2000 Silverado heat problem - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Tim64 · 10-01-2009, 07:08 AM

Hey All,
I'm from over on the 60'-66' board. Back last summer I bought a 2000 Silverado LT for a daily driver. Love the truck. However it was pretty damn cold here in Ohio this morning. The first day I used the heater in my truck, and it just about has no heat at all. Slightly warm at best. This just won't do for an Ohio winter. At least I was able to keep my butt warm via the heated seat. Truck temp was around 200'. Should have been putting out plenty of heat. Fan works fine, as does the AC. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Tim

**Boog** · 10-01-2009, 09:24 AM

Sounds like a plugged heater core. Another result of using Dexcool coolant. In fact I just went through this with my 2000 GMC this week.
When you cold start the engine feel of the heater hoses while it's warming up. One should get hotter than the other one if there is a blockage. If so remove both the hoses from the heater core and use a garden hose with a sprayer on it to back flush the heater core. If you use a white pail or bucket to catch the coolant as it comes out you should see mudlike chunks flush out of the core. Reverse the flow back and forth a few times until all that comes out is clear then reattach the hoses and refill with coolant. It should be hot now. After reading a lot on the "deathcool" as some call it I will be using a chemical flush to rid my truck of it and go with conventional green coolant from now on. The extended life coolant was a good plan but I'll gladly change my regular coolant out every couple of years to prevent this from happening again.

**truckdude239** · 10-01-2009, 09:29 PM

back flush the heater core and have the whole system flushed and coolant changed

**bwood** · 10-01-2009, 11:21 PM

Check you coolant level.

Tim64 · 10-02-2009, 01:23 PM

Thanks for the replys. It has plenty of coolant in it, so flush it is.
Thanks again,
Tim

463 · 10-02-2009, 11:04 PM

pull the cabin filters and replace if dirty. thats the problem 9 times out of 10.

fxdxharley · 10-06-2009, 01:49 PM

my 2000 has pretty much the same problem, blows warm for aboout a minute then goes cool. only stays warm if the blower is no higher than # 2 or 3. i just did a complete coolant change. and both heater hoses feel about the same temp. has a brand new thermostate too. think i will try flushing the core and replace the cab filter. getting cold here in N.H. need heat.

463 · 10-06-2009, 02:19 PM

the fan pushes the outside air though the filter to the a/c -heat core and out the air ducts. if the filter is pluged it the bypass out side air around the blower fitment area of the blower onto the passenger floor.

**Boog** · 10-06-2009, 09:41 PM

Thanks trueman. Just where is that cabin filter located? I'd like to check the condition of mine.

Tim64 · 10-07-2009, 11:12 AM

Well, I flushed her out, and installed a new thermostat while I was at it. Now I have great heat. I would like to know more about these cabin filters so I too can check them out.
Thanks Guys,
Tim

ts71281 · 10-07-2009, 12:41 PM

Sounds like a bad actuator for your heater blend door. Remove the battery cables for a minute then reinstall. if that doesn't fix it, take it to the dealer and have them "repark" the doors with the TECH II. If that doesn't work, replace the actuator.

463 · 10-07-2009, 01:28 PM

owners man has a brief discription of how to change it. or on the pass foot well you use i think a #8metric socket and remove the plastic panal. then there is a #8 metric screw head holding a 1 inch wide " L " shape black plastic cover (this screw is pointed to the front just below the lower part of the dash straight up from the lower edge of the trans hump ) then swings down and unhooks. the filters are then slid rear wards to remove. i have used aie and a vac to get buy in the past if there not to dirty. gm usa sight says $26 use this link and agree to the sight regs http://www.newgmparts.com/partlocato...?siteid=213815 then click http://www.newgmparts.com/partlocato...layCatalogid=0 #15 is the 2 filters #25 is the swing Access cover to remove them. the new filter install is as you removed the old ones. the truck is out today or i could snap and up load pics. http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web..._1039560800___

463 · 10-07-2009, 01:51 PM

found this one. but the clip does not show them removing the Access cover

YouTube - How to change the cabin air filter in...

10-01-2009, 09:29 PM	#3
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,228	Re: 2000 Silverado heat problem back flush the heater core and have the whole system flushed and coolant changed __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

10-01-2009, 11:21 PM	#4
bwood Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Denison, Texas Posts: 1,919	Re: 2000 Silverado heat problem Check you coolant level. __________________ 1998 GMC Sierra SLE 1/2 ton 2WD 305 Vortec -Gibson Stainless Cat Back Swept Side -SS Wheels 2005 Honda CRF250R 2006 Honda CRF150F

10-02-2009, 01:23 PM	#5
Tim64 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vandalia, Ohio Posts: 396	Re: 2000 Silverado heat problem Thanks for the replys. It has plenty of coolant in it, so flush it is. Thanks again, Tim

10-02-2009, 11:04 PM	#6
463 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sask Canada Posts: 1,666	Re: 2000 Silverado heat problem pull the cabin filters and replace if dirty. thats the problem 9 times out of 10. __________________ Trueman

10-06-2009, 01:49 PM	#7
fxdxharley Just a nother gear head Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Barrington NH Posts: 501	Re: 2000 Silverado heat problem my 2000 has pretty much the same problem, blows warm for aboout a minute then goes cool. only stays warm if the blower is no higher than # 2 or 3. i just did a complete coolant change. and both heater hoses feel about the same temp. has a brand new thermostate too. think i will try flushing the core and replace the cab filter. getting cold here in N.H. need heat. __________________ 2013 HD FLHX 2000 chevy 2500 6.0l 4x4 3dr 2000 harley fxdx 71 Jimmy 4x4- future crawler/ woods rig 71 blazer (C4 2wd conv project) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=523589

10-01-2009, 07:08 AM	#1
Tim64 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vandalia, Ohio Posts: 396	2000 Silverado heat problem Hey All, I'm from over on the 60'-66' board. Back last summer I bought a 2000 Silverado LT for a daily driver. Love the truck. However it was pretty damn cold here in Ohio this morning. The first day I used the heater in my truck, and it just about has no heat at all. Slightly warm at best. This just won't do for an Ohio winter. At least I was able to keep my butt warm via the heated seat. Truck temp was around 200'. Should have been putting out plenty of heat. Fan works fine, as does the AC. Any ideas? Thanks, Tim

10-01-2009, 09:24 AM	#2
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,034	Re: 2000 Silverado heat problem Sounds like a plugged heater core. Another result of using Dexcool coolant. In fact I just went through this with my 2000 GMC this week. When you cold start the engine feel of the heater hoses while it's warming up. One should get hotter than the other one if there is a blockage. If so remove both the hoses from the heater core and use a garden hose with a sprayer on it to back flush the heater core. If you use a white pail or bucket to catch the coolant as it comes out you should see mudlike chunks flush out of the core. Reverse the flow back and forth a few times until all that comes out is clear then reattach the hoses and refill with coolant. It should be hot now. After reading a lot on the "deathcool" as some call it I will be using a chemical flush to rid my truck of it and go with conventional green coolant from now on. The extended life coolant was a good plan but I'll gladly change my regular coolant out every couple of years to prevent this from happening again. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

10-06-2009, 02:19 PM	#8
463 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sask Canada Posts: 1,666	Re: 2000 Silverado heat problem the fan pushes the outside air though the filter to the a/c -heat core and out the air ducts. if the filter is pluged it the bypass out side air around the blower fitment area of the blower onto the passenger floor. __________________ Trueman

10-06-2009, 09:41 PM	#9
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,034	Re: 2000 Silverado heat problem Thanks trueman. Just where is that cabin filter located? I'd like to check the condition of mine. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

10-07-2009, 11:12 AM	#10
Tim64 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vandalia, Ohio Posts: 396	Re: 2000 Silverado heat problem Well, I flushed her out, and installed a new thermostat while I was at it. Now I have great heat. I would like to know more about these cabin filters so I too can check them out. Thanks Guys, Tim

10-07-2009, 12:41 PM	#11
ts71281 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Maple Grove, MN Posts: 497	Re: 2000 Silverado heat problem Sounds like a bad actuator for your heater blend door. Remove the battery cables for a minute then reinstall. if that doesn't fix it, take it to the dealer and have them "repark" the doors with the TECH II. If that doesn't work, replace the actuator.

10-07-2009, 01:28 PM	#12
463 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sask Canada Posts: 1,666	Re: 2000 Silverado heat problem owners man has a brief discription of how to change it. or on the pass foot well you use i think a #8metric socket and remove the plastic panal. then there is a #8 metric screw head holding a 1 inch wide " L " shape black plastic cover (this screw is pointed to the front just below the lower part of the dash straight up from the lower edge of the trans hump ) then swings down and unhooks. the filters are then slid rear wards to remove. i have used aie and a vac to get buy in the past if there not to dirty. gm usa sight says $26 use this link and agree to the sight regs http://www.newgmparts.com/partlocato...?siteid=213815 then click http://www.newgmparts.com/partlocato...layCatalogid=0 #15 is the 2 filters #25 is the swing Access cover to remove them. the new filter install is as you removed the old ones. the truck is out today or i could snap and up load pics. http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web..._1039560800___ __________________ Trueman Last edited by 463; 10-07-2009 at 02:21 PM.



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