How to Troubleshoot the Heating in an Oldsmobile Silhouette

The heating system in an Oldsmobile Silhouette consists of the heater core, the fan unit and the engine cooling system. Hot engine coolant is diverted away from the radiator and into the heater core where a fan blows the warm air generated by the heater core assembly (which acts as a small radiator for the cabin). If any of these systems isn't working right, then you won't get hot air blowing into your passenger cabin.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Turn the fan on high and verify that the fan is able to blow air into the cabin.

2. Turn the engine on and allow it to warm up to normal operating temperature.

3. Open the hood of the Silhouette and carefully hover your hand over the upper radiator hose. If the engine is at full operating temperature, you probably won't be able to touch it because it should be too hot to touch with your bare hands. You should feel the heat coming off the hose though. If you do not, then the water pump may have failed or may not be pushing the coolant through the engine properly. This, in turn will affect the heat coming into the cabin.

4. Check for heat in the cabin. Set the heater on its hottest setting and the fan speed on high. If the radiator hose is warm, but you are still not getting heat in the cabin, your heater core or thermostat has failed and needs to be replaced. If the heat comes on intermittently, the thermostat may have failed.

References

• Chevy Lumina APV, Olds Silhouette, Pontiac Trans Sport Repair Manual 1990-1996; J.J. Haynes, John H. Haynes; 1997

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