clogged heater core in my Fiero?

[Rhonda]

How easy of a fix is it to flush the cooling system in a fiero? My temp guage shows that the temp is up but it does not kick out any heat when it is cool out and verges on overheating when it is warm out.
This is my second fiero and I didn't have these issues with the first one. Any advice would be appreciated.


Rhonda

 

[chiefpontiac]

Clogged heater core, while preventing heat from interior of car will have little or no effect on rest of cooling system. You may have an inoperative heater valve (or broken wire or control of it) But it also sounds like you have cooling system problems as well.

Possible causes not in any particular order.

*broken or slipping fan belt
*failed fuse or motor if cooling fan is electric
*stuck thermostat
*partially plugged radiator
*partially plugged cooling channels in engine block

There should be a drain at the bottom of the radiator and basically for it you run fresh water through from top down, although a reverse flush is more beneficial. You may need to disconnect heater hoses and flush that core if you can (or replace). It can be a messy job and in many locales you can't discharge coolant in eth storm sewers, so keep that in mind. Migt be worth a trip to a radiator specialist or even a full service garage.