Hey my heater doesnt seam to work,my car is a 1990 cresida, it just blows cold air. if anyone can point me in the right direction to fix it i would be very gratefull, it is soo cold at the moment!

The simplest check to start with is make sure you coolant in your radiator is absolutely FULL. Right to the top. If there's a slow leak somewhere, before your engine overheats, your heater will stop blowing hot air.

Next, check that your wire that opens the baffle to allow hot coolant into your heater-core actually is working (inside engine compartment....where the 2 heater hoses enter the firewall.

If all that is good, then buy a coolant flush kit ($10) and splice it into the heater hose as high-up as possible. Flush your coolant out (bottom of radiator) and read the directions on the kit, fill with water, add a radiator cleaner (acidic compound from an automotive shop), run your engine for 20 mins with your heater on hot...fan does not need to be on...just your heat-lever, drain, fill with coolant "mixture" either 50-50 or if it's canada then 70-30, and run your engine and see if you're getting any heat.

If that fails (you've only spent $30 so far on the kit and coolant by the way, and maybe 3 beers and a cigar)....then you will likely have to replace your heater-core...behind your dash.

That will take about 4-6 hours of your labour, a special de-coupling tool for about $10, and of course a new heater core (i'm guessing but probably for a cressida about $150). When pulling your dash away from the firewall, you should get yourself a Haynes or Chilton manual and a little container where you can put all the little screws in.

Best Regards,
Pongo.

Thanks heaps for the info, i have checked the the wire that opens the baffle and it looks like it works fine, now with the coolant levels i fill it to the absolute top but i find in the past i need to refil it regularly to keep the level high which i think is strange but i dont see any visable water leaks. This could be the problem? This may not be anything but after i drive the car and turn it off and get out i hear a loud crackling noise from the exhaust like water is dripping on it somewhere but im sure its not dripping on the outside cos ive looked carefully,it seams to be from the inside, is this possible? Anyways ill do a coolant radiator flush and see how it goes and if that fails ill get to the heater core and check that out. could the heater core be blocked with gunk? is this common? anyways thanks heaps for the info you have been a great help.

If you have to regularly top-up your coolant then there is a leak that should get checked fixed first....before you yank out your heater core.

After driving, you should be able to smell the coolant..especially if its dripping onto hot engine parts. Also check for a "white" residue because after coolant dries it goes from green to a white powdery stuff.

I am suspecting no heat because your coolant is probably way-down.

But to answer your question....it's not "uncommon" for a heater core to get plugged. But I wouldn't say its common. Man....that's a silly political answer...maybe I should run for Prime Minister. ROFL !!!