Heating & Starting Issues Options

[6GenCircleLghts]

So everyday it's been gettin' colder outside. And unless I'm driving my car for an hour at 85 mph, I have no heat. My temp gauge says it's always cold, not below the line, but like right above it, like a millimeter. But after driving for a while and I sit somewhere the gauge goes up to the middle and there is hot air and warms up inside the car fairly quickly. So I would like to know why is my car not producing heat while I am driving, and if there is anything I can do to fix it.

And another thing, my starter/solenoid went out so I replaced it. Worked fine up until like 3 weeks ago, when I go and try to start it, it doesn't start right up, but I don't have to try it more than once. I just turn the key and hold it for about 5 seconds and it starts, what could be the problem there?

This post has been edited by 6GenCircleLghts: Dec 9, 2008 - 4:55 AM

[azian_advanced]

after driving for at least 10 mins at 85 mph, you should at least have a good amount of heat from your heater. i'm guessing you have a sticky thermostat and it is getting stuck intermittently. i had a somewhat similar issue and replaced my thermostat. i also did a complete coolant flush and flushed out the heater core lines as well in case there was any deposit that is restricting coolant flow. i had a non-oem thermostat and i'm sure that was the problem so i went with all oem parts and everything is fine for me now.

[jason]

hey there! im not too far from you!

i go from reading down to blue bell and i dont have much of anything to speak of for heat. i think its just the climate type stuff but who knows.

my solution:

put a piece of cardboard covering the bottom half of the radiator (infront of it to block wind etc.)

car has heat after about 5 minutes or less and the temp gauge stays around the C while driving, and in traffic does not go higher than halfway.


i think the reason for this is the damp cold around here. its like its always raining, but its not and im sure that does wonders for our cars (like clutchs etc till the moisture is "burnt" off)