Heat at speed, cool air at idle

[elchicano]

Yea i have the same problem, it just started like to two days ago i'm gonna check it out and see if i can fix it.

[teetime4one]

sounds good Dave.
let me know what you find.

[elchicano]

I gotta go to school in a bit but i 'll check it when i come back.

[elchicano]

Is the heater bypass valve and the heater control valve the same thing? I just checked my car the heater gauge is in the middle and its blowing out warm air. I'm gonna check the coolant it might need some. I checked the hose in the bottom of the radiator it is warm so it might be the bypass valve right? I'm starting to get confused with all this stuff.

[Severian]

Now, after some time has passed, I'm happy to report that I was probably just suffering from a shortage of coolant all along. Once I used the bleeder screw technique and added plenty of coolant I was good to go, the heat works MUCH better than it did before.

Again, this is also when the following things have been done already:

* Replaced Thermostat
* Fixed bowden cable problem
* Replaced water pump

Hey, at least we're warm now! That's what counts.

[elchicano]

Okay since winter is on its way. I need to fix my heater. So where is the bypass valve at. I tried looking for it and i couldn't find it. It's prolly somewhere under my nose but i don't see it. Can someone show me on the pic where i should be looking at.

[aceyx]

Wrong side of the firewall. Go in through the passenger side kick panel.

[elchicano]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

It is on the engine side. Don't replace it unless it's bad.
Turn on your heat and be sure the engine is at operating temperture.
I think there are two hoses going to the valve. Both hoses should be warm.

Those hoses would have antifreeze in them. Then the system would need to be bleed again for air. I've never done it, just watched a mechanic do it.

hmm i thought it was under the hood since thats what i got from steve's comment. I guess i read it wrong. Well if its true and thats where its at no wonder i couldn't find it. haha Thanks i will look for it then and see if i need to replace mine.

[aceyx]

I may be confusing this with some other part.

[elchicano]

I think you are talking about the heater cable with the yellow tab. I will check that as soon as i check this, i read in another thread where its located and have a general idea of where it's at. So i'll see if i can find it tomorrow.

[RidingSimple]

It's located on the back right of the motor from that angle, near the fusebox. Two heater hoses go from the back of the motor, and in through the firewall to the heater core behind the radio area. I have an extra heater core and switch if anyone needs them (building a track car in Hawaii, don't need heat).

[Mr.Squeelerz]

I'm having the same problem too. What good is my remote start if I only get heat at speeds?....boooo

I'm watching this thread for possible solutions.

[nyle]

hm. generally the lack of heat at idle is because the system has a little bit of air in it.

which is a b***h. there are a bunch of different ways to bleed your coolant (and verify that it is properly bled). search around and try a couple.

I would do this before jumping to the assumption that the heater core valve is broken.

[elchicano]

Well i finally got around to check my heating issue. I check the yellow cable and the PO fixed it by getting it screwed on. I checked the hoses that go to the heater core valve and both of them are hot. I had the car at an incline on my drive way. I bled the radiator and waited until i got the bubbles out. What i noticed is that i was getting hotter air while the car was on my inclined driveway then when i was driving with the heater on. So i'm lost i don't know where to go from here. The radiator and thermostat where changed about two years ago. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

[ngr5011]

all that I had to do was let the car sit over night so its cold, then turn the key to on (no start) heat on high, fan on 3, turn your bleed screw until fluid comes out. There is air in your system. This solved it for me after replacing the thermostat.