Explorer heater not working

[jollygrngiant]

My wife has an '03 explorer, and just recently her heater has stopped working. Every time you go and turn the thermostat to the warm side, somewhere back in the dash you hear a clicking sound. So right now the only thing that works is the cool side. I know I have to take apart the dash to get behind it and try to find out where the noise is coming from, but what I don't know is what to look for. It might be the fan motor itself......I don't know. Any ideas or pointers???
Thanks
Brian

[Hotwhlz]

Brian, does the fan push any air at all if it's set to heat? If it does is it warm or cool? If you drive the Explorer long enough to get up to normal operating temps can you feel any heat coming from the heater core if you have the temp switch to warm?

My first thought would be the blend door not opening. But it could be something else too.

[jollygrngiant]

Brian, does the fan push any air at all if it's set to heat? If it does is it warm or cool? If you drive the Explorer long enough to get up to normal operating temps can you feel any heat coming from the heater core if you have the temp switch to warm?

My first thought would be the blend door not opening. But it could be something else too.

Yes it pushes out cool air even when its set to warm. But the funny thing is, when I have the fan button off.......And I go to turn the thermo. to warm, the clicking noise starts. When I cut the fan button on, just cool air comes out.
Brian

[Hotwhlz]

I'd say the blend door isn't opening like it should then. You may know this already but the blend door opens and closes to channel whatever temperature air you have selected. I don't have a clue how they are actuated in newer vehicles though. Since you hear it click it sounds like it's some sort of electric switch that opens the door but that's just a guess on my part.

Something I have had good luck with on my other vehicles is to find a forum that is specific to that vehicle and search their forums. I'd be willing to bet you're not the first to have this problem and someone might have posted something about it.

Or use google. I typed in "2003 Explorer, no heat" and this is what it gave me:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//sho...p?t=195375

Sounds like your problem. Good luck bud, I hope this helps.

[jollygrngiant]

Ron, thanks man! That does sound like my problem. Now I just have to take the time to get to it.
Man I'll tell ya, how the hell do they get so much plastic and wires into such a small space!?! That just blows my mind. I hate these newer cars and trucks. Its so easy to work on older vehicles.
Brian

[Hotwhlz]

I know what you mean Brian. It's easy to tuck all that stuff in there the first time around when they're building it. Sorta like snapping leggos together. The problem comes from wanting to get inside all those leggos and fix something without dismantling the whole shebang.

You have my sympathies buddy!

*edit to add* I'M NO LONGER A NEWBIE!!

[jollygrngiant]

Well I finally got to it. Ended up taking apart the middle console, glove box, venting tubes, and part of the dash. Finally got to the problem. It was the blend door. When I went to turn the thermo to warm, the door would get stuck. I just helped it along and Whala... heat!!
Thanks again for those links Ron.
Brian

[Hotwhlz]

That's great news Brian! Glad it worked out for ya.

You'd be amazed at what you can find on google. My wife's car is a Mazda 626 with 4 wheel disc brakes. Last year I was replacing the rear brake pads and was trying to compress the calipers to make room for the new thicker pads. I couldn't get them to compress, no way, now how. Went to google and typed in "replace rear brake pads on 1999 Mazda 626" and found out how to do it within minutes. (They don't compress like the front calipers do, you have to screw them back in).

Google really is your friend. lol

But anyway, glad it worked for you and happy I could help.