Chrysler Repair: 99 Sebring Convertible-Heating, heater hoses, intake plenum

Question
V-6, I have very little heat.  My heat fan controller now only works on high and the heated air, cools off on high.  We are changing the heat (or fan) resister.  Where is it located (under the hood or under the dash)?  Any help?
My son is trying to replace it.  Any other thoughts about the lack of heat?

Thanks,  

Answer
Hi Mike,
The resistor block is usually mounted high in the firewall on the passenger side so the resistors are actually projecting into the external air intake plenum just in front of the windshield. You may see them if you look inside the grating that keeps the leaves from intering the air intake perhaps using a flashlight. Now as my 'bio' states, I'm not familiar with the post-'95 models like the Sebring, but I base this suggestion on where Chrysler traditionally put the resistor block. It may well be that the block has to be removed from the inside in which case you typically have to remove the glove box to get at the screws that hold it in place. So once you find it in the plenum, look to see if there are any screwheads to allow removal from the plenum side. If not, then you just need to get to the same area from inside the car.
On the heat issue, I would suggest that you remove the hoses from the heater by-pass valve (also under the hood), just trace the heater hoses from the firewall forward to the valve. Then once the hoses are off, take a garden hose and flush the heater core in both directions. Also examine the heater by-pass valve which is only supposed to be open when you are running set on "max A/C" so as to not add the heater core to the cooling load. But in anyother position that valve is supposed to be closed. I believe that it is operated by a vacuum line from the heater control panel. So observe for any external motion of the valve to verify that it is not stuck open and thus by-passing the warm water away from the core even though you have it set for heat. See if both the heater lines are warm when you are trying to get heat. If one is cold, then either the by-pass is open or the core is clogged.
Roland