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Old 12-08-2008, 12:08 AM   #1
Representexas
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Join Date: May 2006
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2018 STI Type RA
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Default Can someone confirm a heater issue please?

It's rarely cold where i reside and tonight i noticed when i started my sti and drove down the street the heater was still not blowing hot air.

I'm talking only about 5 mintues of driving from a cold start with at maybe 30 miles per hour.

I sat at the drive thru and turned the heater on full blast, the thermostat went up to the 3/4 mark then the heater started blasting hot air and after about 45 seconds the thermostat went back to the normal half way mark.

I drive a 05 sti and i checked the coolant in the overflow tank and it was a little low but not empty or anything.

Does your sti/suby's thermostat go up to the 3/4 mark before the hot air kicks in and then it resets to normal? And also do you have to give it a few minutes for the hot air to start blowing in your sti or is it supposed to be hot from a cold start?

Please if anyone could confirm this for me it would give me piece of mind and that way i don't have to take my car to the shop tommorow. Thanks!

Edit: In my paranoia i researched symptoms of blown head gaskets and i can say my oil is not milky, there is no blow back from the coolant overfill, no white smoke or smell of burnt coolant.

Last edited by Representexas; 12-08-2008 at 12:28 AM.
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Old 12-08-2008, 01:36 AM   #2
my scoop eats babies
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Cars don't blow hot air until the engine is warmed up, but the temp gauge should not be passing the halfway mark, ever. Take it in.
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Old 12-08-2008, 06:21 AM   #3
mikeythejew
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All vehicles with a heater core take awhile to get any heat.

But I'm going to disregard what you said and ask if your car has acted this way in the past. You may want to install a new thermostat as it could be sticking. Cheap to replace and could prevent a costly catastrophe. Taking five minutes to get heat is a very good sign your head gasket is OK.

Last edited by mikeythejew; 12-08-2008 at 06:28 AM. Reason: forgot something
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Old 12-08-2008, 08:45 AM   #4
rkramer
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You checked the overflow, but how about the radiator itself? What you describe is exactly the symptoms you see from low coolant.
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Old 12-08-2008, 11:44 AM   #5
Representexas
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i did not check the radiator but i am going to autozone right now to get some coolant...hopefully it's just from having low coolant.
If it doesn't work i will check the thermostat and then go from there....

thanks for the input guys i'll update if i find anything.
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Old 12-08-2008, 04:20 PM   #6
Representexas
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Okay i'm an idiot.

I bought the coolant...came home...filled up the overflow tank....went inside to grab something to eat while the car cooled down.

Went outside to fill up the radiator....and the overflow tank was 1/4 full?

Then i realized the radiator sucked it all up and so i filled both and drove around running errands all day and no problems....the correct answer was low coolant in radiator.

Thanks again!
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Old 12-08-2008, 06:29 PM   #7
yarrgh
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but how did the coolant get OUT of the radiator in the first place?
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Old 12-08-2008, 07:16 PM   #8
Representexas
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i hadn't filled it up or paid much attention to it for a very long while... there is no leaks or strong coolant smells ....i'm assuming it's just bad maintenance on my end.

The radiator looks fine and the tubes look fine....i drive very easy on her and really have only dug into her at 1 auto cross since i haven't had any time this year.

Do you think coolant loss is not normal? Should i still take her to get looked at? i Just don't want to spend money if i don't have to...especially with the holidays and everything.
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Old 12-09-2008, 08:46 AM   #9
rkramer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Representexas View Post
i hadn't filled it up or paid much attention to it for a very long while... there is no leaks or strong coolant smells ....i'm assuming it's just bad maintenance on my end.

The radiator looks fine and the tubes look fine....i drive very easy on her and really have only dug into her at 1 auto cross since i haven't had any time this year.

Do you think coolant loss is not normal? Should i still take her to get looked at? i Just don't want to spend money if i don't have to...especially with the holidays and everything.

VERY little coolant loss is normal, it is a completely sealed system except for the very small amount that can evaporate through the cap in the overflow, which isn't sealed.

Unless you have gone years without ever looking at the overflow, I'd be a little worried about where it went.
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