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How to Troubleshoot a 2006 Mercury Mountaineer Heater System

• Answer:

  Troubleshoot the heating system in your 2006 Mercury Mountaineer before temperatures drop below zero this winter. Problems with the heating system are usually fairly simple to diagnose, whether it be an issue with the electric blower fan or heater core. Before taking your Mercury Mountaineer in for what could turn out to be an expensive service, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can run through on your own. Difficulty: Moderately Easy Instructions Start the engine. Turn the electric blower fan and heater to the highest settings to ensure that air is blowing across the heater core. If you do not hear or feel the fan turn on, a fuse might have blown, or the fan could be faulty. Inspect the fuse box (far left side of the dash) to check for any fuses that might have blown. Read the schematic on the inside of the fuse box cover for instructions on how to locate the fuse connected to the heating system. If the fuse inside the glass tube is broken, replace it with another of the same amperage rating. Place your hand on the passenger side carpet to feel for any signs of wetness. If it is damp and carries a strong, sweet odor, this could mean that coolant is leaking from the heater core. In this instance the heater core might need replacement. Consult a qualified mechanic. Check that there is an adequate level of coolant in the radiator. When the coolant level is too low, air may becomes trapped within the system and obstructs the flow of heated air through the hoses and vents. Start the engine and open the hood. Feel the two heater hoses protruding from the firewall. The firewall is the metal partition between the passenger and engine compartments. Both hoses should be hot to the touch. If they are not, the flow of coolant could be blocked, and the heater core might need replacement. Check to see if the thermostat is stuck open. Start the engine when it is cold. Place your hand on the upper radiator hose to see if you feel coolant flowing through it. This should be immediately apparent to the touch. If you do feel coolant, it might mean that the thermostat is stuck open because it only normally begins to flow once the engine has warmed sufficiently. Have a qualified mechanic investigate this further for you.