I have a 1988 Townace which is in quite good condition but the heater isn't very good.. being a bit of a newbie is this usual? can i do anything about it at all?

Thanks for the help that everyone is giving, its nice to know that genuine people do exist.....

- (#15417) Brian the Newbie, 16 Feb 05 10:25

The heaters is pretty good, though prone to airlocks.
Drain and refill very slowly.
Also check that the rear one is hot, and that the front valve is free - easy to find lay on your back and pull yourself under the front, heater hose in the middle and disappear into the floor, one will have a cable operated valve, this turns on the flow.
After that come back if there is still no heat.

- (#15417) Clive (Bristol), 16 Feb 05 14:30

Both the rear and the front are cold. I haven't checked the valve as yet though. Does this suggest an airlock..

- (#15417) Brian, 17 Feb 05 17:00

If the back is cold it suggests no coolant, it is a bypass system that has a constant hot flow.
Check the level!

- (#15417) Clive (Bristol), 17 Feb 05 17:53

Adding to Clive's advice, if the rear heater is cold, yes, this indicates no coolant but,it could be restricted flow. I had similar problems and a way of testing is to take off the flow and return pipes, at the rear heater (you can easily do this from under the vehicle),and connect them together with a short length of copper or similar pipe. After running the engine for a short while, the pipes should get hot and indicates that you have cleared the air lock from this point in the cooling system. A semi blockage, and the consequent lack of hot water flow, could, also, be debris collecting in the heater matrix and, while the hoses are disconnected, from the heater, a good flush, of the heater matrix, should clear this. This heater's location is at a low point and hot water does not like to flow downwards, even assisted by the pump (circulator.) In my case, I found that debris was the cause of the lack of flow.

- (#15417) John Davis (Leics), 18 Feb 05 03:04