No heat

[JeffW]

Hi All

I have decided to keep mine on the road as much as possible over the winter as I have read so frequently on this forum not to let them sit, as mine did for 9 years prior to my ownership.

My heater, however, does not seem to be working. It did work well in July, when I didn't need it, but now not so much. After a couple of months of driving (September or so) I got the water behind the dash sound, so I flipped the heater matrix hoses as per the advice on the forum and the sound stopped. However I am unsure if that also took my heat away, or if it just a coincidence and in fact the heater valve has stuck.

Any thoughts? The idea of ripping half the car apart to get to the heater box is unappealing.

Thanks

Jeff

[Goldstar]

The heater valve might be stuck. It's down by your left foot and should move when you move the knob to hot. You can move the knob and watch the valve if you have long arms (like me).

Some help here (other searches are available) http://socforum.com/forum/showthread...t=heater+valve

[brian0443]

Jeff, the first thing to check is operation of the heater valve. It's low down on the heater and easily visible. See if it is moving when you operate the heater control, or if you can just turn it directly. The clip holding the cable has a great tendency to slip off, this allows the outer cable to move as well as the inner control cable with the result that the valve does not move.
Good luck.
Brian

[JeffW]

Jeff, the first thing to check is operation of the heater valve. It's low down on the heater and easily visible. See if it is moving when you operate the heater control, or if you can just turn it directly. The clip holding the cable has a great tendency to slip off, this allows the outer cable to move as well as the inner control cable with the result that the valve does not move.
Good luck.
Brian

Many thanks Brian & Goldstar, both absolutely correct. Hot/Cold lever moves but it does not move the heater valve. Once I moved it by hand, heat galore.

I will dig around underneath and see if I can get it moving again. From your link Goldstar looks to be a skin-removing job...!

Thanks to you both again.

Jeff

[5chaiaday]

I seem to remember someone (JLeyton?) managed to avoid the knuckle scraping by trapping the outer cable with a self tapper and washer so the outer didn't move and inner once again did the job. Maybe something to keep in mind if your patience (and skin) wears thin.........

Scrub that - all explained on page 1 of the link already posted above.

Ed.

[susiedeer]

I seem to remember someone (JLeyton?) managed to avoid the knuckle scraping by trapping the outer cable with a self tapper and washer so the outer didn't move and inner once again did the job. Maybe something to keep in mind if your patience (and skin) wears thin.........

Scrub that - all explained on page 1 of the link already posted above.

Ed.

Yup, Julian, sorely missed, always great advice just like Russ, at least the history remembers them.
Cheers
Andy

[MandM]

I seem to remember someone (JLeyton?) managed to avoid the knuckle scraping by trapping the outer cable with a self tapper and washer so the outer didn't move and inner once again did the job. Maybe something to keep in mind if your patience (and skin) wears thin.........

Scrub that - all explained on page 1 of the link already posted above.

Ed.

Think you may be talking about the evil positioned GREEN clip on the heater control cable end under the radio, have experienced that little bugger, make sure you use a green clip as have been told they are slightly different.

[davidf]

I read somewhere that you can set the valve open and disconnect the cable, as the heater control also moves a flap which selects air from through, or bypassing, the heater matrix. Anyone tried this, or able to confirm or comment?

[DJT]

I leave my heater valve open all the time Summer or Winter, with the control lever on ‘HOT’. Just shut off the hot air with the RH lever as required, and add fresh air with the LH lever. That leaves the heater matrix adding to the coolant capacity whatever the temperature.

[022Dave]

I leave my heater valve open all the time Summer or Winter, with the control lever on ‘HOT’. Just shut off the hot air with the RH lever as required, and add fresh air with the LH lever. That leaves the heater matrix adding to the coolant capacity whatever the temperature.

I do the same; I also believe that the continual flow of water helps prevent the heater matrix from silting up.

Other Dave