# Heater Problem

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-problem/88263>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [December 5, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-problem/88263 "2014-12-05T18:58:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sircharles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/0ea827/32.png) [@sircharles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sircharles)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-problem/88263/1 "2014-12-05T18:58:52Z")

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With the cold weather arriving I’ve recently noticed that when I have the heater on it does fine while I’m going down the road. However when I idle at an intersection the blower still works but the heat drops off. Any ideas? Sircharles

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-problem/88263/2 "2014-12-05T19:05:45Z")

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You have a classic case of air trapped in your cooling system. That or your coolant is low. Check the coolant in your radiator…not the overflow tank.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-problem/88263/3 "2014-12-05T19:15:52Z")

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Good advice–as usual–from missileman.  
The only thing I need to add is that the OP should be sure that the engine is stone-cold when he removes the radiator cap to check the level of the coolant.

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 5:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-problem/88263/4 "2014-12-06T05:55:23Z")

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Otherwise is the engine coolant temp gauge behaving as normal? Stays steady in the range of about 190-210 degrees after warming up?

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**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 6:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-problem/88263/5 "2014-12-06T06:00:01Z")

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Google your make, model, year, and engine, plus “water pump vane erosion” and see if anything pops up.

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**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 8:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-problem/88263/6 "2014-12-06T08:31:50Z")

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Also ,it could be a vacuum leak, many heater operations are vacuum controlled. We can’t be more speciufic without knowing year, make, model and mileage.