You have to bypass it then you can. SInce it's part of cooling system, bad usually means leaks (most likely into interior) meaning it will also overheat car very quickly from loss of coolant and no pressurization. Connect (2) hoses going into firewall together then adjust coolant level then drive.
Bad or clogged heater core. Backflush it.
bad heater core bad heater core
COULD BE A BAD HEATER CORE COULD BE A BAD HEATER CORE sounds like the heater control switch needs replacing.if that doesnt fix it, you need new heater core
It is never a good idea to drive with a coolant leak. Overheating can kill an engine quick. So drive at your own risk.
Check the heater core, it is probably bad. It could be heater hose connections to the heater core, but I would bet on the heater core going bad.
this is an indicator that the heater core has a small leak. there should be absolutly no anifreeze moisture in the car. your heater core is bad , sorry See "Related Links" for heater core replacement information for his generation of Taurus / Sables
A bad smell coming from the heater in a vehicle can indicate a bad heater core. One way to check this out is to see if the smell is worse when you sit in the passenger seat. If it is, there is a good chance the heater core is bad.
The most common signs of a bad heater core are; no heat or fluid leaking into the passenger compartment. The heater core can have a leak or it can be plugged.
coolant on the floor
You know the heater core is bad when your truck leaks antifreeze onto the floor of the passenger side.
The first sign that a heater core is bad is the lack of heat from the blower motor on a vehicle. The second sign that a heater core is bad is water on the floor of the passenger side foot well on a vehicle.
no heat can be caused by,blocked heater core insufficient coolant in engine blocked heater hoses from engine to heater core bad heater thermostat bad thermostat in engine bad heater control switch