Bought a 2007 LS and noticed the poor heat. Dealership applied the update but I didn't notice any change. Maybe it was already done since we bought it used.

The tempatures been -20°C for the last few days and loosing heat at every a red light is getting annoying.
I put a temerture probe on the vent and measured the heat. After 30 seconds of idle i'm reading mid 70°F. As soon as i hit the gas it'll reach 130°F or more.

I've spoken to others that have the 2008 and had the update and they haven't noticed any poor heat problems. I was told the update was just bumping up the idle and the dealership really didn't think it would work. I'm idleing at about 500RPM. They also told me not to run the heat on high, which i didn't think was very practicle. Even warming up in the car for 20 minutes in the morning will not give you a warm car.

I know there's another guy here that got the update but he didn't post back yet about his results. Anyone else get this update done and can post the difference it made.

 

You may be referring to me.. I had the update. My 2008 is toasty, cannot complain at all.

Now, just to be clear, any vehicle, no matter what type, is going to provide more heat under load. If you're driving, it is normal for the temp at the vents to provide more heat. Frankly, other than having to use the Defrost for the windshield, I set the automatic temperature control to whatever desired temp (20-22 degrees in my case) and leave it on automatic. It is also normal to not find your car is that warm by simply starting it and leaving it running for 20 minutes. The car is idling and the fluid is not really circulating that much until it is under load.

I have a remote starter and I am using it mostly because it at least melts off the ice and snow from my rear window with the electirc defroster, gets the car up a few degrees to make it more comfortable than the outside temperature and of course loosens any ice/snow that I will be left to scrape off when I get to my car. But as for heating the interior, from a comfort point of view, getting a remote starter doesn't change much. It's once you're underway that the vehicle gets warm very quickly. Usually within 1-2km, I am getting very adequate heat.

Your dealer is correct about not turning the heat up to high... If you're not running under full load, you are exhausting the heat energy stored in the coolant very quickly. It's better to let it release evenly by controlling the temperature **** and fan. Don't forget, your fluid temperature really isn't controled, it's the volume of heated air that is controlled by the fan and the flow of the fluid.

Hope this helps.

 

I'm just hoping that when it's -35 i'll be able to wait in the car on the side of the road to pick my wife up and keep warm.

Did you notice a difference from before the update was applied. Was it a big difference?

 

The car`s heating system is from the engine. There is what they call a ``heater core`` that brings heat into the cabin of the car. When the engine is cold, the coolant`s cold, and it doesn`t give heat to the heater core, which there is no heat. When the engine is warm, coolant will be warm, coolant go to the heat core, gives heat out. That is all the heating system is in a car.

Maybe you should try this, drive the car for a long time, and then stop, open the hood, and just feel if the engine is hot, or it is really really hot. It should be just hot because is what the coolant that keeps it cool. What might be happening is there is a thermostat that lets coolant in and out of the engine. If thermostat is busted, the coolant is going to be still cold when it goes to the core, giving you no heat. This is a major problem, because if coolant is not running properly in the engine, engine can over heat, which means ________.

 

I posted this over a year ago when I first purchased the Outlander. I'm going to go to the dealer next week to have the TSB performed and see if it makes a difference. Now that it's getting cold again, it's getting annoying. By far, this is the worst heater out of all my vehicles.

 

Once again, I will reiterate, my heating system operates fine, no complaints. It was -29 Celsius a couple of days ago, no problem at all.

Here is a link to how car cooling systems and heaters work... For those who might be interested.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cooling-system.htm

 

I dont have any problems with the heater. The only thing I can complain about is that in the summer the fan for the radiator comes on about every 10 seconds when at a dead stop.

 

My problem with the heater is that when it's up to set temp, that it may overshoot, and start to blow cold air on me. This is at highway speeds, not at a stop light. Anyone noticed this?

 

just a word from the north. today its -40 outside. outtie started without a problem. heater runs stupuid hot. had to turn the heat down because it was blowing too damn hot. highway and city driving.

 

After having the TSB applied, my heater works fine now when at a stop.