How Long Does It Take for Your Heater to Blow Warm/Hot Air?

Sorry, if I put this is the wrong section, but it seemed like a "performance" issue I guess...

Now that it is getting colder, I have noticed that my heater takes a long time to blow warm air (if at all). I have a 15 minute drive to work and warm air only comes out if I am accelerating. And when I come to a stop sign and idle, the air actually gets cold. The engine temp gets to midway just a few minutes after driving, but I can't seem to get warm air to blow out. I have the "recirculate" button pressed, which helps some, but that kicks itself off for some reason.

Anyone experience anything like this or have any suggestions to make my Taco into a furnace again?

 

Right now in Texas during the nights it gets around 50, not much but just stating this for comparison reasons. Anyways at night it takes about 15 mins or to really feel "warm and cozy."

My solution: I was thinking about getting a Remote Start for the truck so I can pre-heat the cabin before I climb in. Going to look into it this weekend.

 

Bad thermostat? Sounds like its stuck full on. If its super cold where you are, like below 0 F... sometimes it helps to block off your grill a bit.

Also check your coolant level. My truck gets warm within about 2-3 minutes and hot within about 5

 

^ Just changed it last week, no change in status.

 

You've never put tap water into your radiator before have you? That can also clog the system, particularly the heater core.


No water leaks on the floorboards? All dry?

 

if the temp gauge is normal, don't even consider anything other than heater core or heater control issues.

 

can you expand on that a little bit?

 

Sure, only pointing out that mid range temp readings indicate proper engine temp. Also could indicate enough coolant.

I would look at the temp controller (IE: heater control valve or what ever it has in place). or the vents themselves being blocked somehow, also is the fan blowing properly?

is it possible you are still under warranty?

 

Install a electric radiator fan.

 

I'm sorry but what the heck would that do for him?

 

keep him warm in the garage for a little while

 

Thursday morning it was 27 degrees out and before I started the truck the coolant temp read 35. I turned the dial to full heat.

Idled for one minute before driving, temp passed 80 and climbing.

First stop sign, three quarters of a mile away, 130F and climbing, just starting to get heated air.

Next stop sign was three miles down the road, 186F, highest temp it gets to. Hot air started to cook me out of the truck and I had to turn it down to halfway up the dial.

Having a partial grill block really helps on those cold mornings.

 

An electric fan will only come on after the truck has reached operating engine temperatures. So the car will warm up faster on startup.

although the temps in Phoenix are not that cold, this is how my truck acts too. My heater is plenty warm after the third mile. I dont turn them on untill then because id rather have no air than cold air blowing at my feet.

 

Thursday morning it was 27 degrees out and before I started the truck the coolant temp read 35. I turned the dial to full heat.

Idled for one minute before driving, temp passed 80 and climbing.

First stop sign, three quarters of a mile away, 130F and climbing, just starting to get heated air.

Next stop sign was three miles down the road, 186F, highest temp it gets to. Hot air started to cook me out of the truck and I had to turn it down to halfway up the dial.

Having a partial grill block really helps on those cold mornings.





while that is true to speed up the time needed to get hot, Blowing hot(or not) air is a different issue entirely. his engine is reaching normal temp but he has no hot air blowing inside. Correct?

 

You got it. The engine itself is warmed up by the time I get a mile down the road. Hot air doesn't blow unless I'm giving her a decent amount of gas. And to answer your question from before, the fan is blowing air properly

 

This may sound strange, but I have seen the impeller on the waterpump fail before. If you suggest revving the engine to get some heat to flow from the core, I would think a flow problem exists. Revving the engine only speeds up the water pump. Are you still under warranty?

 

Are the blend doors actuated by vacuum? If so, that could explain the fact that more RPMs gives you more heat... Maybe a cracked vacuum line/regulator???

More vacuum, more heat because the blend door is being held open. At least, it sounds that way to me...

 

Nope, not under warranty

 

.
Even when parked outside in the cold ... mine seems to warms up fast.
.

 

Mine warms up within about 2-3 miles. Actually gets really warm, almost hot within 10 min or so.