Q: While idling, the vehicle does not blow any hot air until the vehicle is moving.
If you start the vehicle to warm prior to driving, the vehicle will blow air until you start moving. If you come to a stop the vehicle will blow cold air again. I am thinking that it may the thermostat, what else should I consider?
My car has 96000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Recommended Services
| Heater is not working Inspection | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
This may suggest the thermostat is not opening and closing at the correct temperatures causing warm coolant to flow through the heater core. If this is the case, however you may also notice a fluctuation in engine temperature as well which as you know, may also cause overheating. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your heating system.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
Humming sound when car is running
Hey there. A humming sound is a common noise made by bad wheel bearings or defective tires. A wheel bearing plays a huge role in the safety and stability of a vehicle. Being that they are such crucial components, I...
No acceleration
If this started happening right after being jumped then there may be an electrical problem. If the battery cables were hooked up backwards at any point then it may have blown a fuse (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuse-replacement). A mechanic would usually start by...
The bolt on my headlight is stripped and I can't remove it
Hello. This happens a lot if you live in climates with a lot of moist weather. In order to remove it (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-replace-a-headlight-that-has-burned-out), the bolt must be drilled out and extracted using an extraction bit. Once it is removed, the bolt...
Check engine light on, D blinks
The Check Engine Light is detecting a fault with a system. The D light is representing at fault with your transmission. You possibly damaged some wiring when you drove over the curb creating this fault. The transmission will default if...
Car will start and not start
I have seen may of these engines distributors get oil inside of them from leaking seals and this will cause failure of the crankshaft (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/crankshaft-position-sensor-replacement) and camshaft sensors (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/camshaft-position-sensor-replacement) inside of the distributor. The distributor should be inspected to check...
Possible problem with alternator
Hello. You are correct, the next step is to remove and test, or just go ahead and replace the alternator. Replacement aftermarket alternators for the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am cover years 2000-2003. So reasonably you can conclude that the alternator...
whats the difference between an upstream front and a upstream rear?
Hi there - your understanding and terminology oxygen sensors (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-oxygen-sensor) - "upstream" and "downstream" are correct - upstream is between the engine and (before) the catalytic converter. Downstream is after the catalytic converter. I would be suspicious enough of a...
Running lean on bank 2
Hello and thanks for writing in. Code P0174 relates to a lean fuel condition which is typically caused by a faulty mass air flow sensor or potentially a vacuum leak beyond the mass air flow sensor causing the reading of...
Will a k&d filter help improve the performance of my vw Jetta?
Hi there. If you're referring to a K & N Filter - I am a huge fan of their products. The team at K & N understands today's modern technology and creates air filtration products that comply with factory settings,...
Related articles
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan
When When you were a kid, almost every family you knew had a Dodge Grand Caravan. However, thanks to the rise of SUVs, CUVs (crossover utility vehicles), and sport wagons, this model has lost a lot of ground over the...
2012 Ford Mustang vs. 2012 Dodge Charger: Which One Should I Buy?
Technically these two vehicles have wildly different classifications: compact for the Ford Mustang and large car for the Dodge Charger. However, who would consider either one anything other than a muscle car? These cars are meant for speed, fun, and...
How Long Does a Heater Hose Last?
The The engine of your car produces a lot of heat. Making sure that the heat that the engine produces does not affect its overall level of functionality is the job of the heater hoses. As the coolant in the...
Browse other content
Maintenance
Cities