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Engine & DrivetrainDiscussions about the engine and drivetrain of your vehicle.
This is a discussion thread titled "Freezing in Alaska heater/engine issues", within the Engine & Drivetrain forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
Hi Guys I hope someone will have an idea or two. I have 2002 tundra with the 8cyl. I love the truck but I can’t get much for heat out of it. I live in Alaska and it’s rather nice to have a truck that has a good working heater. I can start the engine and let it run for 15 min. 20 min an hour or two or more and the temp gauge will not come up more than 1/8 to 1/4 off the peg depending on the outside temp. At an Idle the air is luke warm. Going down the road the temp gauge is up maybe 1/3 off the peg. At best the air coming out of the heater vents is a little better than luke warm until I drive driving down the road maybe five miles then I start to get a little better temp. However it still is nothing to brag about. I have taken it to the dealer twice for this problem. The first time they told me that I had a loose clamp on the lower radiator hose and it was sucking air causing the problem. I'm still smiling about that. They changed the thermostat at my request however this did not help. Now they say it is within the spec and there is nothing wrong with it. I have talked to several people that have Tundra’s and they all say that they have great heaters. So guys any help would be greatly appreciated.
Now they say it is within the spec and there is nothing wrong with it. I have talked to several people that have Tundra’s and they all say that they have great heaters. So guys any help would be greatly appreciated.
Don't know about the 02's but on mine under the hood mounted on the firewall is the control for the heat control. If you have a partner go inside and turn the heat knob you will see it moving. If when in the full hot or cold position you see a gap between the two "long points" you need to adjust it so there is no gap. Sorry for being so vague but it is about 10 here and I am not going outside to look under the hood! LOL
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Don't know about the 02's but on mine under the hood mounted on the firewall is the control for the heat control. If you have a partner go inside and turn the heat knob you will see it moving. If when in the full hot or cold position you see a gap between the two "long points" you need to adjust it so there is no gap. Sorry for being so vague but it is about 10 here and I am not going outside to look under the hood! LOL
The Dealer checked that out one of the times I took it there. Then I also did a check myself and it does appear that its opening all the way.
I have been told that Ford and Chevy have a restrictor in the line going to the heater so as not to allow a full flow. I wonder if Toyota also does the same?
wait a sec, you mean your engine temp guage never moves beyond 1/8 to 1/4 up the dial? it should climb to, and stay at, about halfway. wish i could help troubleshoot but i dont really know anything about engines, just posting where my guage sits for reference.
They might have a restricter in there somewhere but the heater in my 2002 Tundra is a fire breathing dragon. I only need to let it idle for about five minutes then the heater blows out very warm air, five minutes more and on low it's almost unbearably hot.
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wait a sec, you mean your engine temp guage never moves beyond 1/8 to 1/4 up the dial? it should climb to, and stay at, about halfway. wish i could help troubleshoot but i dont really know anything about engines, just posting where my guage sits for reference.
-sean
Yes at an Idle that is as far as it goes. When I am running down the road it will go up to about 1/3.
I would also concur in devin's not that it isn't normal that i have seen for engine not to warm up to mid level.
I sure wish I could get the dealer to understand this. I had the service writer ask me if I had tried putting cardboard in front of the Rad that maybe that might fix it. I really apprecitate the posts guys. If nothing else I at least know that there are 02 Tundras out there that have good heaters.
I sure wish I could get the dealer to understand this. I had the service writer ask me if I had tried putting cardboard in front of the Rad that maybe that might fix it. I really apprecitate the posts guys. If nothing else I at least know that there are 02 Tundras out there that have good heaters.
The dealer's on the right track with the cardboard helping. You don't want to restrict the entire radiator though. Something doesn't sound right with the temp gauge not going around 1/2 way and you said they replaced the t-stat. The other thing you can do is install a block heater for those cold mornings but that just helps get the oil temp up a little before you crank it over. Good luck with this one. Just a thought, but maybe another dealer will have a different perspective.
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The dealer's on the right track with the cardboard helping. You don't want to restrict the entire radiator though. Something doesn't sound right with the temp gauge not going around 1/2 way and you said they replaced the t-stat. The other thing you can do is install a block heater for those cold mornings but that just helps get the oil temp up a little before you crank it over. Good luck with this one. Just a thought, but maybe another dealer will have a different perspective.
Yes I should have mentioned that the truck is has a soft plug engine heater, to heat the water. a pad heater on the oil pan to heat the Oil and a another pad heater on the transmission to keep it warm as well as a pad heater on the Batt. to keep it warm. I think the most of my heat is comming from being pluged in (smile). This is normal equipment for Fairbanks Alaska. The truck for the most part does not know how cold it is.
I'm assuming because of your location all of the Tundra's sold in your area come with the Cold Weather Package. You may have to do the cardboard or better yet put it or a vinyl cover across your grill opening to reduce air flow not only across your radiator but also across the engine itself. It could even take a combo of both. I've never had to do that here in Minnesota in temps down to minus 35F but I do know it's takes a long time idling (30 minutes or more) at that temp for the temp to come up much. Once I hit the road it comes up to mid range in a few miles and after driving 10 miles at highway speed (to warm the interior hardware items) I have to turn my heater control to mid point and turn the fan to low or even off or I'm cooking. I didn't see what temp extreme you're dealing with but if it's lower than what I've seen it's possible that the engine can't generate enough heat to overcome it's environment under normal circumstances. Trying to retain heat in the engine compartment may be your only option. Do other Tundra owners that have purchased or serviced their trucks at your dealer have the same issue? If they do not your dealer should have some clue as to why yours is different. If nothing else have your dealer bring in a Toyota rep for assistance.
Larry
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Freezing in Alaska
JOHN
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