Why is it in a 1999 Ford Taurus does the heat not work until you have drove down the road for a while?

Answer 1

Automobile heaters use the engine heat to warm the passenger area. Engine coolant is typically pretty close to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and by pumping that coolant through a heat exchanger (heater core) you can keep the car pretty comfortable even on the coldest winter day. But when the engine is cold you won't get any heat through the heat exchange. So if you want to get warm, you'll need to wait until the engine is up to temperature, depending on the engine displacement, mass and how much work it's doing, it can take from 2 or 3 minutes up to 10 or even 15. Driving down the road a while causes the engine to do a little work, which raises the engine temperature. If you think it's taking too long, check the thermostat and make sure you have enough coolant/antifreeze.