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No heater after flushing cooling system?

Discussion in 'VT - VX Holden Commodore (1997 - 2002)' started by Salada, Jan 26, 2014.

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  1. Jan 26, 2014 #1
    Salada

    Salada Member

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    Hey guys, i recently flushed the system by just undoing the 2 main hoses and flushing the radiator, and then running the engine for a few minutes with the heater on while i had a garden hose where the thermostat goes and the bottom hose undone. Put everything back and filled it up then started the car. Now it all runs fine but there's no heat just cold air coming through, I've let it warm up and there's no difference. Have i broken something? I know that's probably not the correct way to flush it.
     
    Salada, Jan 26, 2014
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  2. Jan 26, 2014 #2
    galahs

    galahs Member

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    My first guess is you have a large air bubble in your system. If this is the case its bad and may explode something in your cooling system. I wouldn't be driving the car until you sort this out.

    V6 or V8???

    V8 should be self bleeding into the overflow bottle. Could be a blocked coolant line that runs to the overflow bottle.

    V6, you need to make sure you fill up the cooling system from the hose that goes from the radiator to the top of the engine.
    Disconnect the hose from the engine ( at the thermastat). Lift it high in the air and fill the radiator with coolant until water runs from the thermastat. Reconnect and tighten hose.
    Now run car until warm and thermastat opens (radiator hose gets hot), and carefully turn the little brass screw on the thermastat to bleed off any trapped air in the system.
    Top up system as full as you can get through the radiator cap.
     
    galahs, Jan 26, 2014
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  3. Jan 26, 2014 #3
    Salada

    Salada Member

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    Yeah it's a v6, haven't really driven it, only got it up to operating temp a few times to test it. alrighty I'll start that right now and let you know, appreciate it :)
     
    Salada, Jan 26, 2014
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  4. Jan 26, 2014 #4
    Salada

    Salada Member

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    All done and still no luck, when running and bleeding it obviously I've gotta put the cap back on and then let it cool before topping it up?
     
    Salada, Jan 26, 2014
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  5. Jan 26, 2014 #5
    JMP

    JMP Well-Known Member

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    did you use the bleeder on top of the thermostat?
     
    JMP, Jan 26, 2014
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  6. Jan 26, 2014 #6
    Salada

    Salada Member

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    Yep I turned it like half/full turn and it started bubbling out water so I assume it's bled? Or am I wrong?
     
    Salada, Jan 26, 2014
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  7. Jan 26, 2014 #7
    JMP

    JMP Well-Known Member

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    Not sure about this one but perhaps the heater tap?
     
    JMP, Jan 26, 2014
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  8. Jan 26, 2014 #8
    dope505069

    dope505069 New Member

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    Did you bleed whilst the heater was on?
     
    dope505069, Jan 26, 2014
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  9. Jan 27, 2014 #9
    Salada

    Salada Member

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    I can see the tap opening and closing when changing hot-cold and the heater hoses in the bay are warm, not sure if I bled it on. I'll give it another shot I guess
     
    Salada, Jan 27, 2014
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  10. Jan 27, 2014 #10
    lowandslow

    lowandslow Well-Known Member

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    Go for a drive with the heater on full to get the car hot then re-bleed.
     
    lowandslow, Jan 27, 2014
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  11. Jan 27, 2014 #11
    Salada

    Salada Member

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    Drove the car and got it hot and re-bled it multiple times and then topped it up and still no heat. Pretty sure all the air is out, might just take it to a shop unless anyone's got an idea? The heater was working fine when I put in the flush and idled it for 20 minutes :/

    On a side note, am I meant to fill the overflow bottle?
     
    Salada, Jan 27, 2014
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  12. Jan 27, 2014 #12
    Sabbath'

    Sabbath' Redblock Jesus

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    What made you do the flush in the first place?

    What sort of condition is the water pump in? If the water pump isnt circulating the coolant properly, then you're not going to get a properly bled system. I cant remember if you've said this already or not, but is the bottom hose getting hot?
     
    Sabbath', Jan 27, 2014
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  13. Jan 27, 2014 #13
    Salada

    Salada Member

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    Was flushed by the mechanic about 12 months ago, since then it started building up oil in the system I got the inlet manifold gasket replaced on Friday and thought it would be a good idea for an oil change/coolant flush. Yeah the bottom hose gets hot, takes slightly longer though. I noticed the cap doesn't get extremely hot though?

    And I assume the water pump is fine? I haven't had a single issue since I bought it over a year ago, apart from the oil in the coolant thing
     
    Salada, Jan 27, 2014
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  14. Jan 27, 2014 #14
    Tasmaniak

    Tasmaniak Not a valid input....

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    bottom hose hot but top isn't? Big arse blockage, fair chance an air bubble.
     
    Tasmaniak, Jan 27, 2014
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  15. Jan 27, 2014 #15
    Salada

    Salada Member

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    Nope, all hoses are hot. If I try flushing out the heating system does the engine have to be running? I was thinking undoing one of the heater hoses and running water down the radiator with my hand covering the block inlet where I remove the heater hose if that makes sense?
     
    Salada, Jan 27, 2014
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  16. Jan 27, 2014 #16
    Sabbath'

    Sabbath' Redblock Jesus

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    When you say hot, is it at the point where it's uncomfortable to grab and hold it? Anything below this point usually isnt hot enough
     
    Sabbath', Jan 27, 2014
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  17. Jan 27, 2014 #17
    Salada

    Salada Member

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    Yeah both top and bottom are burning hot, the 2 heater hoses coming out of the block are burning hot aswell, the 2 AFTER the heater tap only get mild warm, so I took one of them off flushed water through the tap, clean water came rushing out, so it is circulating through the tap all the way through the heater and back out perfectly fine. Are they ment to get burning hot like the others? I'm so lost haha.
     
    Salada, Jan 27, 2014
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  18. Jan 28, 2014 #18
    Salada

    Salada Member

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    Here's a video of the bleeder screw open when the car's hot, does this mean there's still air in the system? I let this go for a while and nothing really changed
    Heater - YouTube
     
    Salada, Jan 28, 2014
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  19. Jan 28, 2014 #19
    lowandslow

    lowandslow Well-Known Member

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    That is bulk air. Keep it going until it's a solid stream of water.
     
    lowandslow, Jan 28, 2014
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  20. Jan 28, 2014 #20
    Tasmaniak

    Tasmaniak Not a valid input....

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    You gotsa huge arse bubble my homie! Start it up with a jug of coolant ready, crack that bleeder and let it run until it's a solid stream of water.
     
    Tasmaniak, Jan 28, 2014
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