Internal Heater not blowing hot air

[Ilan]

Has anyone had the heater not working?

When I turn the internal fan on, it does not blow hot air into the car. Even when the car is warmed up, my fan only blows air at the ambient temperature.

I am technically inept, but have still had a look under the bonnet and can not see any pipes that are not attached.

Has anyone had any similar problems? Any ideas?

Thanks

Ilan

[rip]

Possibly a blockage in the cooling system.

It may be worth changing coolant and reversing the flow through your heater matrix for a while. You can do this by swapping over the 2 coolant hoses which go to the bulkhead. If this sorts it, you will want to flush your coling system again because the sediment which is blocking the heater matrix will have relocated to the engine.

Either that or you could have a faulty heater control valve, (mine is missing)

[dedmans]

when my elan had a complete head rebuild due to the gasket going the mechanic(who is brilliant)unfortunately broke off the bleed cap on the radiator. It is sealed o.k. now but before used to loose a little coolant over a period of time. It was then that I discovered that only a small amount of loss in the header tank and system meant that the heater matrix failed. I mean a quantity of 1/2 to 3/4 of a litre.
Check that your coolant level is where it should be.

[lotuska]

Does the temperature of the air change if you move the temperature control? If not then the connecting rod behind the dash could have become detached. If the temperature does alter then it might simply be out of adjustment, letting cold air past rather than forcing it through the heater matrix.

Could also be caused by an old rusty/blocked water vac operated valve, you will find that in the engine bay just in front of the bulkhead where the water pipes enter the car heater matrix. Feel the pipes, both should be hot, if not that's probably the problem.

[chris.t]

errr don't really want to mention this after whats been going on recently but this could be a symptom of HGF

[router]

first thing to check is the thermostat is probably stuck open, does the blower just blow cold air only?

Neil

[paulwatkins]

first thing to check is the thermostat is probably stuck open, does the blower just blow cold air only?

Neil

I agree, change your thermostat.

A x-ref part is available from Halfords. HTK602

[Ilan]

Thanks.

In fact, it has not been working since my gasket was replaced (a terrible story involving a pigeon, the front of my Elan, and a £1,000 hole in my pocket - but that's for another time).

There is a mild change in temperature, but it is not enough to heat the car. This seems to suggest that it is not a problem with the thermostat or the connecting rod, but I will not rule that out..

I will check the coolant, as this looks like the most likely problem (and easiest to fix - I am technically inept).

[Ilan]

errr don't really want to mention this after whats been going on recently but this could be a symptom of HGF

Chris, forgive my ignorance - what is HGF?

Ilan

[chris.t]

errr don't really want to mention this after whats been going on recently but this could be a symptom of HGF

Chris, forgive my ignorance - what is HGF?

Ilan

HGF = Head Gasket Failure

Another thing springs to mind. Anyone who has changed the hoses will know that the heater valve crumbles into dust when you take it apart. It might be worth buying a new one anyway and replacing it cos the old one will be in a pretty poor state. You can get them from a place called EuroJag but i can't remember the part no. there was a write up on the LEC site but i can't find it

[router]

Id still check the thermostat first m8, its only a 30 min job and easy to do. Cost of parts @5 quid


Neil

[chris.t]

Found the link

<<clicky>>

[rip]

Another thing springs to mind. Anyone who has changed the hoses will know that the heater valve crumbles into dust when you take it apart.

Are they likely to be available at Donny? EE never had one (well, not since I've owned it), so I don't know exactly where it should go or what else it connects to.

[chris.t]

Another thing springs to mind. Anyone who has changed the hoses will know that the heater valve crumbles into dust when you take it apart.

Are they likely to be available at Donny? EE never had one (well, not since I've owned it), so I don't know exactly where it should go or what else it connects to.

Its a quick fix, remove old valve replace with new and bleed as necessary. have you got the samco hoses?

[chris.t]

doubt if they will be available at Dony cos the oem part is out of stock and has been for ages

[dapinky]

Martin Robey are a classic specialist who i have used in the past - they list 2 versions of the part number (well, the same number, one with an asterisk - don't know if that denotes seond-hand, different manufacturer, or what?????)

Anyway, one is forty something plus VAT & postage, and one is about £30 all in to your door.

heater valve

Or a squint on flea-bay will sell you a second-hand one for a tenner + post.

do you feel lucky?

[rip]

Its a quick fix, remove old valve

EE never had one (well, not since I've owned it)

I don't know exactly how it fits. There must be another connection to control it, apart from the two ends into the hoses?

have you got the samco hoses?

Yes, I fitted a set of Samcos the week before the rad exploded (I actually finished them off the day before), so they are not likely to be stuck on with scale yet.

[chris.t]

Its a quick fix, remove old valve

EE never had one (well, not since I've owned it)

I don't know exactly how it fits. There must be another connection to control it, apart from the two ends into the hoses?

have you got the samco hoses?

Yes, I fitted a set of Samcos the week before the rad exploded (I actually finished them off the day before), so they are not likely to be stuck on with scale yet.

well if you didn't notice that the valve was disintegrating when you changed the hoses then i guess its ok, unusual cos everyone has had to renew.

just found out today that my rads gone albeit very small leak in the end cap. more expense, Dees paying my credit card bill next month else i'm refusing to do the housework.

[rip]

Chris, I think you are still mis-understanding me.
EE's valve had been removed before I bought the car. Judging by how well stuck the old hoses were, I think it had been removed a long time ago.
I only know it is missing because Gerald told me it was not there.

[dapinky]

Ian,

How did you fit the heater feed pipe with the Samco hoses? Was there already a join section where the valve should be?

When i fitted mine, the old unit was quite solid (structurally, not in the workings), so a wire-brush of the crap and re-fit was the order of the day.