I recently noticed my '13 Ram Bighorn (5.7L with the 8 speed transmission) wasn't blowing much more than luke warm heat. It got to be noticeable once temperatures got down to freezing temperatures and below. This is the conventional manual heating system by the way, not auto climate.
I replaced the thermostat just as a routine maintenance item and drained/flushed the heater core. The core isn't blocked by any stretch, and afterward the heater temperature improved, but it's still fairly cool, especially in the teens. Unfortunately, when it gets to that point, operating the defrost (which automatically runs the AC compressor) takes it from lukewarm to cool which doesn't do much to help keep the windshield clear.
When I drained the heater core, I noticed the 3 way valve that diverts coolant to the transmission, and remembered that it seems to take longer for the transmission to reach operating temperature than it did previously. Is there any potential for that valve to be stuck, limiting the mount of fluid that goes to the heater core? I would think that might throw an error code, but if it's in between it might end up keeping the temperature in the normal operating parameters.
Anyone run into any issues/problems with the 3-way valve? Seems to be unique to the 8 speed in the Hemi setup anyway. My dad's '11 with the 6 speed doesn't have that valve at all.
I replaced the thermostat just as a routine maintenance item and drained/flushed the heater core. The core isn't blocked by any stretch, and afterward the heater temperature improved, but it's still fairly cool, especially in the teens. Unfortunately, when it gets to that point, operating the defrost (which automatically runs the AC compressor) takes it from lukewarm to cool which doesn't do much to help keep the windshield clear.
When I drained the heater core, I noticed the 3 way valve that diverts coolant to the transmission, and remembered that it seems to take longer for the transmission to reach operating temperature than it did previously. Is there any potential for that valve to be stuck, limiting the mount of fluid that goes to the heater core? I would think that might throw an error code, but if it's in between it might end up keeping the temperature in the normal operating parameters.
Anyone run into any issues/problems with the 3-way valve? Seems to be unique to the 8 speed in the Hemi setup anyway. My dad's '11 with the 6 speed doesn't have that valve at all.
