I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota V8 with 90K miles on it. It's a wonderful truck. This past winter, I had no heat.

Question

I took it in for repairs and the mechanic replace the thermostat and that didn't work. Then I took it in again and they switched out the water pump. I still have no heat. Can someone help me with this? My truck also smells like antifreeze and the a.c. pump clicks on every 5 seconds. Do you think this is all related?

Answer 1

There are a few simple things to watch for or do in order to see if the heat-core is at fault here.No 1 is if you smell antifreeze in vehicle or see a slime like stuff or gunk on the windshield once the heat is on.No2 is run the vehicle's heat on full once the engine is warm and try touching the two smaller hoses you see upfront of the engine near the windshield , if only one gets hot and other isn't hot for sure the heat-core is clogged or no good.

Basically bec you do smell antifreeze more then likely the heat-core is faulty but one trick you can do yourself and try switching around the two heater-core hoses and then starting the engine and running the heat awhile on full then switching them back and see if you get heat , this method helps to kind of flush the heater-core.

Hope that helps and best of luck.By the way their right your mechanic doesn't sound very reliable and you really need to read up or get a service manual and use the shops that specialize in heating and A/C system repairs.

Answer 2

Your mechanic seems to be incompetent.  Take it to a shop that specializes in car heating and cooling.  After that, find a new general mechanic.

Answer 3

Heater core leaking, would cause smell, there should be a vacuum contrl valve in the inlet heater hose, could be stuck, or vacuum line loose or broken...

take it to a radiator repair shop....

Answer 4

Hey dude, get your radiator cleaned and purged. $50 to $75 dollars if you take it off.