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1996 Ford Explorer heater isn't working


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adowling80
New User

Oct 4, 2011, 5:45 AM

Post #1 of 6 (8141 views)
1996 Ford Explorer heater isn't working Sign In

I have a 1996 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer edition. Whenever we turn the heater on it just blows out cold air. Could anyone tell me where or what to look for? I was thinking it was the heater core but I have read something else about the 95-99 Explorers having an issue with the blend doors? Any idea where I might be able to find that and how would I check it to see if it is working properly? I don't have a lot of extra money just laying under my mattress so I'm hoping this is something I can fix myself. Thanks for any advice you might have!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 4, 2011, 6:18 AM

Post #2 of 6 (8111 views)
Re: 1996 Ford Explorer heater isn't working Sign In

With the engine at full operating temp, locate the 2 heater hoses where they go into the firewall and feel them to see if they are both hot to the touch. If they are both hot, the heat in that vehicle is controlled by a blend door that regulates heated air flow. it is operated by an electric motor/actuator. The problem can be that the actuator is stripped or inoperative or the door itself could be damaged. This is what needs to be determined by examining the actuator and see if it is responding to heat change commands or not.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



adowling80
New User

Oct 4, 2011, 7:22 AM

Post #3 of 6 (8106 views)
Re: 1996 Ford Explorer heater isn't working Sign In

ok and if the hoses are both hot, where would i locate the blend door? Is this something I will be able to fix on my own? If both hoses are not hot, does that mean a hose needs to be replaced? Thank you for your first reply!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 4, 2011, 7:57 AM

Post #4 of 6 (8101 views)
Re: 1996 Ford Explorer heater isn't working Sign In

If the problem is the door itself, not likely. The entire dash would have to be removed and then the entire HVAC housing would have to be removed and disassembled. If the problem is the actuator, then possibly.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



adowling80
New User

Oct 4, 2011, 10:41 AM

Post #5 of 6 (8081 views)
Re: 1996 Ford Explorer heater isn't working Sign In

OK. We went out and did some running around and when we got home we checked the hoses. The left one you can put your hand on and touch (it will start to hurt after 10 seconds or so) and the right one you can touch for maybe 2 seconds before it burns...Does it sound like a problem there? Or should we go ahead and look somewhere else now?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 4, 2011, 12:43 PM

Post #6 of 6 (8079 views)
Re: 1996 Ford Explorer heater isn't working Sign In

No, sounds like a problem in the blend door area.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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