This last week has brought to my attention that my heater on my townie is not very good.
I always flush and hose through the radiator whenever I change the oil and fileters etc, as I was advised when I bought it, yet the heater is not much use in very cold weather.
Is there anything I can do to improve things? - (#1716) Steve Lewis, 27 Dec 01

Are there any airlocks or blockages in the system?
Is the water valve opening?(it's under the floor at the front)
Is the thermostat OK in the engine?
Are the heater flaps operating OK? - (#1718) david miller, 27 Dec 01

Where is the thermostat located?
I don,t believe that I have any airlocks or blockages, as I use my townie on a daily basis back and forth to work, over 100 miles a day.
I will check the heater flaps.....
Can you be more specific about the location of the water valve?
If this is shut or partially shut, will it not have an effect in the running of the engine? ie
overheating?
Could the problem be that the radiator is bunged up with scale? and perhaps I should have the radiator overhauled? - (#1719) Steve Lewis, 28 Dec 01

if the car isn't overheating, the rad's OK. If the temp. guage is slow to rise, or if it doesn't get to halfway, the thermostat is suspect. It's fitted on the side of the block, below the injection pump, the lower hose connects to it's housing and two small bolts retain.
The water valve for the heater affects nothing other than the heater. It's fitted to one of the heater hoses, not far from where it comes through the body from the heater.
HTH - (#1720) david miller, 28 Dec 01

hi all its me again
after new engine etc dont get much heat from heater
garage has checked but can not shed any light.. stat is ok, running ok, like they do, no loss of water ,did take " jiggle valve out " myself as a prcaution but dont think that is the prob. only thing i havent replaced yet is antifreeze but it was only warm with it anyway. temp is ok 1/4 position, moter way driving is ok ,,just not very warm and with the kids in the back and the wife ofcourse not the best way to stay on the right side.
any thoughts would be greatly appreciated
javed

- (#5789) javed, 12 Oct 02

Hmm, you're lucky. Most of us would love to see the engine so cool! Any chance that your garage locked up the viscous coupling when refitting? Is it still free to rotate?
Warmup can be a little slower with the jigglepin out, but you should still have heat after 2-3 miles...

- (#5790) david miller, 12 Oct 02

good day to you david
thanks for responding so quickly
yes your right there is a positive side to the engine running so cool but a little heat wouldnt go amiss?
as far as i know the viscose coupling is ok i think i might just put the new temp in and see if that improves things.
i guess ,i was worried that something more serious was not happening ? although its sluggish when moving of the engine sounds spot on when i get going .i put some holts engine and gear box lubricant in a few weeks ago and i can just now feel the difference, its quite amazing really
all i want though is a little more heat ,,any other thoughts would be reaaly helpful
thanking you as always

- (#5791) javed, 12 Oct 02

Is your temp gauge going up to the midway mark as usual. If so and you have no warm air coming through the heaters, maybe an airlock in the system?

- (#5792) Ian Dunse, 14 Oct 02

hi ian
thanks for your thoughts ,,,,that was going to be my next question..
someone mentioned an air lock in the heater metrix,, is that what you mean , if so what is the best way to deal with it. is the water going to the heater metrix, part of the water circuit in the coolant system ,,,,,, how do you get rid of air blocks in the heater metrix,,
thanks for any thoughts
javed

- (#5832) javed, 14 Oct 02

soory ian

i meant to say yes the temp does go to the halfway mark actually its often lower then that

- (#5833) javed, 14 Oct 02

change the stat...

- (#5834) david miller, 14 Oct 02

Yes, looks like your thermostat is stuck open. Also after changing and refilling system, run engine until hot with both heaters on heat. Keep an eye on levels for a couple of days until all air has worked its way out.

- (#5835) Ian Dunse, 15 Oct 02

thanks dave and ian
ill try the things you have suggested. i didnt realize the temp could be stuck in the open position?
Ian what do you mean both heaters?

- (#5836) javed, 15 Oct 02

Check to be sure they cut your antifreeze with water. Maximum 50-50. 100% antifreeze does not recieve or transmit heat very well. Just a thought.

- (#5837) lvmpb, 15 Oct 02

Two heater matrixes (or is that matrices). One in front, one in back. Back one is in front of battery tray (underneath). Just set both controls to hot.

- (#5848) Ian Dunse, 16 Oct 02

If so fitted...

- (#5849) david miller, 16 Oct 02

hi,,, its me again
just thought id let you know,,, i put the new temp. in and the heat is a little better actually it is warmer but then drops a little when im driving. i dont have any antifreeze in at the moment,, ( in case i needed to change the temp again ) i did leave the engine running and the water in the rad was still. i will check the heater metrix tommorow,,,,can you check them for air blocks??
thanks,,,,,dave ,ian and ivmpb,,,,mmmmmmm

- (#5850) javed, 16 Oct 02

Your not alone....mines bloody freezing.
Think I will take mine of the road and bring her out again about march !
Usually get some head after about 8 mile and only then if I stay above 40mph.....dreadful.
Temp guage goes to half way within 1 mile and never suffered any overheating or water loss.
Most strange :)

- (#5851) Phil, 17 Oct 02

How about running a proprietry coolant flush through your system. The old arteries may be a little clogged.

- (#5877) Ian Dunse, 18 Oct 02

Phil, you gotta tell me how you get head after 8 miles ;-) LOL. I know it's lowering the tone but this I gotta see.

- (#5878) Dave B, 19 Oct 02

Im just about to buy a townace and the owner says the only problem is at low speed the heater isnt too good
Otherwise the car is immaculate should I give it the body swerve?

- (#5879) Garry, 19 Oct 02

hi its me again

just thought id let you know..put new stat in and anti freeze on sunday seemed ok but on the way back from sheffield started to loose heat again ,,, its strange if i turn the heatoer of even for a minute and then turn it back on the s really warm? but after several minutes it turns cool again,,,,
can the water be travelling through the coolant system so fast that it just dosent have time to heat up?
Im assuming theres no restiction in the flow?
are there sensors of some kind ,,,,, is it possible something hasnt been connected when i had engine replaced?
ive had both heaters running ,,,theres no water loss,,
and its running like a camel !!

any thoughts ----- my thanks

- (#5906) javed, 22 Oct 02

actually ther was one more thing i noticed ,, since putting the state in the temp needle starts travelling much quicker and actually goes to the half way mark,
it didnt do this before or travel that far,,also before it would drop on flat and downhill ,,,, doesnt do that any more,,,, stays more or less fixed

- (#5907) javed, 22 Oct 02

I seem to have the same problem with heat, only the front heater is warmish (just bearable!)the rear heater is absolutely freezing. Temp guage goes to middle fine, no water loss.

Any ideas?

- (#5991) Steve Burgess, 29 Oct 02

Flush the system out with a cleaner with all heat controls open. Fill with water/antifreeze mix ensuring you get air out.

- (#5992) Ian Dunse, 29 Oct 02

Steve front first - check the inline valve is operating, this can be found underneath at the front, should be able to move it by hand, once open hose should get hot. Rear should have a hot feed and warm return again under just in front of where the battery box sticks down, if ok may be duct flap stuck on cold/lever not connected.
If still cold may be airlocks/blockage/pipe-tube damage.
Give the whole system a good clean/flush out.
HTH Clive

- (#5993) clive, 29 Oct 02

this might be a silly ? but were are the heater matrixe pipes. i know there at the underneath front but cannt make them out.
still no heat from heater going to the garage tomorrow to have a another check ?? yakkkk
thanks for any thoughts
javed


- (#6145) javed, 20 Nov 02