Alfetta water pump/heater issues

[Jon Pike <jhpike@domain.elided>]

> Car: 1978 Sport Sedan w/ 60k miles
>
> I believe I have a problem with my water pump.  When idling (around 750 
> RMPs) at a stoplight the heater will start to blow cold air after about 
> 10-15 seconds.  Given enough time the temperature gauge will rise as well.  
> Once Im on my way, or if I raise the RPMs above 1200 or so, everything 
> returns to normal.  I assume the water pump not circulating the coolant 
> efficiently at low RPMs causes this.
Hi Craig..

Sounds like you have some kind of blockage to the heater core.  If the 
coolant flow through the whole engine was that bad, I'd think you would 
have had serious other problems by now.

So, some kind of Crud Blockage(tm) someplace..  you might try pulling 
hoses and trying to force water or air thru the core to troubleshoot 
where it is.  Odds are it's someplace either in a hose, the core itself, 
a bad heater valve, or possibly the heater valve isn't being turned on 
all the way by the cable linkage..

All the above are cheaper (well, possibly not for a very clogged heater 
core) than a new waterpump, so rejoice!

Happy hunting..

Jon
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