2003 Chevrolet Cavalier General Question

Its been a pretty cold winter in Ohio this year, the coldest one in 20 years with temperatures at 20-30 below zero. I've been home for winter break from college and I hadn't been driving my car much because it needed some repairs done on the windshield wiper transmission otherwise I could not see in the snow. My heating was perfect when it worked and the few times that I drove the car since leaving school, it was working fine. Its been about a week that I hadn't driven my car since the weather got bad and the temperatures went down and now my heat isn't working. I'm thinking that something froze that would affect the heating (maybe the anti-freeze/water mix or something else). What are the possible things that may have gone wrong due to the weather or any other thing that may have caused my heating to suddenly stop working correctly? Also, how might I fix this issue? I have a Chevy Cavalier 2003 and it is otherwise in very good condition. Thanks!

Posted Jan 9th by Fatrina the owner of a Chevrolet Cavalier Chevy Cavalier 2003, anti-freeze, windshield wiper transmission, Heater not working, cold winter, snow, below freezing

Answers from the Automotive Experts

Hi Fatrina, Yes it has been a very cold winter for a lot of states that are not use to this type of frigid temperatures. I am going to recommend that you take your cavalier into an auto repair shop to have the lack of heat diagnosed. You didn't state whether the fan was working OK but no heat was coming out, or if the fan was not working. If the fan is working, there could be a problem with the thermostat or could even be a problem with the climate control unit. No way to tell until a technician has the car and can do some diagnostic work.

⟩ Answered on Jan 10th, 2014 by Amy Mattinat, Owner and Author at Auto Craftsmen Ltd

I miss my cavalier...they were great little cars. Its possible there is a thermostat issue or a leak in the system. Let the car run for a while. If both hoses coming out of the radiator are hot, then the thermostat (in theory) is ok. If one is hot and the other is cold, the thermostat is not working properly. It is also possible with this condition that the radiator has a blockage inside. Both hoses going into the firewall should also be hot. If the thermostat is working and one of the hoses going to the firewall is much cooler (there will be a slight difference in temp here), then you have a heater core issue that needs to be addressed.

⟩ Answered on Jan 10th, 2014 by Helaine Kurot, Owner/Technician at 360 Automotive

Fatrina, On your 2003 Cavalier: There are a number of things to have checked. Thermostat, Heater control valve and Blend door are common causes of no heat. Good luck.

⟩ Answered on Jan 10th, 2014 by Maryann Croce, Owner at Croce’s Transmission Specialists

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