Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Ultimate Subaru Message Board

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

1985 Subaru heater problem

Featured Replies

Hi all, glad I found this site. I have a question about my heater. It works ok while on the low fan setting, but blows a mixture of heat and cool air while in the other(2,3 and 4th) fan settings. Defrost is the same as the heat setting. Could this be just the thermostat?

 

Update, burping didn't work. As for the Core, I will have to have someone else do that for me,as I am disabled. I had already filled the radiator up the other day so it is full. Thanks agian for the help.

welcome to the good ship USMB

 

on your question

"Could this be just the thermostat?"

 

could be

 

the recent number of posts on faulty NON factory thermostats would astound you.

 

better quasi guess is you are low on coolant or

 

the system needs an air blocking embolism

exorcised.

 

Get the nose in the air and ask if there are any cooties in there.

 

Remove the rad cap let it idle till warm.

 

With luck she'll burp you some good ones.

 

Refill, replace the cap, and see if it solves the problem.

 

Hope this helps and again welcome to the Subaru board

Mine did the same thing. I ended up pulling the heater housing apart. The core lays flat, so part of it was blocked by debris laying on top of it. My guess is that sence it was blocked that when I turned the fan higher it had to suck the air from somewhere. It probably pulled the cool air past a closed flap in the system. Mine works great now. Also while it was out I back flushed the core.

  • Author

Thanks for the replys. I will try burping it, and if that doesn't work I will try and see if the core is blocked. Again thanks people.

Hi Lefty... don't overlook the thermostat. I'm putting my third one in. The two I put in before them didn't open til I boiled them to 240 degrees. The second one and the new one I'm putting in are OEM so it could happen with factory thermostats too. Good Luck, boing

  • Author
Hi Lefty... don't overlook the thermostat. I'm putting my third one in. The two I put in before them didn't open til I boiled them to 240 degrees. The second one and the new one I'm putting in are OEM so it could happen with factory thermostats too. Good Luck, boing

 

That is the next thing I will do, the Core is going to be the last thing as I can't do it myself. Thanks for the replys from you all.

That is the next thing I will do, the Core is going to be the last thing as I can't do it myself. Thanks for the replys from you all.

 

Dont' be afraid of the core. it can be done fairly easily believe it or not. We have a photo guide you might look at. Of course, if you don't have too it's better not to.

 

Kurt

  • Author
Dont' be afraid of the core. it can be done fairly easily believe it or not. We have a photo guide you might look at. Of course, if you don't have too it's better not to.

 

Kurt

 

Nice pictures and instructions on removing the heater core, but I will still have to have someone else do it for me. Bad back keeps me from doing much at all.

Thanks for the tip. I might print it out and have the shop or a friend do it that way. Looks like a lot easier method.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

Sign In Now

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.