Repair And Fix it

The Pontiac Sunbird was a small car made by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1975 to 1994. The third generation of this series included the 1988 through 1994 models, and was available in a variety of body styles. The heater in a 1991 Pontiac Sunbird contains hot coolant from the engine that radiates heat into the interior of the car when the heater is turned on. The procedure for replacing the heater is generally the same for all versions of the 1991 Sunbird.

Instructions

1

Remove the cable from the negative battery terminal with a socket wrench to ensure you dont start the engine inadvertently. Place a drain pan under the radiator, and open the drain with a socket wrench. Drain the coolant and replace the drain plug. Raise the vehicle with a floor jack, and support it safely on jack stands.

2

Remove the strut mount for the rear lateral transaxle with a socket wrench, if your vehicle is so equipped. Detach the drain line and coolant hoses from the heater. Lower the vehicle.

3

Disconnect the sound insulators from the floor of the vehicle with a socket wrench. Remove the opening filler for the steering column, and remove the air outlet duct from the floor of the vehicle.

4

Remove the retaining bolts for the heater cover with a socket wrench, and detach the cover. Disconnect the retaining straps for the heater core, and remove the heater core from the vehicle.

5

Install the new heater core and attach its retaining straps. Replace the cover for the heater with a socket wrench. Install the outlet duct and sound insulators to the floor of the vehicle. Connect the filler for the steering column.

6

Raise the vehicle and support it on jack stands. Connect the hoses and drain line to the heater, and attach their clamps. Install the strut mount for the rear lateral transaxle, if your vehicle is so equipped.

7

Lower the vehicle and replace the coolant in the radiator. Check the vehicle for coolant leaks, and ensure the new heater is functioning properly.

A malfunctioning heater in your Chevy S-10 can make for a very long winter. If the weather is particularly cold, you may be tempted to replace the entire heating system, but there are some very simple fixes to try before taking such a drastic step.

Instructions

Check Antifreeze Levels

1

Open the S-10s hood.

2

Remove the cap on the antifreeze tank.

3

If the tank is empty, add antifreeze to the tank until reaching the fill line. A lack of antifreeze can cause the heater to malfunction as the heater coil is not properly cooled.

Check Radiator Hose

4

Open the S-10s hood.

5

Locate the radiator hose.

6

Examine the hose for any holes that could cause a coolant leak. If the radiator hose isnt totally visible, a sweet smelling odor, steam, or decreasing coolant levels over the period of just a few days are also indicators that the hose may be leaking coolant, which can cause the heater to malfunction.

Check the Thermostat

7

Open the S-10s hood.

8

Start the S-10. Make sure the engine is cold and has not been running recently before starting the truck.

9

Touch the upper portion of the radiator hose. If coolant is being delivered through the hose, even though the engine is not warm, this is a strong indicator that the thermostat is stuck in the open position and needs replacing. A malfunctioning thermostat will prevent the heater from working properly.