2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission heater restriction

[MSM]

Ok guys not sure what to make of this finding on my truck. As i started to flush out my heater core due to little heat i noticed that the adpt comeing from the head to the heater core what looks like it was drilled out . so i looked at my friends on his truck and his has a tappered restriction in his to where mine is full bore . could this be a reason why i dont have enough heat cuz of the flow is to fast through there?

 

[SRath]

Many race engines use restrictors instead of thermostats or just an open flow for that very reason: The unrestricted coolant flows through the engine too quickly to absorb the heat and through the radiator too quickly to dissipate the heat.

That same principle would probably apply to a heater core as well since it is just a mini radiator.

 

[FourBarR]

check s/b 09-04-99. this applies to a noise from the turbo area. It is caused by the restriction in the adapter for the heater hose. the fix was to remove the restriction . looks like your was drilled out. I did the same to mine to get rid of the noise. Hope this helps. Suggest you remove the heater fan and check for leaves etc plugging up the passage way. Do a search you will find lots of info on this problem.

 

[mwilson]

That fitting that screws into the head is rated at 7GPM.



It is used for many different cabin heater bill of materials and always shows 7GPM flow and 8PSI pressure no matter where they choose to place it on the cylinder head.

I can't find any admission by Cummins that it is or is not restricted.



I have seen too much flow cause poor heat, we had to restict flow in all of our mid '80s Fords with the 6. 9L Diesel in behind the thermostat housing.



The first time I ever heard of it was when IH brought out the slant 4 cyl engines that were 1/2 of a 304 V-8 or 392 V-8 and used them in the Scouts and 1/2 ton 2WD pick-ups. Used a lot of V-8 components including the water pump. Way too much flow, at the dealerships to keep customers from freezing to death we had to plug the heater feed port with a freeze plug and then drill a hole in it to slow the flow.

Showing my age here... ..... :-laf



Mike.

 

[SRath]

I don't know about anyone else's truck, but I have a perpetual problem with mice getting into my heater box and building big huge nests mainly using paper towels from the roll I keep in my truck. I still have good heat (so far) but it's like being in a confetti storm every now and then when I turn the blower on. A couple of times the nest has been big enough to keep my fan from even turning.

I can clean it all out and have no sign of mice for months. Then if I park the truck for more than a couple of days, they are back. I keep expecting that stuffing to plug up my heater core but so far so good. The mice obviously leave some long-lasting pheromone trail that every other doggone mouse in the world can follow and they must have a really good way in through the fender/cowl/fresh air intake.

I've tried the Bounce sheets and mouse traps and a few other things, but nothing gives lasting results.

 

[mwilson]

2 Suggestions...



(1) Get a big, mean tomcat.



(2) Sticky traps, can't beat 'em. Had an infestation in the fifth wheel two summers ago, could not get rid of them. Figured they were coming up the power cord.

Tried everything, finally spotted the sticky traps at the hardware store.

Hard way to go out as far as the mice are concerned because they pretty much struggle, sweat and thrash until they croak.

Put them in what you think is the traffic path, all it takes is for them to step in or even brush their tail across it and they are stuck. Even if they can still motor the trap will fetch up on something due to it's size.

Got eight mice out of the camper before it was over.



Mike.

 

[bcbigfoot]

A common problem with the 2nd gens are the blend heater door. A part between the door and acuator motor breaks usally in the cold position. Here is a link to more info. Dodge Ram 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, blend door auto AC heat replacement part

 

[MSM]

thanks guys i will look at it tonight . hope its something simple

 

[SRath]

2 Suggestions...



(1) Get a big, mean tomcat.



(2) Sticky traps, can't beat 'em. Had an infestation in the fifth wheel two summers ago, could not get rid of them. Figured they were coming up the power cord.

Tried everything, finally spotted the sticky traps at the hardware store.

Hard way to go out as far as the mice are concerned because they pretty much struggle, sweat and thrash until they croak.

Put them in what you think is the traffic path, all it takes is for them to step in or even brush their tail across it and they are stuck. Even if they can still motor the trap will fetch up on something due to it's size.

Got eight mice out of the camper before it was over.



Mike.

There are sticky traps in there under the seats right now, been there all winter, I had different ones throughout the summer, but dust eventually affected the stickiness. Never have caught a mouse in one. I now have the kind that spring shut and crush the little buggers after they get stuck on it.



I have considered trying one of those ultrasonic repellers if I could get it work on 12 volts.



Eventually, I will get around to replacing my rusted passenger fender and repainting the truck. When I do, I hope to figure a way to epoxy hardware cloth wire mesh over the fresh air intake & cowl water drain openings that they use like a highway.

 

[Missouri Mule]

SRath,try turning your vent selector to Max air ( which will close the fresh air/circulation door. You can also try putting it to the off selection (I know it is for the fan but while I was on a trip I was getting water on the passenger floor and putting the vent selector switch to front of dash or recirculation did not stop the water from comming in thru the a/c drain hole on the firewall. But turning the knob to off did. )

 

[HHhuntitall]

Bull snake or Coachwhip. Just a small one, 18-24 inches would be perfect. He'd be small enough to follow the mice and get them wherever the may roam. Even outside of the truck. And that's small enough you wouldn't notice him sliding across your boot while driving and such. You'd want to give him a little water in the summer, though. It can get hot in the truck. Just be careful and not let them get too big. They have a tendency to appear out of nowhere and make you exit the vehicle while rolling down the highway... ...

 

[SRath]

I like the snake idea better than a ferret or cat, but the snakes wouldn't like the subzero temps here.

And speaking of snakes sliding across boots, did I ever tell you guys about our trip out west a couple years ago. . ? I did post that funny story here on TDR when I got back, but I think it was in the Other or the Political forum.

Anyway, our first stop in Utah was at a rest area where me, my uncle, and my two teenage sons headed to the mens room. It was a disaster, with water running all across the floor from a broken toilet. But the desert there doesn't offer much in the way of alternate bushes to use, and there were lots of women around, so we all got in line behind the only 2 useable urinals. My uncle was at one while I was still behind someone at the other.

Waiting patiently in that manly silence that mens restrooms command, I looked down and happened to notice a small 12 to 14-inch or so rattlesnake sliding over the guy ahead of me's boots while he had matters in hand.

It paused and started to investigate inside his pants cuff. At this point, against commonly accepted male restroom protocol, I felt compelled to interrupt and inform the gentleman of situation. So I tapped him on his shoulder and was rewarded with a not unexpected indignant look as he whipped his head around.

I quickly told him "don't freak out, but there's a small rattlesnake on your boot about to crawl up your pant leg. "

He launched into a rapid-fire, and seemingly still indignant, response in spanish. Well, I just don't speak spanish. So I pointed.

Now folks, I have had to really, really go before, too, and thought I had seen some high pressure streams in my life, but that dude probably set a new world record for spray height, distance, and loss of control as he leaped backwards screaming in spanish and, slipping on the wet floor, landed on his back. The rest of us were just as quickly leaping out the way of his more-dangerous one-eyed-trouser-snake stream.

OMG, it was a gut-buster! I have never heard so much spanish come out of anyone's mouth so fast in my life! He was pretty excited. My kid speaks spanish and later translated a bit of it for me. The automatic editors here precludes most of it. :-laf

It would undoubtedly be worth $10,000 on America's Funniest Home Videos, but there would be some difficulty in explaining why anyone had a video camera running in a mens room, so I suppose it is just as well mine was left in the camper.

 

[NIsaacs]

The more flow to the heater core, the more heat you get. The restriction is in place to protect the heater core from too much flow and bursting. Be careful adjusting the restriction, there is a fine line between not enough flow and too much.



Nick

 

[HHhuntitall]

I've got a Fleetguard water filter on my '97, and it's a pretty small hole. I have it inline with the return line from the heater core, I know it's smaller than the restriction fitting coming out of the head. It's worked fine in sub-zero temps, as long as I block a little air from in front of the radiator.



Speaking of the Bullsnake, I helped a buddy move his '54 Ford a few years back... . We managed to put a Cummins in it and make it a 4x4. He jumped in as I hooked up a chain and we were going to pull it up to the barn to start this little project. As we started moving, I noticed the door come open and Robert get out... . seems the bullsnake came out of his glovebox nest, stick his head out of the radio opening, and stick his tongue out at him. This was enough for Robert to get out, truck moving about 10 miles an hour. I managed to slow down and get it stopped, but I had to get in and finish the last couple miles back to the house. The snake just wanted a little lick, I told him!! I had to catch him and put him in a can or Robert would have killed him... . or abandoned the truck!!