QuestionQUESTION: I have an old service manual that covers more or the samurai than the tracker/sidekick and I cant find info on the location of heater control valve. Currently I am having a low heat problem(passanger compartment) and the toubleshooting guide suggests a stuck closed thermostat (no) low coolant (no) or a bad heat control valve. I know i may have gunked up my radiator and heater core a bit using some stop leak stuff, but I didnt use that much. Any suggestions or can you send me a link to a site where I can find a good engine diagram.
ANSWER: The heater hoses are a little larger (maybe 50% larger) than your thumb, and go from the engine to the firewall (bulkhead) between the engine and passenger compartments. If there is a coolant valve, it will be on those hoses, if not, you will have a "blend door" kind of heater system that mixes a varying amount of fresh air with air that has passed over the heater core and been heated.
In reality, a stuck OPEN thermostat could cause poor heater performance, but would be noticeable because the engine would not get to normal operating temp, especially when running a light throttle loads.
I do not know of a site that has a suzuki heater diagram. That stop leak stuff could have plugged the passages in the heater core, It should NEVER, EVER be used for any reason whatever, the leaking part should be repaired or replaced, and now you may have just found out why......
scotty
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: would a stuck open thermo be an indication of the engine taking a long time to get to normal temp or just short of the normal temp reading on the gauge? is there a way to increase cabin temp for winter months?
ANSWER: A stuck open thermostat would make the engine much slower to reach operating temp, especially when it's still cold in the morning, or going downhill (at least a one mile hill).
You can get a higher temp thermostat for winter, and it will increase heater output. (after all the coolant from which the heat is transferred to the air is hotter)
scotty
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Can you tell by looking at the thermostat if its stuck open or is there a way to test it?
AnswerSometimes it's visually obvious that a thermostat is stuck open, sometimes it just opens sooner than it should (at a lower temperature) Replacement is cheap and easy, and less trouble than most of the diagnostic steps, and don't require additional equipment like an infra-red thermometer, etc. Make certain that the antifreeze is a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water, and never more than 60% antifreeze, higher concentrations have less heat carrying capacity, and are mildly corrosive, in addition to having the tendency to exacerbate overheating.
scotty
