TCL28 Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 I have the exact same problem. The driver's side is hot and the passenger side is freezing cold. Has anyone found a solution to this problem? Is it really the heater core? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCL28 Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 So now the dealer wants me to do some sort of "power flush?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papa g Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 If you are getting heat to one side it should not need a flush. It is probably something to do with the door that moves when you change modes on the a/c. The door is usually controlled with vacuum or electric servos that move it to the different modes. Cars typically have a default setting of defrost since that is one of the most important functions of the venting system. If there is not warm air there, then I would say that the core is blocked or there is air in the system and the warm coolant can't circulate or their is also a heater control valve that could not be operating correctly and keeping the warm coolant from flowing through the core. I think it would be kind of rare to have plugged cores with our newer cars unless you live somewhere with really hard water. I have not had any problems and I did live somewhere with hard water. I am up to 110k now. BE committed to DO what it takes to HAVE more of what you want in your life!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PATroutChaser Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 I still have no solution either. Any one have any updates? How did the power flush work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papa g Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 Sometimes there is linkage that controls the mode door. Has anyone gone into the dash to see if the linkage is still connected properly? The doors can be controlled electrically by vacuum or by linkage. BE committed to DO what it takes to HAVE more of what you want in your life!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN 2.5i Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 I noticed, only recently, that my driver's side vents seem to blow hotter air than the passenger side. Passenger side is still quite warm, just not quite as hot. Not sure if its always been this way as I only realized this recently. Hopefully, its not a precursor to the topic at discussion in this thread? So, it's done. Passenger side is definitely cold now after last coolant change. I think the Holt's (subaru coolant conditioner) is definitely a factor. I shouldn't have bothered adding it in. I've now drained and refilled the system twice in an attempt to get rid of any remaining coolant mixture and refilled again with just Peak extended life coolant and distilled water. I'm going to get the heater core flushed next week at the dealer in an attempt to restore flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehsnils Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 I would first check if there is a servo actuator for the mix of hot/cold air for the passenger side that has failed. But there should also be a feedback sensor for each side, and if that fails and says that it's warmer than it really is the heat will also decrease. I haven't studied the heating system in detail, so I'm not entirely sure about the details. And it sucks to crawl under the instrument panel... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iv_05gt Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 the heater core could have some air in them. They are usually a pain in the ass to bleed. Also the mode door/ actuator could be stuck half way and not completely blocking off the evaporator.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN 2.5i Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Other reports indicate that its due to the heater core being blocked up. A few related threads: http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/heater-stopped-working-101641.html? http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/heater-blower-issue-101270.html? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatepylons Posted December 30, 2010 Author Share Posted December 30, 2010 Hatepylons---did you ever get anywhere with the complaint filed with Subaru NA? Anyone else with this problem have any success....I have not. PATrout - I didn't get anywhere with it, as I had other financial burdens crop up. In short, Subaru NA wanted me to front the money for the repair and components. Pending an investigation on what was found they said they might do something goodwill, but nothing guaranteed. So I politely asked my girlfriend to wear an extra coat and crank the seat warmers. She's still with me to this day, and the car still isn't fixed. I'm curious about this whole "power flush" thing that someone else has mentioned........ I've debated running acid through the core to help aid the removal of sediment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN 2.5i Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 PATrout - I didn't get anywhere with it, as I had other financial burdens crop up. In short, Subaru NA wanted me to front the money for the repair and components. Pending an investigation on what was found they said they might do something goodwill, but nothing guaranteed. So I politely asked my girlfriend to wear an extra coat and crank the seat warmers. She's still with me to this day, and the car still isn't fixed. I'm curious about this whole "power flush" thing that someone else has mentioned........ I've debated running acid through the core to help aid the removal of sediment. Do you have a name of anyone you were talking with at SOA? If the flush doesn't help (usually done in conjunction with a cleaner/solvent soak), I may try to pursue something similar with Subaru of Canada. The more reports that are filed, the better we are at getting somewhere with an issue like this. I had my coolant changed per recommended service interval at 48k kms by the dealer. They used green coolant and the conditioner so I've done everything by the book to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN 2.5i Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 RobE, do you have any of the details/contact names surrounding your original report and findings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatepylons Posted December 30, 2010 Author Share Posted December 30, 2010 Do you have a name of anyone you were talking with at SOA? Unfortunately I do not. Once I found I had to front the monies, I dropped it as I was cash poor at that point. I explained that to the rep, and he said he'll leave the complaint open under my VIN# for whenever I was ready to proceed. I had my coolant changed per recommended service interval at 48k kms by the dealer. They used green coolant and the conditioner so I've done everything by the book to date. As did I. Lot of good it did. Blah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN 2.5i Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Unfortunately I do not. Once I found I had to front the monies, I dropped it as I was cash poor at that point. I explained that to the rep, and he said he'll leave the complaint open under my VIN# for whenever I was ready to proceed. Could you PM me your VIN when you have a chance? I'd like to record as much background detail as possible when presenting my findings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shutterbc Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Hey guys, perhaps I can count myself in on this investigation. I didn't notice a problem with the passenger heat system until this winter. The only major change I can recall was that I had the coolant flushed (dealer service) in the fall. There's no way I'm going to bring this problem to my local dealer (I'm impressed when they can figure out my LGT has a turbo in it), but I might let another shop take a crack at it soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN 2.5i Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 There's no way I'm going to bring this problem to my local dealer (I'm impressed when they can figure out my LGT has a turbo in it), but I might let another shop take a crack at it soon. Unfortunately, unless it's a dealer that looks at it, Subaru won't be aware of the issue... I'm a member of a local Subaru club and we get a 10% discount on labor/parts at the local dealerships so that brings the cost of the flush within a few bucks of a non-dealer shop. I think it's worth it to have the dealer be made aware of the issue if this is truly becoming a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shutterbc Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Fortunately in New England there are a lot of dealerships. I'll take mine to another one not too far away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCL28 Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 I had my heater core replaced a couple weeks ago. Now the heat is working fine on both sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN 2.5i Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 I had my heater core replaced a couple weeks ago. Now the heat is working fine on both sides. Did you have it done at the dealer? Cost? Any explanation given as to why they're failing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanB Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I had my heater core replaced a couple weeks ago. Now the heat is working fine on both sides. Did you have it done at the dealer? Cost? Any explanation given as to why they're failing? X2, I think I've got the same problem that has cropped up over the weekend. Driver's side cranks out the heat, and the passenger side is cold. Strange that nobody in all the thready I've read on this had the driver side go cold...always the passenger side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madjik_Man Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 X2, I think I've got the same problem that has cropped up over the weekend. Driver's side cranks out the heat, and the passenger side is cold. Strange that nobody in all the thready I've read on this had the driver side go cold...always the passenger side. One of those threads linked in this one was my experience. The dealer explained that there was a run of heater cores that were faulty (coolant leaking into it or something like that). Unfortunately the new heater core they put in mine is way too effective. I have no real temp adjustment. It's either blazing hot or freezing cold. After bringing it to two dealers here (thinking some blenders were all messed up) they both informed me that everything is hooked up properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanB Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 One of those threads linked in this one was my experience. The dealer explained that there was a run of heater cores that were faulty (coolant leaking into it or something like that). Unfortunately the new heater core they put in mine is way too effective. I have no real temp adjustment. It's either blazing hot or freezing cold. After bringing it to two dealers here (thinking some blenders were all messed up) they both informed me that everything is hooked up properly. I'm assuming the new heater core is an OEM part if it was installed by the dealer? Does anyone have experience with aftermarket parts for this? I'm leary of going used due to the nature of the failure. Did anyone have sucess with backflushing, or did everyone end up having to replace the heater core to resolve this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDN 2.5i Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I'm assuming the new heater core is an OEM part if it was installed by the dealer? Does anyone have experience with aftermarket parts for this? I'm leary of going used due to the nature of the failure. Did anyone have sucess with backflushing, or did everyone end up having to replace the heater core to resolve this? If you're going to replace, definitely go with OEM. Easy to find for US$60 vs C$140 so shop around. It's not the core that is $$$ though, it's the labor to replace at 4-5 hours of shop time. I drained and filled my system twice with straight water until it came out clear after recently changing my coolant and adding the subaru coolant conditioner. After the coolant change, I got cold air out of the passenger side. After doing the full fluid swap (not power flushed), I was able to restore some warmth to the passenger side but I could still realize a 30-40 degree Celsius difference between the two sides. I had the car into the dealer today to power flush just the heater core. They flushed it with CLR twice and it seems to have restored more heat to the passenger side. Not quite even, but better again. I'll check with a thermometer what the resultant difference is now. NOTE - I just found this on the CLR FAQ: Can I use CLR to clean out my radiator? No, CLR should not be used on a car radiator for two reasons. First, CLR may not be compatible with the internal metals of the radiator. Second, it could have adverse effects if the CLR is not rinsed out completely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanB Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 For you DIYers, here's a pretty solid how-to for a coolant flush, straight from Subaru for the WWY-09 recal campaign. http://www.scoobymods.com/my-06-coolant-flush-and-t6634.html?p=45611 I'll likely try this 1st, and if that doesn't fly I guess I'll have to pull the heater core and change it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanB Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Bumping this, I kind of slept on this over the summer, but now that fall is coming, it needs to be dealt with ASAP. I think I'm going to let the dealer flush, and ask them to keep the coolant conditioner out of the mix, hopefully that will get some heat back in the passenger side and prevent it from clogging up again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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