My 91 Lumina sedan's heat & cruise control don't work is there a connection between the two?

Question

I've been told the heater control valve is stuck open or the heater core is bad, but I have heard there is a vacuum hose that could be bad.

Answer 1

no

Answer 2

I can't see any possible connection. The heat doesn't require electricity, except for the fan blower. It gets its heat from the radiator coolant running through a heater core. The blower fans blows air past the heater core forcing it out (they work just like the radiator heating things they had in apartments, in the old days, they advertised as free heat in newspaper ads). But any hoo. If your radiator fluid is too low, then it won't hardly make any heat. If you radiator fluid is half full, then when you sit at idle at a light, the heat will turn cold and as soon as you step on the gas, it gets hot again). So first thing to check for no heat is that your coolant is flow. The 2nd most common reason for no heat is that the thermostat is bad (stuck open if no heat). An old car like that will need it replaced once or twice in that lifetime. If the thermostat is stuck open, then it allows the full pressure of the coolant to go through the hoses. The full force means that it will cool down the temperature of the coolant all the way to cold. The thermostat changes position (determined by temperature) and adjusts the flow (like a water facet).. When the car is cold, it will shut completely and not allow coolant to circulate, thus making it warm up very fast. As it gets hot, it opens a little, but attempts to maintain it arouund 180 degrees, I think. A good trick I use to see if the thermostat is bad, is wait until the car is at full operating temperature (about 10-15 mins driving). Then while its running, grab and squeeze the top radiator hose (the fat one). It should be very hot to the touch. You shouldn't be able to hold and squeeze it for more than 2 seconds. If you can hold it, and feel no not, or can't feel the fluid rushing through it, then that means your thermostat is bad. If you follow that same hose, to where it connects into the engine (usually at top, easy to see) then the metal thing with the two bolts (where the hoses connect to) is where the thermostat is located. Its easy to change, just pay attention when you take the old one out, that you see which way the cone shaped thing is pointing, and that you put the new one in the same way. Make sure you get some ATV sealer (ask the auto parts store for the sealant you need for the gasket). A new gasket should come with the thermostat, rub a layer on both sides, make sure you scrape the old filter off the housing so its nice and smooth. Don't over torque the bolts (tighten too hard), make them firm and snug and a nice hard turn, but dont keep trying to get the bolts tighter and tighter, they will strip on you which you dont want.

If its not the low coolant, or the thermostat, then the only thing left to prevent heat is the heater core. Thats a pain and kinda expensive and you dont want to try it yourself. Its located behind the panel, where the passenger's feet would be. Except a $300 + repair for a heater core.

Cruise control, thats either a vacuum problem in a hose, or the cruise control fuse is blown.

Answer 3

Check the fuse first. They may be on the same circuit.

Answer 4

Try checking your fuses. Maybe there is a short.

Answer 5

heat is probably the AC/radiator/thermostat...cruise control is separate

Answer 6

fuses thats about the only thing they will have in common

Answer 7

Its a '91 give it up. Its a 16 year old piece of crap. Go buy something knew!......Its GM on top of it, you are lucky you got this far with it.

Answer 8

check your fuses