Heat problems in SUV, need help?

[signmanj]

I have a 2006 Kia Sorento. Whats happening is the heater thermostat guage on the dash goes to the regular warm setting but the blower blows cold air. I also checked the fluid level and its ok. What could this be and how to fix it?

[Beav]

it could be heater core. does it smell like antifreeze inside? does the windshield fog up ?

[JoeCash]

the heater core is blocked most likley, when you take it in for its next service ask them to do a coolant flush but when you leave it have the thermostat turned all the way to the "hot" position.

when they flush they coolant thery will also flush the heater core and [most likley] have what ever was clogging the heater core to be unblocked.

[rustymath]

You have narrowed it down to the heating - air conditioning system. The car is not that old, so I would lean toward the problem being somewhere in the ventilation controls. Cold heater air when engine temp is normal usually means a problem with the heater core. Either the core itself is clogged or some valve that regulates the fluid to it is malfunctioning. Some cars have elaborate ducting with doors and compartments that open and close per temp control switch settings on the dash. If you have any sliding controls on cables, check to see if they are actually doing anything when you move them. The variable thermostat switch in the dash is a likely suspect. Once you find the problem, fixing it is either buying a manual or paying a shop.

[Christian]

could be a bad heater control valve or the controls for it or a plugged heater core

and you do not wanna know how to replace the heater core if it's bad

as for testing, two hoses go into the firewall and both of them should be engine temp.