing under the dash (above the pedals, to the left hand side) and tried running full blast, however there is still no hot air. I'm wondering has anybody any ideas as to what the problem may be? Another forum suggested I try see if the heater core is getting hot, however I have no idea how I'd go about locating the heater core!
Any suggestions on how I'd solve this problem without going to a garage (can't afford it at the moment) would be much appreciated!
Thanks

 

Cian,
First off is your temperture guage running higher than normal?? If so, it may be your thermostat. If the temp guage is running normal, you very well may have a plugged up heater core. Sometimes a good flushing of the radiator system may clear it or you may want to diconnect the hoses to the core and try blowing it clear with compressed air. It's just a process of elimination.
Good Luck,
Brant

 

The heater core should be a big box behind the dash somewhere. Most likely on the passengers' or in the center areas of the dash. Basically should be a black plastic box. Hopefully this help you out.

 

those little plastic bastards in the dash are chinsy. The problem could be much simpler, their are two metal hooks on each one of those plastic sliders, if one of those slipped off then the slider will move, but not work. I would check it out if I were you.

 

Thanks for the replies everybody!
Brant - the temp. gauge runs at about one notch up along the scale, never struck me as too high... I might try and find somebody who knows what they're doing to flush the radiator, or blow through the heater core.

Sanguinius - Thanks for that, do I have to dismantle the dash to get at it or should I be able to see it under the bonnet...? Any easy way, or does the whole thing have to come off?

poacher - Checked that - thanks, but both the hooks are in place!

 

Ah hah - I found the "big black box" - the heater core. The heater core is getting hot, I can feel the drivers side of the box is quite hot, and the passengers side is warm. (This is a RHD car).
On the drivers side I see where the air mix rod and the temp. rod go into the heater, and they are all functioning fine. The heater core is getting hot, so at least that's something - but this hot air isn't coming out the vents, the air coming out the vents is cold. So - would I be right in assuming something, somewhere is clogged?
I see somebody suggested blowing compressed air into the heater core - if the heater core is getting hot, should I still try this method? If so, how do I blow hot air inside -do I have to disasemble the dash to gain access to the heater core?
I've also noticed on the passenger side there is a vent coming out of the heater core which is quite large, I'm guessing this may be the blower motor...? Maybe I'm wrong, just a guess -but this section of the pipe is cold.
Any ideas on where the problem is, and how would I pump some compressed air into the heater core?
Also - compressed air... I have compressed air for cleaning cameras (and PC's), however the flow is pityful - where can I get sufficient flow - would a garages tyre air hose do? I'm sure they won't appreciate me using it for this purpose, but "tough sh*t paddy".
Thanks for all the help, and any further assistance would be great - I'm a student and I can't afford to pay somebody to fix this.