Also, check your heater control valve and switches and make sure they're working too.

I flush mine every year (I can't help that I'm anal)  

 

So from reading past posts, I am going to install the manual valves on the hoses as I think the vacuum control valve might be stuck in the closed position or something as I am not getting any flow to the heater core.

 

One last question to everyone about this...do I need to drain the coolant level down to close off these valves in the summer?  Also, when they are shut off, how can I make sure the heater core is not going to rust while it is not being used?  In other words, do I drain it somehow when I close off the manual valves?  Or does the water just stay in there all summer?

 

Thanks again!!!

 

Tanks for all your help.

 

I'm gonna try to replace the vacuumcontrol valve with the manual ne either tonight or tomorrow to see if that was the flow inhibitor.  If that's not the cuprit, then I guess I'm stumped.  I haven't been able to trace the hoses to the heater core pipes as they are under the car and I don't have a way of getting under there.  Can I take off the lower dash to see hem?

 

In the spring, I will attack the other valve so I can shut it down for summer running.

 

I wasn't prepared for the amount of fluid that came out of the heater core when I took out the old valve.  Was I supposed to drain the radiator before I took it out?  Just curious as I will have to cut the other line when I do the next valve...

 

Thanks again!!!

 

 

 

In the spring, I will attack the other valve so I can shut it down for summer running.

 

I wasn't prepared for the amount of fluid that came out of the heater core when I took out the old valve.  Was I supposed to drain the radiator before I took it out?  Just curious as I will have to cut the other line when I do the next valve...

 

Thanks again!!!

 

 

Draining down to a level below where you cut will help. If you have a drain in the radiator .. great... you can do it there. Try to keep the open hose as high as possible to keep it from draining...  If you need to drain it some... I usually break the line at the water pump since it makes the least mess. And easier to clean up. Unfortunately it will be somewhat messy... so do all your under-car stuff before you break the line... I would not break a "radiator" hose unless you plan on replacing it. It's a lot cheaper and easier to replace heater hose. Also leave the radiator cap on unless you want to speed up the draining.