Heater output is strange
 

It's been freakin cold here and my 2005 GXP is not keeping me warm.
The heater doesn't blow as hot as it should consistently, when the engine RPM is about 2000 and above the heat is not bad, when it returns to idle speed the air slowly cools down.
The temp gauge has gone dumb and reads way off the scale after the engine is warmed up but the range the needle moves appears to be about right from cold to hot. The needle rests at the high end of the numbers when the engine is cold and moves the appropriate distance when hot so I presume this is more due to the chronic gauge issue these things have.
Could this be a stat issue, a pump issue or a heater control issue?
I will do a physical check of the coolant temp when I get it warmed up again to see if it is reaching normal operating temperature.
Any one have any ideas where to start looking for the problem?

Bryan

making sure your engine is getting to proper temp would be my first move, that combined with the rpm difference sounds like low coolant or thermostat issue. if you have a live data scanner or know someone who does the easiest thing is look at that to see what the pcm sees, if that is fine then the gauge is just messed up

Crack the bleeder screw on the thermostat housing (engine at operating temp, running, in park) to see if there is any air in the cooling system. Put a cloth over it, or wear a glove, so you don't burn your hand.

Thanks for the responses!
Issue solved, put a new stat in, all is well again.
That is except for the gauges that have minds of their own and read whatever they feel like at any given time!
That's a project for the future, replace them with new motors as well as getting ALL the dash and radio lighting working again.

Bryan

good to hear