The heater in my 96 Ranger (2.3, 5sp) doesn’t get very warm. It’s been that way since I got it a few years ago. It came from Phoenix so it may not have been an issue for the PO, but since I’m further north and colder it is time for me to address it.

Here is more specific info on the situation:

1. The heater fan blows on all the settings. From what I have read that says the resistor seems to be good.

2. The blower directional settings respond as selected. From what I have read that says the door mechanism is working.

3. The coolant temp gauge reads just a bit above the C line and not close to the middle line. The thermostat (192 degree) was replaced about a year ago while doing the cam belt. The gauge still reads as it did before.

Not sure where to look next.

 

Put some card board in front of radiator, 2.3l is very hard to keep warm, above 180degF, in colder climates
The cold air coming into engine bay cools the engine too fast so it can't even get up to operating temp, 180-190degF
The center line on Temp Gauge is 205degF, so it should be just under 1/2 after warm up, but at least above 1/3

You can also get pipe insulation, the foam stuff that's split, put it on the heater hoses, this does two things, it keeps the heater core temp up but also doesn't bleed off as much heat so engine stays warmer, this insulation can stay on year round
The card board can by pulled out in summer
Try covering 1/2 radiator first, may need more depending on outside temp, cover drivers side first, its the colder side, more open side, i.e. no exhaust manifold, lol

Semi trucks have to do this in cold weather, you may have seen the Zipper or snap-on grill covers while out driving around, so not an uncommon issue

 

Excellent response. I was not aware of the 2.3l being hard to keep warm, or the center line on temp gauge being 205degF. I will keep that in mind.

Since I have a couple pieces of pipe insulation I grabbed them and put them on. BUT, in the process of doing that I found that the small blue hard plastic hose that goes to the heater control valve is broken. I don’t know if it was broken before I went in there or if I did that.

How much does that hose effect the heater operation?

 

Should be a grey vacuum hose, comes from the firewall and the AC/Heat control switch in the cab, not the Temp ****

Its a by-pass valve not heat control, when you turn AC/heat switch to off, or AC MAX, vacuum is sent on the grey/blue hose and pulls the valve closed so no heat in the cab, its an all or nothing valve, on or off, default/no vacuum, is open, allows flow thru heater core

So if its disconnected valve is open and heater has coolant flowing thru it

 

XLNT thank you. I'll use a small rubber hose piece to repair the. light blue or grey, hose. Snaking a hose through all the obstacles would be a huge pain.

I cut a piece of "polywall" plastic for the radiator today.