Heater

[andycs3]

I ask because im thinking about replacing mine, because...well... it doesn't work at all

it will blow cold air at me, which up until last night had never proved a problem... but i was coming over the M62 last night, and it must have been about 7 kelvin in the car.

So how is the heater supposed to work, and is there a nice replacement?

[matk]

Before you start ripping everything out there may be a simple fix. The flaps are operated by a vacuum system and a leak in this or a pipe becoming disconnected will cause no end of bother. Also it may be something as simple as the flow valve into the matrix is stuck, or even the matrix has become gunged up. Having said all this I'm no expert on how to rectify as the S2 system on mine is prehistoric and doesn't have vacuum valves or even a flow valve. I'm sure some of the other G car gurus will add on and explain more in a bit.

Main point is don't get too hacked off yet, it could be something quite simple................. and there again it might not................. but try the simple fixes first!

[andycs3]

well if there is a fix... obviously that would be preferable....

it seems to me that moving the heater or blower adjustment does nothing... so basically instead of a heater, my car has a two speed fan

[molemot]

Mine had ceased to function until I backflushed it with mains water pressure when I had the engine out...now it gets hot again!!

[stagowner]

The problem will be the heater valve, first its easy to make sure the cable is operating the valve, remove the air intake box from inside the bonnet, then you will see a small rectangular cover (drivers side to bulk head)

[Michaelgh]

I have similar problem problem that when the car starts to run with the turbo on boost this cause the vacuum to drop because the manifold has a positive pressure and the heater turns to cold, this also effects the brakes when stopping from high speed only get about three pushes on the brake pedal an the servo is "empty of vacuum"

H C turbo car are fitted with a separate belt driven Vacuum pump the solve the problem on the brakes.

I am looking into fit a separate vacuum pump on my 84 Turbo hopefully to cure this problem

[espritmania]

Hi Andy,I have just sorted my heater out on my S3.The problem was that the fan worked but it would only push out air from the face vents.My problem was that on my passenger side there is a vacuum take off that leads to the inlet manifold,it had come off.I put it back on a hey presto the heater flap works and so does the fan temp. Check out this first.I hope it solves your problem.I will post a picture tomorrow.Thanks Paul G.

Edited November 13, 2007 by espritmania

[andycs3]

I will post a picture tomorrow.Thanks Paul G.

Oh goodie i await that with baited breath then... i may have manoeuvred the morning off on thursday, so if i can crawl out of bed, i shall try and investigate then

[andycs3]

so any idea what i should be looking for/at?

i cracked open that panel, but nothing was particularly obvious

[andydclements]

All the time I've had the S3 I've had no heater, last night while I was taking the coil and ignition amp off to use on the Excel (didn't need to, found issue) I realised the vacum feedfor the heater controls isn't in the engine compartment to be seen, that's why the second vacum nipple on the intake manifold is blocked off.

[simonf]

I ask because im thinking about replacing mine, because...well... it doesn't work at all

it will blow cold air at me, which up until last night had never proved a problem... but i was coming over the M62 last night, and it must have been about 7 kelvin in the car.

So how is the heater supposed to work, and is there a nice replacement?

You think you have got it bad! The other night on the way to our local Esprit meeting my Air Con sprang back to life! now that sounds like a good thing doesn't it - well ITS NOT! mainly because i can't turn it off! my fan control knob is one speed...ON, it doesn't matter where it is on the scale its just on! Couple that with the same problem that you are experiencing which is cold air only and you have where i am right now!

I am going to get one of those sheep skin pilot jackets favoured by TR6 drivers if i don't get it fixed soon!

Edited November 23, 2007 by simonf

[andycs3]

you think thats bad.... when i were a lad....... oh ok lets not start that

Nobody out there with a working heater care to take some pictures for me?

[obione]

I always assumed it was a safety device fitted as standard.

My heater works really well, hit 70 and it gets cold, faster and you freeze. I dont like the cold so I dont drive fast in the winter!

Andrew

[Guest Troy Halliday]

OK a break down on the heater issues.

Places to start.

Always start with the vacume pipes. These start in the engine bay. The vacume is taken of the inlet manifold and from there goes to the resevoir located on the pasenger side fuel tank. From there it goes through the bulkhead, along the capping rail, down the a pilar and heads to the centre of the dash. Here it is attatched to the heater using a couple of 90 degree elbows and t junctions all of which can come undone and split so check these first. These elbows can be got in most good motor spares and are quite cheap. Make sure they are geting a thorough seal sometimes a little superglue can help here.

Next is the water flow.

The heater pipes run through the chasis and come up inside the car at the front, you can see these from under the car. There is a heater valve on the inlet side of the water matrix. This can quite often sieze and is usualy the reason for no heat in the system. Now this is real fun to get to as it is right up under the dash in the drivers footwell. It can also be got to from behin the black cover under the bonnet. Once you remove that you will see a small black plastic square plate which is crewed onto the bulkhead. remove that and you may just about gain access to the heater valve. check for smooth operation here and see if the valve is actually opening. Now it could simply be that your cables have come loose and that they are not fully operating the valves. So make sure they are working correctly.

I hope this all helps if you have any further problems or this does not help, give me a shout.

[andycs3]

cheers troy brilliant as usual

i had a peek today, and found, well nothing interesting... the heater valve is moving about a centimeter when i move the controls.... but after fiddling around (i didn't think id done anything) the car has started to wheeze hot air out of the windscreen vents.

so if i can just get this blowing a little stronger, i may be able to create a warm cockpit

any ideas?

[Guest Troy Halliday]

Ok the motor sorry I neglected tha bit.

The fan is two speed affair. If it is not working on one speed or non here is your check list.

First sheck fuses.

Then remove the Black cover under the bonnet against the bulkhead to get access to the fans.Turn the fans on and see both fans one at the top of the unit and one at the bottom are both working.

If no then check for power at the fans. This is where a power probe comes into it's own as you can check both the earth connections and the lives.

If when you aplly a live feed to the fans it kicks into life then it is more than likely the switch.

You can use your power probe here to apply a current through the pins to check to see iall the wires are ok and it is just the switch

Now the switch can be serviced and you will find when you take it apart it is as coroded ad hell in there. Clean it all up apply some grease puy iy back together and test it out. If it now works all is well. If not get anew switch.

[andycs3]

oh the fan seems to work.... at least they make noise, and the air comes out faster

the first setting does nothing, but the second setting allows the air to come out, as if an asmatic ferret were wheezing on you

[matk]

Andy

If manually moving the valve manged to create some hot air when you had none before, that says to me the valve is corroded inside and not giving it's full range of movement. Have you tried backflushing the matrix too yet?

[andycs3]

No i've not tried that yet... a few reasons really... one i dont have a hose pipe or an outside tap....

and im not really sure on how one would go about doing it....

[sephyr]

Wooohooo I did the backflush-thing today, and now my cockpit becomes nice and warm

I just disconnected the two heater hoses from under the front of the car, and held a standard garden hose against one of these and flushed all the mud out until clear water was running through. Of course it was a mess, and I was glad I had a nice warm garage with a lift to do it in or I might have frozen to death as wet as I became... I also flushed out the radiator, and filled with new distilled water and antifreeze

[Guest Troy Halliday]

Esprits with heaters who would have thought it was possible B)

Well done, well soon have everyone nice and toasty in the cars. Oh and I may have an alternative heater valve. I have spoken to someone from the kits car market and they are sending me one soon. I let you know what the outcome is.

[USAndretti42]

oh the fan seems to work.... at least they make noise, and the air comes out faster

the first setting does nothing, but the second setting allows the air to come out, as if an asmatic ferret were wheezing on you

The first fan speed setting on my is similar but it does pump out some air. Best indicator is the amount of air coming out of the fresh air vents.

On the S2 you can't see the heater valve immediately after removing the plastic plenum cover as there should be duct tape over the hole. If the S3 is the same, you have to remove that to should see the valve, mounted on top of the pedal box.

Now I have a question. The air to the footwells is fed through a flexible, corrugated tube. Where do you put it? Between the tunnel and steering column or on the outside of the steering column?

[LOTUS]

A diagram of the vacuum hose layout for the heater system for a 1987 HC turbo would be handy. Can anyone help with this?

I can provide some photos of the disconnected mystery pipes if that helps.

Regards

Joolz

Wooohooo I did the backflush-thing today, and now my cockpit becomes nice and warm

I just disconnected the two heater hoses from under the front of the car, and held a standard garden hose against one of these and flushed all the mud out until clear water was running through. Of course it was a mess, and I was glad I had a nice warm garage with a lift to do it in or I might have frozen to death as wet as I became... I also flushed out the radiator, and filled with new distilled water and antifreeze

Can you back flush using the two hoses that connect to the front and rear of the engine? It would save going under the car?

Joolz

[sephyr]

Can you back flush using the two hoses that connect to the front and rear of the engine? It would save going under the car?

Joolz

I don't know for sure, maybe if you find the two hoses that goes directly to the heater. You really need to get some pressure directly to the heater, as the brown goo was quite thick at the start before the water runs free. And I don't think it would be such a good idea to push it all the way through the pipes to the engine compartment, shortest route for the mess is the best.

[LOTUS]

Thanks Sephyr I will have a look at the problem tomorrow. I am getting fed up of driving the car around whilst freezing, it has been very cold here lately

Regards

Joolz