ugod02010

Hi guys I guess this is a good spot for the thread. I have a 95 Firebird Formula
5.7LT1 Automatic. Runs good doesn't overheat or anything but the low coolant light is on but just barely, and my heat sucks terribly it gets lukewarm but thats about it. I live in PA in the mountains so this is quite shitty. hell i went for about a half hour ride and i still had Frost on the window!! Also I turn on the Rear Defrost and it either does nothing or comes on for about 30 sec and shuts back off? WTF

djjab57

iTrader: (17)

Low coolant light is a common problem, just the sensor on the radiator. I would try to flush the heater core or just replace it. Some people just flush and it can may work but these cars are getting up there in age so replacing it would probably be best

02v8ta

iTrader: (8)

+your heater core is clogged. I don't know of many who actually have the heat flush work on old stock heater cores. They are almost always to far gone.

The flush worked on my car for a day. Another member recently had the same experience on here. Best thing would be to just replace it now and only dig into it once.

If your coolant is topped off properly you can ignore the light or unplug the sensor. Don't think I've had a f body with one plugged in

ugod02010

yeah i was thinkin prob heater core. the one hose closer to the engine is hot hot but the other is only barely warm. I thought maybe the light had something to do with it.
I changed one out on my 86 and it was a super pain in the ***. how bad are they in the newer ones?

SilverSS07

iTrader: (1)

Replacing the heater core isn't bad. Don't have to pull the dash . You can get to it after removing the glove box.

djjab57

iTrader: (17)

Yeah remove the glove box and laying on your back is the worst of it, but pretty easy over all

ugod02010

That's what I was worried about my 86 I had to pop most of the dash off well as much as I could and try and get my arm way up in there. Really sucked to say the least

great421

iTrader: (1)

Don't yank that dash just yet - Try this first:

Disconnect your two coolant hoses that enter and exit the H/Core, use a funnel attached to one of the hoses, and fill the H/Core with radiator flush - undiluted. Let it stand for an hour in the core, then flush it out with H20 - it worked for me!

Good luck!

ugod02010

might be worth trying since i am a little tight right now. would a 96 camaro v6 heater core be the same part. I am not running the camaro now. and i no the heat works awesome in that. Checked autozones website and its showing same part number. Just seeing if anyone has actually tried this

shbox

Flushing the core fixes 99% of no heat complaints. The heater core is the same for all models 93-02.

8595transam

iTrader: (6)

Your rear defrost problem is the fuse/relay in the fuse box by the driver door.

ugod02010

ok so i started to get all the air out of the lines. figured i would start here. I was opening and closing the bleeder on the thermostat housing and the one on the heater hose. also popped the cap off a few times. I think i may have got the distributor wet b/c the next morning i stopped to get gas and on the way home after fueling up i have a really bad misfire/pop. I put some dry gas in the car and put more gas from a different station as well as some octane booster. It kinda seemed to help.. but i still have a msis. I looked under the car and it seems to be a bit wet around the distributor. could I have screwed up the optispark or u think it may just be bad gas!?

ThoR294

iTrader: (6)

Heat sucks in my car, its warm but not heat. I'm going to try this. Love your site shbox

+1 to the rear defroster relay

95blackZ

I have had the exact same two problems in my camaro. I tried to flush the heater core awhile back and it worked for about a day...

Good to know about the relay for the defroster though. I wondered why that kept switching off...

ugod02010

just be careful guys not sure if I trashed my opti or not yet but make sure u have some rags under the bleeder screws.! Or something to catch all the antifreeze

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

When is the last time you changed the coolant or flushed the entire system?
Make sure you don't have a stuck open t-stat. That will cause low heat.

Jr.Samples

I tried blasting mine with water. It lasted a day then I got creative and poured some of that CLR in it and let it soakin the core for a couple hours. It lasted for a two days. I changed the core.

ugod02010

thats where i am heading next. I burped the entire system and its a bit warmer but i really think the core needs changed. so pick up the heater core and the rear defog relay. soon