So I need a little bit of direction from you guys...

My car takes a very long time to heat up to normal operating temperature...roughly 20 minutes driving. The temp gauge still moves, just verrrry slowly.

Inside, the heater keeps cycling hot air and cool air without me moving the temp control from full heat. It too takes a very long time to heat up / defrost. The hot air will blow for about 2 minutes then it will blow cool for about a minute and repeat itself.

Also, the temperature control **** has some resistance behind it. From the straight up position it is very easy to turn left (cool side) but is reluctant to turn right (heat side) and will want to pull back left almost as if it were on a rubber band or cable....I hope that makes sense...

What do I do? Both inlet and outlet hoses for my heater core get hot to the touch when the car is warmed up so I don't think it is an overall heater core issue. Could this be a mixing or blending door issue? If so, how in the world do I get to those parts...? I don't think this is a thermostat issue becuase of the temp control **** problem.

Thanks in advance

 

Maybe your flow valve is stuck half way open , if these cars even have them.

 

check coolant level, low coolant will cause the temp to shuttle between warm and cold and cause the guage to read incorrectly. if the coolant is full i would first look at replacing the thermostat and then checking the operation of the heater. the temp control **** wont cause the engine to take a long time to warm up, the temp control **** controls a cable. if the **** moves the cable moves, the resistance you feel one direction is most likely caused by a binding cable.

 

Do thermostats ever stick to the open position? If that were the case I guess it would take longer for the engine to heat to operating temp.

 

yes, 95% of thermostat failures that i have seen have been sticking open/opening too soon

 

I agree with Jwog666, check coolant levels, if they are fine you can test your Tstat by pulling it out and tossing it in boiling water on stove with a baker's tstat if you have one, been so long sinse i did this, forgot what temp it should open and close at :P

 

If you thermostat was stuck open the your car would over heat because its continuiously flowing hot coolant. It closes to allow the coolant in the radiator to cool down. I had a Jeep wrangler with the same problem you have. The heater control **** wouldnt move. It was the flow valve which is controlled by a vacuum diaphram. The valve stuck half way open.

 

Try replacing the theromstat its cheap and effective.

 

Where is the thermostat on a 4.6L?

 

It's in the front, Right where you see the BIG hose that goes from your raidiator to your engine in the front right top area, to the RIGHT of your altinator. Has 2 bolts that hold it in, if i remember, you may need to remove the altinator bracket if it's in the way. You can keep the hose connected to that metal peice, there will be some spillage btw once u remove it. Technically, your car will not over heat if it's stuck open, it's a safty mechanism when they go bad. If they are stuck shut, then yes, you will overheat. If your fluid levels are fine, go ahead and replace, prob 12 bucks at most at autozone and see if that fixes. Sorry, can't spell good With it cold outside, and it's stuck open, your car is non stop cooling your engine, keeping it cold.