Why is my car heater working in the back but not the front?

Question

It was working fine this morning and then 2 hours later we went to go somewhere and the heat blew cold in the front of the van but it was blowing warm in the back.. Whats up? It's a 1999 Ford Windstar.

Answer 1

Some 1995 - 2003 Windstar vans have two heater cores. Yours (and mine) is apparently one that has two heater cores.

Your front heater core is probably clogged. You can try getting your coolant flushed. Flush the heater core, and the entire cooling system. That might clean your front heater core enough to get it working.

If you still have trouble after the coolant flush, then replace your front heater core.

Try the flush first, because it's probably much easier and cheaper than replacing the heater core. If your heater core is clogged, then you probably have some dirty, worn out coolant in there anyway. The flush might help keep your rear heater core from clogging too. Heat in the back is better than no heat at all.

Answer 2

The only explanation for that I can think of is that unlike most vehicles your van has two heater cores. The heater core is like a mini radiator. Hot water flows through it making it hot and air is blown across its coils into the passenger compartment to warm it up. That's why there's never any heat until the engine has the minimum time to warm up. The one for the front is bad and needs to be replaced.

Answer 3

an air block in the system// before you start vehicle 2morrow am// check anti freeze if level is down add anti freeze till its full then the overflow bottle 1/2 full of water that should take care of it// make sure no leaks// goodluck

Answer 4

Check your hose leaking somewhere.