2000xl_toronto

If the hoses are warm and not hot you may be correct about the thermostat being stuck open. Does it take longer than 5 minutes for your truck to reach that 'normal' operating temperature under normal driving? If yes there's a good chance the thermostat is stuck and replacement is needed.

Your symptoms do seem to point to a thermostat as the blend door doesn't seem to be hanging up either.

larbec

Thanks for info. The gauge never gets to the half way mark therefore never meets normal range. I will get a stat and change it this weekend. In East Texas it will be 80 degrees this weekend. Good day to work on truck.

larbec

I picked up a stat and they said there is not a flange housing gasket anymore only an o-ring that fits around the stat

Is this true? It won't leak?

larbec

Correction the hoses are hit as he'll after 30 minutes of running.

Can this be the stat?

FirstFtruck

Feel you heater hoses are they warm?

If so then there is flow through the heater core and your blend door is not functioning.

You could change the Tstat thats a simple change, but if I were a betting man I would lay odds on the blend door as the problem.

I have a 97 Lariat and the actuator was operational but the blend door itself was broken off at the point where it attaches to the actuator, this is a common problem with this year truck as well as the explorer of the same year.

If you search blend door on this site there is comprehensive instructions on replacement.

larbec

Thanks I will check the blend door

Kensterfly

iTrader: (1)

You DO have water in the radiator, don't you? It will never heat up if the water is low.