I bought a 1996 Chevy S-10 pick-up with a 2001 engine back in March 2012. I believe it is still a 2.2L. It is manual transmission. Every thing worked and runs great. Ok so, while towing a trailer from Florida to Ohio in April 2012 the radiator sprang a leak before the Florida state line. I put in some stop leak and that band-aided the problem but, then the heat stopped working. Fan motor works just blows cold air. Replaced the radiator but heat still blows cold. Checked the thermostat by putting it in a pot of water on the stove and it opened just before the boiling point which was the recommended method by the guy at the auto parts store when I bought the radiator. I don't see any more leaks and the engine stays cool now but, it still blows cold air even after driving it for miles and miles. I tried to disconnect the heater core hoses from the firewall to see if they may be clogged by the stop leak but after loosening the clamps I still cant get the hoses to pull off and I'm scared of causing a bigger problem by forcing it. Does anybody have any other recommended ideas? Could it be that my thermostat isnt working as it should or my water pump isnt allowing it to open or that my truck just isnt getting warm enough now to allow it to open? My temp gage shows about 1/2 way between 100 and 210 when warm which I'm thinking is the normal range. I don't want to have to go out and drop a load of cash on a heater core or something else major if it's something simple and I don't have to. I just don't know where to go from this point. Snow is coming! Should I go ahead and force the hoses off of the firewall to see if they are clogged. It feels like it's circulating because the hoses get warm. Oh also, there is no leak coming in from under the dash. Help please, I am a single mother and on a limited budget. Thank You.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I bought a 1996 Chevy S-10 pick-up with a 2001 engine back in March 2012. I believe it is still a 2.2L. It is manual transmission. Every thing worked and runs great. Ok so, while towing a trailer from Florida to Ohio in April 2012 the radiator sprang a leak before the Florida state line. I put in some stop leak and that band-aided the problem but, then the heat stopped working. Fan motor works just blows cold air. Replaced the radiator but heat still blows cold. Checked the thermostat by putting it in a pot of water on the stove and it opened just before the boiling point which was the recommended method by the guy at the auto parts store when I bought the radiator. I don't see any more leaks and the engine stays cool now but, it still blows cold air even after driving it for miles and miles. I tried to disconnect the heater core hoses from the firewall to see if they may be clogged by the stop leak but after loosening the clamps I still cant get the hoses to pull off and I'm scared of causing a bigger problem by forcing it. Does anybody have any other recommended ideas? Could it be that my thermostat isnt working as it should or my water pump isnt allowing it to open or that my truck just isnt getting warm enough now to allow it to open? My temp gage shows about 1/2 way between 100 and 210 when warm which I'm thinking is the normal range. I don't want to have to go out and drop a load of cash on a heater core or something else major if it's something simple and I don't have to. I just don't know where to go from this point. Snow is coming! Should I go ahead and force the hoses off of the firewall to see if they are clogged. It feels like it's circulating because the hoses get warm. Oh also, there is no leak coming in from under the dash. Help please, I am a single mother and on a limited budget. Thank You.
- Kimberly P., Cincinnati, OH, US