[lilmama86]

Ok i am in the process of getting a 2000 Ford windstar from my mother and she has just informed me that the heater doesn't work. She has talked to a mechanic and it isn't the thermostat or the heatercore (since if the heatercore would have went it would have leaker). He said it might be the lever that turns the heater on that might be stuck that we can remove? I geuss it is behind either the radio or the dash. Does anybody else know what I am talking about? And if so what is it called so I can look it up to find out exactly where it is at.

[Skyhawk]

What do you mean the heater doesn't work? Does the blower motor work, or not? Is the "switch" on heat, but no hot air is being generated? Does the blower motor work, but hot air is not being sent into the cabin? There are several possible problems. Hot coolant may not be being sent to the heater core, the blower motor may not be pushing hot air out into the cabin, the blower switch may not be working, the blend air door may not be working and is directing hot air into the defrost ducts, a vacuum motor or an electric motor may not be working, etc. We need more information in order to help you. Try the heatertreater.net web site and the pictures and videos may help you understand how things work, as an example and not necessarily your situation.

[lilmama86]

All I know is that there is no heat. Like she goes to turn it on but no hot air comes out i guess. Ugh this should be a project. She says the blower motor works.

[phantom]

Does the vehicle reach operating temperature ? Did you verify the coolant is at a proper level ? does the vehicle have auxilary heat and if so does it blow warm?

[Poppy]

If I read your post properly, it seems that the mechaninc stated that the problem is the blend door actuator.
It is electrically controlled and is behind the radio.

[Marktravis]

I am sorry I am so late in catching up with this. This sounds like the problem we had with our 1999 Ford Windstar Heater that I fixed myself. We had our heater core flushed which was a worthwhile step in maintenance, but a plugged heater core was not the problem. I followed advice from a video on youtube posted by heatertreater.net which you can find here:

HeaterTreater Ford Windstar blend door repair - YouTube

HeaterTreater Ford Windstar blend door repair - YouTube

.
Be sure to watch parts 1 and 2. I was able to cut into the air plenum and prop open the blend door with a 3-inch bolt driven into the plenum wall just high enough to hold the door up directing the air (from the fan) through the heater core thereby restoring heat to the windstar. That lasted through the cold season and, in the mean time, I ordered a replacement blend door from Heater Treater and installed it in time to run the air conditioning again. Now, our 13-year-old Windstar has AC and Heat again. Watch the video and contact me with any questions. I am also one who just thinks that I am a mechanic. Good Luck.

[jwko]

If the engine temperature shows to be in the normal operating range, and both heater hoses are hot to the touch, then it will more than likely be the blend door actuator as Poppy stated. If one hose is hot and the other is a lot cooler, almost cold, the heater core is plugged.