| From | Message |
TommyC
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/03/2009
17:47:47
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 Subject: Heater Question; Radiator Question
IP: Logged
Message:
This is for the '97 Dakota Sport 2WD
Heater:
Does anybody know for a fact whether the control knob/key position actuates
a solenoid valve, etc. to allow hot water to flow/not flow thru the heater
core? Something inside me says there should be such a control. Otherwise,
when driving thru Death Valley in August, even though the AC is turned on,
hot water is circulating under the dash board! On the other hand, when I
recently isolated and flushed said heater core, I could find no such
position of control knob/ key position that seemed to prevent water from
circulating thru the core. In other words, once I got it flushed out, water
flowed through it no matter what the position of any knob/switches (and
whether the ignition key was on or removed).
Radiator:
Along with my heater core clogging, it turned out that the radiator drain
valve was also clogged - so much that nary a drop would drain out when
"opened". When I looked at the valve, the "rib" on the plastic knob was
vertical. It would only turn counterclockwise 1/4 of a turn, where it
seemed to hit a stop. I presume this horizontal position of the rib is the
open position. Does anybody know of a physical trick that can be done to
clear out the drain valve? I tried fishing a small wire up in the valve
opening (it's hard to get to), but no luck.
Any help is appreciated!
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N56629
GenIII
2/03/2009
20:05:49
|  RE: Heater Question; Radiator Question
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Message:
Sounds like a very poorly maintained cooling system. You will serious trouble with it far sooner than later. I would be thinking about going thru the entire system and replacing the radiator and heater core.
Any good repair book will answer all your questions. It's the cheapest investment in your truck that you will ever make.
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Problem Child
GenII
2/04/2009
09:01:42
| RE: Heater Question; Radiator Question
IP: Logged
Message:
As for the drain plug, turn and pull outward. you may need a small pair of channel locks to pull it out with.
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TommyC
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/04/2009
09:42:30
| RE: Heater Question; Radiator Question
IP: Logged
Message:
I appreciate the response from Problem Child to "turn and pull". (In fact, this fits with the advice I got from another source.) - Thanks.
Regarding my question about whether or not a valve controls flow through the heater core, I still do not have an answer to that question. I realize it may seem a bit academic but I'd like to get a definitive answer, one way or the other. Unfortunately, I did not see this addressed in the Haynes Manual.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/04/2009
10:22:32
| RE: Heater Question; Radiator Question
IP: Logged
Message:
there is no valve to control flow of water through the heater core.
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