Dakota 4.7 liter engine heating

If you flushed the coolant with the thermostat in, chances are you didn't flush the coolant. Regardless, it's easiest to check the controls inside first. Does the blower fan work? Does the air flow change from floor to vent, to dash as it's supposed to? Does the A/C change temps when knob is turned from cold to hot? Post results.

disconnect the heat hoses going into fire wall , put hose into one with pressure and flush as it sounds like it could be bloked in the heater core,the other thing that could be the problem be the hot ,cold switch as it restricts the flow to makes the heater hoter or colder , it might need tlc or replacing as it is manaul not elec

CHECK ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL.MAKE SURE COOLANT OVER FLOW JUG HAS COOLANT IN FULL COLD MARK.IF COOLANT OVER FLOW JUG IS EMPTY RADIATOR GOT TO BE LOW ON COOLANT POUR COOLANT IN THE OVER FLOW UNTIL COOLANT LEVEL STAY AT THE COLD FULL MARK.SEE IF RADIATOR DONT HAVE A RADIATOR CAP YOU HAVE TO POUR COOLANT IN THE OVER FLOW JUG COOLANT WILL FLOW DOWN IN RADIATOR UNTIL COOLANT LEVEL STOP AT FULL COLD MARK.IF COOLANT LEVEL OKAY.YOUR THERMOSTAT NEED CHANGING ALSO RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP.HAVE RADIATOR FLUSHED OUT.HAVE ENGINE BLOCK FLUSHED OUT.CHECK ENGINE OIL IF OIL LOOK LIKE MILK SHAKE ON OIL DIP STICK YOU HAVE LEAKING HEAD GASKET THAT WILL CAUSE ENGINE OVER HEAT WHILE CAR IN MOTION.CHECK WATER PUMP MAKE SURE ITS WEEP HOLE NOT LEAKING ANTIFREEZE IF SO WATER PUMP NEED REPLACING.

REPLACE THERMOSTAT.MAKE SURE COOLANT SUPPLY PIPE OR COOLANT RETURN PIPE NOT STOPPED UP AND YOU HAVE ENOUGH COOLANT IN THE SYSTEM.REPLACE THERMOSTAT.CRANK ENGINE UP AND LET IDLE UNTIL WARM UP KEEP EYES ON TEMPERATURE GAUGE. WHEN ENGINE THERMOSTAT OPEN COOLANT HOSE SHOULD BE HOT.IF NOT TURN OFF ENGINE.USE LARGE RAG WAIT A WHILE BEFORE REMOVING RADIATOR CAP CHECK TO SEE IF COOLANT LEVEL DROPPING IF SO ADD MORE COOLANT.CRANK ENGINE UP UNTIL THERMOSTAT OPENS UP.HOSE WILL GET HOT.IF STILL COLD CHECK COOLANT LEVEL.ONCE YOU AIR OUT COOLANT SYSTEM RADIATOR HOSES WILL GET HOT SO YOU WILL GET HEAT.IF COOLANT LOW YOU WONT GET NO HEAT.

You probably need to bleed the cooling system properly.

Open the cooling system bleeder screws.

Slowly fill the cooling system with a 50/50 coolant mixture until coolant runs freely out of bleeder screws.
Close the cooling system bleeder screws
Install the coolant pressure cap
Start the engine.
Run the engine at 2,000 - 2,500 RPM until the engine reaches normal operating temperature. (midway on gauge)
Allow the engine to idle for 3 minutes.
Shut the engine off.
Allow the engine to completely cool.
Top off the coolant as necessary.
Run engine again at 2000 - 2500 RPM until the engine reaches normal operating temperature.
Allow engine to idle until cooling fans come on. It should come on with the gauge about 3/4 of the way to red. - if it gets to where is touches the red, shut down immediately.
When the fan comes on, put your hand behind the fan and observe the temperature of the air coming from the fan. It should feel hot. If it is blowing cold air, the coolant is not circulating through the radiator like it should. This could be caused by lots of things including an improper/defective thermostat, corroded water pump impeller, or a blown head gasket.

if you have changed the thermostat. did you bleed air out of system, if air is trapped in system it will not heat right! drain radiator and flush it good, but when refilling turn heater on high heat. then bleed air out when refilling system. most all cars have a bleeder for air. if in doubt, call any auto parts store to find out where yours is. if air is in system you will see bubbles appear from bleeder. also when flushing engine, make sure you start vehicle so it circulates through engine as well as refilling system. if the upper radiator hose gets hot then check for heat from car if it is ok! close bleeder and make sure radiator is full. I think the biggest culprit is air trapped in system. before starting the flush, be sure its not caused by low coolant in radiator. have a good day!!

Are you sure that the spring side of the thermostat is toured the engine/ look for a bleeder near the top highest spot in a line or hose that may be able to release the air it may even be near the water pump side.on some water pumps for the ford's the pumps will bolt on and look almost the same but the fins on the impeller are the opposite.clock wise instead of counter clock wise or vice vars. you my wont to check with your parts supply store to see if that is possible.hope this helps give you some ideas.feel free to ask again if you would like any further assistance.thank you for asking fixya . Have a Grate Day

If the heater core is not damaged or leaking ie: if you don't see coolant on the INSIDE of your windshield or coolant on the floor inside the car then chances are you may just need to BLEED the radiator.

remove radiator cap

Fill coolant resovoir to the cold line if the engine is cold from sitting overnight.

Start engine with cap off

Wait till engine gets hot

While waiting you will see a big gurgle of air bubbles come out and the coolant level will drop

Fill the radiator with more coolant to compensate.

When the fans come on and it stops gurgling air install the radiator cap

You are done

Watch the coolant level for the next few days and top off in the resovoir as needed to keep it filled.

Your heat should be very hot now providing you installed the correct oem thermostat correctly.

Hope this helps

You need to make sure there is no air trapped in the system. I assume you flushed the radiator when you changed the thermostat. I also assume you installed fresh coolant mixed 50/50 antifreeze and distilled water. I also assume you installed the thermostat correctly with the spring facing the engine. Look on the upper part of the cooling system and the engine for bleeder valves (If Equipped). Now remove the radiator cap from a cold engine and make sure the radiator is totally full. Set the heater temperature control to HOT. Start the engine and look for escaping air bubbles from the radiator. Keep the coolant level full at all times. It will take awhile for the thermostat to fully open so be patient. Once you see no more escaping air bubbles install the cap. Wait about 2 minutes with the engine running and use the bleeder valves to remove any more trapped air from the system. Post back if this did not help.

First thing first, turn off the engine wait for 15 - 20 mints, open the radiator cap and fill it up to the top then start the engine and see if it needs more water adn add as needed, then wait till you ca see the water circulating in the radiator now instead of corculating if it starts boiling out shut the engine replace the thermostat and do the whole thing again.

unless there is water in the engine the gauge will not be able to show the actual temp of the engine, so always malke sure you have water / antifreeze