Heater blowing cold air

[AprilShowers]

Hi All,

New here, and came across the forum whilst using good old Google. I purchased my 206cc 03 plate last year and am now coming across ickle issues that are driving me crazy.

Currently, given this cold snap, driving to work in -6 with no warm/hot air is causing me some grief. The filters are pushing out cold/luke warm air and the demisters are doing their job. I have let the engine warm up and still no success with actual heat.

I have spoken to a few people who think it may be the thermostat? I have no experience putting my hand under the bonnet but to check the oil haha so some advise on where I can start would be appreciated, especially if this is something I could do myself.
Thanks in advance.

[Capncol]

Welcome to the forum.
What does your engine temp gauge read, and is it climate control or basic A/C?

[tenpole]

If you are unsure post a picture of your heater controls.

[AprilShowers]

Morning,
Thanks for your reply, its basic A/C. On my hour commute this morning it sat at just under 90. Normally it at least reaches 90 but this could be down to the freezing weather and not sitting in traffic right?

I also checked the coolent level this morning as someone mentioned it could be low and causing lack of heat - from what I can see there is actually no guide as to Minimum/maximum but its at least half full.

[IanL]

It is quite often caused by the system not being properly bled.

Procedure here

Instead of the "filling cylinder", you can release the reservoir from its mount and raise it as high as the pipe will allow.

This gives enough head to drive the air out.
.

[AprilShowers]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for the advice. So I guess this is a weekend job if Im to tackle this myself.

Would not being bled properly (whenever it was last done) cause it to suddenly stop pushing out heat then?
Along with this, would I do anything with the termostat?

I wish I knew more about cars! Lol

[IanL]

Hard to say exactly how the system will behave with air in it. Bleeding is the first thing to try before throwing money at it. If it doesn't work, then it will be time to look at whether there is a problem in the heater box or the thermostat.

If the thermostat is not closing fully when it should, it could account for cooler air, but with the temperature at nearly 90, I doubt it is that.

[AprilShowers]

I shall give this a go then. Really would like to make the fix myself, learning and saving money! Should I get new fluid to replace or use the drained fluid?

Nice to know it may not be the thermostat - I really wouldn't know where to start with that!

[IanL]

I would say if it's blue (one year) fluid, replace it with red. If it's red, just top up at the required concentration.

If you find you don't need to put any in, then it wasn't trapped air after all.

[gazza82]

Don't mix blue and red coolant ..

03 plate should use RED.

[tenpole]

Have you checked to see if the air conditioning is on. Check the bulb works on the button.
On a fiesta I had the heater control valve failed which meant the blower would constantly blow hot air. It was a pain to replace. I would guess the 206cc would be worse.

[Capncol]

Sounds like engine is in the right temp range. When you say just under 90, if it's nearer 80, it will give noticably cooler air from heater.