1996 Buick regal heat not hot....?

may be the heater core ...any moisture on your rugs or inside on the windows...if not it's probably the thermostat...located on the engine block where the top radiator hose connects

It is unlikely that the thermostat would cause this problem. A bettter bet would be the heater control valve that switches hot water to the heater core when the switch is set to heat. Inspect the vacuum lines to this swich (on the side of the heater assembly under the dash near the floor board) See if the switch changes position when the controls are changed on the dash.

PS The defroster will work with just cool air, or even barely heated air. If it were your thermostat the car would not heat up at all.

This could be thermostat or low coolant or blocked heater core or vacuum leak. If you can afford it, take it to a REPUTABLE repair shop. Look for blue and whit signs that advertise ASE certification. NOT A DEALER. You will pay top dollar at a dealer.

The thermostat is located on the top of the engine. Find the large top radiator hose and follow it to the engine. (There it is)

There are certain bleeding procedures to get the air out of the cooling system. If you do not know, do not do it yourself.

Check with the local Vocational School. If they have an auto department, have them do it. It will take longer than normal but it will be a LOT CHEAPER.

I'm not familiar with that particular model, but the first thing to do is check your coolant level. If that's OK, follow the hose that runs from the top side of the radiator to the engine block. The thermostat is located under the hose on the block side. With the engine cold, you would unscrew the clamp that holds the hose onto the gooseneck, detach the hose, then unbolt the two bolts that fasten the gooseneck to the block. Another possible culprit could be the heat control valve

1996 Buick

Thanks for the answers to those that really knew. I am a female that is going to go for replacing my own thermostat since I can't get anyone else to do it. BTW - for the guy that mentioned the helpful fact that the original posters car was almost 12 years old(bet he didn't know that already!)... well, mine is 14 years old and gee, if you can't afford a mechanic then what makes you think you can afford a new car!!! LOL!

I'm pretty sure youll need to switch ECU's, and i highly doubt that they kept the same wiring harness for each series, and im not sure but i think the 3800 II has a dogbone motor mount on top of the motor like the 3.1's and 2.8's.. probably best to buy a new car if you cant find another series 2 to drop in. good luck

maybe it is because your car is just about 12 years old?