When I start my van to defrost, it blows cold air...

Yeah, these cold mornings it takes awhile! 18° with wind here this am! I bet in OH it's colder.

Yep that's cold, will be here Sunday night through Tuesday, Teens at night, thirty's daytime.

Actually its supposed to go down well under 0 starting Sunday nite thru Wednesday! The defroster blows cold air period, does not defrost, I can let it 'warm up' for 15+ minutes and there will be NO hot air at all. Once I start driving maybe within 10+ minutes or so, some heat will finally kick in to at least defrost. It takes a good 1/2 hour or so before I finally get decent heat. This is totally not normal! The heater core must be good if I am eventually getting heat.

That sounds to me that the thermostat needs attention, might be allowing water to circulate before it reaches normal temperature, aprox 190deg.

Went to Sears, they said the thermostat was operating correctly! Went to Jiffy Lube to have coolant checked, all was good.

Almost sounds like a lazy blend door actuator. Feel of the heater hoses to see if they get hot after about 10 min. If hoses are hot, so should be heater output!

Did you leave it at Sears overnight and let them try a cold start and check the operating function during initial warm up. Has the thermostat ever been replaced, just a thought.

No didn't leave it...as the guy was driving it around the front for me to pick up he remarked at how hot the heat was now! He has an Uplander too and said that where they thought it was the heater core, now it's not and could be the control switches(?) My personal mechanic (now that I got a hold of him) is going to try and blow out heater core for starters within the next few days as soon as he gets over being sick, so hopefully he'll be able to figure this out.

That's like the blind leading the blind! A MECHANIC needs to check this out! Sorry, i have seen some of the work done at those........auto places. Ok, you beat me to this post, i feel sure your mechanic can help you out! Case closed. ps, 10° this am in SW VA. (Near Roanoke.)

Yea, Sears evidently is limited to what they can do and its not heater cores or controls!

?? PR, me???? I worked at Sears back in the 70's and it's about in and out, make the money.

I know, knew a manager at the local Sears Auto shop. Alomost took that job at one time! Glad i didn't!! Those lube shops are the same! Rarely a 'mechanic' in the whole bunch. I feel better on this one now that the reg. mechanic will be checking it out.

Well when I get more info I'll let you know! I've noticed that as soon as it eventually gets up to temp the heat will work...just idling in the driveway is not getting it up to temp until you actually start driving.

Yep; The core doesn't need flushing, Just a new thermostat would help more than anything. It will hold closed for the temperature to raise sooner, just like new.

Just wanted to let y'all know the problem has been resolved! Simple fix actually, we had to 'burp' it to get the extra air out of the lines or hoses, then we changed the gasket in the radiator cap. Works like a charm now and only cost $20!

Thought the air was out. Good deal

How did you burp the air out?