I'm not very good with cars, so I am not quite sure how to diagnose the problem. It takes the car at least 15-20 minutes for the heat to start getting warm after the car is started (when on highest heat setting). And when it does finally get warm, the warm air goes away and sometimes comes back. Am I running out of a fluid to keep the system functioning properly? I am utterly clueless, you can see.

I appreciate any help provided,

Matt

 

I saw another person have this problem, and even though the situation is probably much different I would say start by checking fuses.

 

Check your antifreeze levels. The heater just runs off your coolant.

 

You may have a bad thermostat also. If it's stuck open, the car will take a long time to heat up and when it does, you may never get real warm heat. Also, when the car is warming up, keep the heater control in the full cold position and turn the recycle on. This will allow the engine to warm up quicker. When you turn the heat on while the car is in the process of warming up, you're just taking heat out of the coolant and delaying the process.

 

not that a lot of heat will escape through the heater core and vents anyway, but good advice nonetheless.

if your warm air is going away, this sounds like a thermostat issue

 

Yeah, I just changed the thermostat on my Civic last week. It was a $20 part (from Honda) and took about 30mins to change, using a 10mm ratchet wrench.

 

2nd vote for check the antifreeze levels. One of my other cars did this when there was a leak in the radiator. Keep an eye on your temp guage, too.

 

it has to do with ur radiator ( coolant )

 

This was my problem

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showt...=243453&hl=heat

Dave