No Heat...hope it's it not a major job!

[weilertool]

I have a 1997 F150...I turned my heater on yesterday, and it blew cold air...engiine temp was fine, but no hot air...not even out of the defrosters...cold air. Any ideas on where to start?? Thank you in advance!!

 

[Blue Goose]

Do both hoses that go to the heater feel warm/hot?

 

[weilertool]

Haven't checked yet...but thats a starting place...and I'll head there first!!

 

[Blue Goose]

Well, if they're both warm, the coolant is circulating and that leaves the blend door which is nothing but a gate that (depending on the control settings, temp/AC/Heat) directs which way the airflow travels. It may be a vacuum problem (leak) or something similar.

 

[weilertool]

Makes sense! Thanks for pointing me in a direction!!

 

[weilertool]

I checked the hoses...they were hot. I noticed that when I turn the temp setting to cold, the air blowing out of the vent is very forceful...but when I switch it to the hot, it cuts the airflow in half. I got it to come out luke warm...but not blowing warm air...I took the cover off, and I see the actuator...there is a plug to it from a wire harness...I can hear it turning, but the air doesn't get hot, just luke warm. Any thoughts?? Thank you again for your help!!

 

[lil_dq]

One of your hoses should be noticably hotter than the other one. If they both feel about the same, you may back to back flush the heater core as it may be clogged partially.

 

[blacksnapon]

The blend door can get stripped internally where the actuator goes into the door. That will cause incomplete opening/closing of the door. We've been replacing a few of the plenum boxes because of that (the doors aren't serviced separately). Make sure that the actuator isn't making a "clicking" noise, that can mean a stripped gear internally in the actuator itself.

 

[weilertool]

lil_dq...the one hose is hotter then the other, noticed that last night when I checked it. blacksnapon...I don't hear a clicking noise....I just hear the gear moving, like a very faint "whir" noise...but like I said, the air flow on the hot setting is half of the airflow on the cold setting.

 

[weilertool]

Is it hard to get the plenum box out?

 

[blacksnapon]

Is it hard to get the plenum box out?

The entire dash must be moved out of the way to get it out. I'll see if I can find step by step instructions.

 

[weilertool]

I was hoping you weren't gonna say that...

But thank you for the help!!

 

[lil_dq]

yep you are about to embark on a journey of one of the worst things you could do to these trucks!

Not to make it sound bad or anything! LOL

 

[weilertool]

LOL!! Gee thanks for the boost of confidence!!

 

[blacksnapon]

Instrument Panel

Removal

WARNING: TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE INJURY, THE BACKUP POWER SUPPLY MUST BE DEPLETED BEFORE SERVICING OR REPLACING ANY AIR BAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS. TO DEPLETE THE BACKUP POWER SUPPLY ENERGY, DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STARTER RELAY CABLE AND WAIT ONE MINUTE.

Remove the battery cables.
Remove the battery ground cable .
Remove the battery to starter relay cable and wait one minute for the backup power supply to be depleted.

NOTE: On vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, move the shift lever to the 1 position to ease removal.

Carefully pry to release the (A) four clips and remove the (B) steering column opening cover.

Position the electrical connector aside.
Release the push clip from the lower instrument panel steering column cover.

Pull to release the three (A) clips and remove the (B) fuse door.

Position the hood latch release handle aside.
Remove the two hood latch release handle screws.
Remove the hood latch release handle.

Position the parking brake release handle aside.
Remove the two parking brake release handle screws.
Remove the parking brake release handle.

Remove the instrument panel floor duct panel.
Remove two push clips and release one expander clip.

Remove the lower instrument panel steering column cover .
Remove the six lower instrument panel steering column cover bolts.
Remove the lower instrument panel steering column cover .

Remove the LH and RH scuff plates.

Remove the LH and RH cowl side trim panels.

Disconnect the brake on/off (BOO) switch electrical connector.

Remove the (A) radio ground and the (B) GEM/CTM ground.

Disconnect the three instrument panel main harness connectors.

Remove the bulkhead wiring harness from inside the engine compartment.
Loosen the three bulkhead wiring harness electrical connector bolts.
Disconnect the three bulkhead electrical connectors.

Pull the bulkhead electrical connector handle to disconnect the harness.

Disconnect the two air bag diagnostic monitor electrical connectors.

Disconnect the inertia fuel shutoff switch electrical connector.

Remove the two grounds from the RH cowl.

Disconnect the electronic actuator electrical connector.

Disconnect the climate control head vacuum line connector.

Remove the instrument panel steering column opening cover reinforcement .
Remove the four instrument panel steering column opening cover reinforcement nuts.
Remove the instrument panel steering column opening cover reinforcement.

If equipped, disconnect the transmission range indicator from the steering column.
Remove the bolt.
Disconnect the cable.

Lower the steering column .
Remove the four steering column support nuts.
Lower the steering column.

NOTE: The antenna cable will be removed with the instrument panel.

Disconnect the antenna cable from the outside of the vehicle
Remove the instrument panel relay cover .
Remove theinstrument panel relay cover.
Disconnect the autolamp sensor electrical connector, if equipped.

Open the glove compartment and release the two door stops.

WARNING: ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN REMOVING AND HANDLING AN AIR BAG.

WARNING: CARRY A LIVE AIR BAG WITH THE BAG AND TRIM COVER POINTED AWAY FROM YOUR BODY. AN ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT WILL THEN DEPLOY WITH MINIMAL CHANCE OF INJURY.

WARNING: PLACE A LIVE AIR BAG ON A BENCH OR OTHER SURFACE WITH THE TRIM COVER UP.

Remove the passenger side air bag module .
Remove the three passenger side air bag module screws.
Disconnect the passenger side air bag module electrical connector.
Remove the passenger side air bag module.

Remove the four RH assist handle screw covers.

Remove the four RH assist handle screws.

Remove the RH assist handle .

Remove the RH windshield side garnish moulding .

Remove the instrument panel bolt below and to the left of the glove compartment.

Remove both instrument panel bolts behind the passenger side air bag module opening.

Remove the two instrument panel bolts on the top of the instrument panel .
Remove the two covers.
Remove the two bolts.

Remove the instrument panel bolt on the relay bracket.

Remove the instrument panel bolt below and to the left of the cigar lighter and power point.

Remove the instrument panel nut on the bottom RH corner of the instrument panel.

Remove the instrument panel nut on the bottom LH corner of the instrument panel.

Remove the instrument panel bolt under the center of the steering column.
Remove the instrument panel bolt on the bottom LH side of the instrument cluster opening.

Remove the instrument panel bolt on the bottom RH side of the instrument cluster opening.

Disconnect the (A) air bag sliding contact electrical connectors and the (B) anti-theft sensor electrical connector.

Disconnect the remaining electrical connectors on the steering column.

Remove the instrument panel from the RH floor brace.

NOTE: Two technicians are required to perform this step.

 

[FordF-SuperDuty]

Instrument Panel

Removal

WARNING: TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE INJURY, THE BACKUP POWER SUPPLY MUST BE DEPLETED BEFORE SERVICING OR REPLACING ANY AIR BAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS. TO DEPLETE THE BACKUP POWER SUPPLY ENERGY, DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STARTER RELAY CABLE AND WAIT ONE MINUTE.

Remove the battery cables.
Remove the battery ground cable .
Remove the battery to starter relay cable and wait one minute for the backup power supply to be depleted.

NOTE: On vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, move the shift lever to the 1 position to ease removal.

Carefully pry to release the (A) four clips and remove the (B) steering column opening cover.

Position the electrical connector aside.
Release the push clip from the lower instrument panel steering column cover.

Pull to release the three (A) clips and remove the (B) fuse door.

Position the hood latch release handle aside.
Remove the two hood latch release handle screws.
Remove the hood latch release handle.

Position the parking brake release handle aside.
Remove the two parking brake release handle screws.
Remove the parking brake release handle.

Remove the instrument panel floor duct panel.
Remove two push clips and release one expander clip.

Remove the lower instrument panel steering column cover .
Remove the six lower instrument panel steering column cover bolts.
Remove the lower instrument panel steering column cover .

Remove the LH and RH scuff plates.

Remove the LH and RH cowl side trim panels.

Disconnect the brake on/off (BOO) switch electrical connector.

Remove the (A) radio ground and the (B) GEM/CTM ground.

Disconnect the three instrument panel main harness connectors.

Remove the bulkhead wiring harness from inside the engine compartment.
Loosen the three bulkhead wiring harness electrical connector bolts.
Disconnect the three bulkhead electrical connectors.

Pull the bulkhead electrical connector handle to disconnect the harness.

Disconnect the two air bag diagnostic monitor electrical connectors.

Disconnect the inertia fuel shutoff switch electrical connector.

Remove the two grounds from the RH cowl.

Disconnect the electronic actuator electrical connector.

Disconnect the climate control head vacuum line connector.

Remove the instrument panel steering column opening cover reinforcement .
Remove the four instrument panel steering column opening cover reinforcement nuts.
Remove the instrument panel steering column opening cover reinforcement.

If equipped, disconnect the transmission range indicator from the steering column.
Remove the bolt.
Disconnect the cable.

Lower the steering column .
Remove the four steering column support nuts.
Lower the steering column.

NOTE: The antenna cable will be removed with the instrument panel.

Disconnect the antenna cable from the outside of the vehicle
Remove the instrument panel relay cover .
Remove theinstrument panel relay cover.
Disconnect the autolamp sensor electrical connector, if equipped.

Open the glove compartment and release the two door stops.

WARNING: ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN REMOVING AND HANDLING AN AIR BAG.

WARNING: CARRY A LIVE AIR BAG WITH THE BAG AND TRIM COVER POINTED AWAY FROM YOUR BODY. AN ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT WILL THEN DEPLOY WITH MINIMAL CHANCE OF INJURY.

WARNING: PLACE A LIVE AIR BAG ON A BENCH OR OTHER SURFACE WITH THE TRIM COVER UP.

Remove the passenger side air bag module .
Remove the three passenger side air bag module screws.
Disconnect the passenger side air bag module electrical connector.
Remove the passenger side air bag module.

Remove the four RH assist handle screw covers.

Remove the four RH assist handle screws.

Remove the RH assist handle .

Remove the RH windshield side garnish moulding .

Remove the instrument panel bolt below and to the left of the glove compartment.

Remove both instrument panel bolts behind the passenger side air bag module opening.

Remove the two instrument panel bolts on the top of the instrument panel .
Remove the two covers.
Remove the two bolts.

Remove the instrument panel bolt on the relay bracket.

Remove the instrument panel bolt below and to the left of the cigar lighter and power point.

Remove the instrument panel nut on the bottom RH corner of the instrument panel.

Remove the instrument panel nut on the bottom LH corner of the instrument panel.

Remove the instrument panel bolt under the center of the steering column.
Remove the instrument panel bolt on the bottom LH side of the instrument cluster opening.

Remove the instrument panel bolt on the bottom RH side of the instrument cluster opening.

Disconnect the (A) air bag sliding contact electrical connectors and the (B) anti-theft sensor electrical connector.

Disconnect the remaining electrical connectors on the steering column.

Remove the instrument panel from the RH floor brace.

NOTE: Two technicians are required to perform this step.

 

[smokey]

That's why I like my old trucks way easier to work on.

 

[blacksnapon]

That's why I like my old trucks way easier to work on.

Any more, a 97 is an old truck!

 

[FordF-SuperDuty]

Any more, a 97 is an old truck!

To me 97 is the first of new trucks.

 

[blacksnapon]

To me 97 is the first of new trucks.

13 year old technology. Its not even available on OASIS any more (last 10 years only)