heater selector problem

[mickmick]

Hi all, well, i finally did it, i went and got me one of them new fangled toys, and yes, you guessed it, i have some minor problems i need to sort out, they are:

1, the heater selector(how hot type) turns round, but doesnt actually adjust the heat, the blower and heat director work, but the selector doesnt

2, yes, i have the fuel smell problem, can anyone tell me the link to see if my Elan is one of the recall ones please

3, interesting knock when i am reversing, with right hand down, and i brake

have fitted the door locks myself, was emotional, but fun, bit like ammateur gynacology

Any advice on the above is most appreciated, either on this thread, or via PM or email:mick5468@hotmail.com

Cheers all, mick

[Doc Fizzix]

Does the heater work? I mean does it get hot?

It could be that there is a vacuum leak in the lines going to the heater control knob. The heater vent flap are controlled by amount of vacuum pressure at the knobs.

Downlad the manual so you can read up on it and chase that gremlin away.


Ammateur gynacology? sound fun

[Ashaman]

When you say "turns round" do you mean it just moves freely? If so, the metal linkage has probably come out of place or the knob is broken.

Behind the fascia a metal rod is supposed to snap into the back of the heat selector knob. It sounds like it is no longer connected.

[Doug]

When you say "turns round" do you mean it just moves freely? If so, the metal linkage has probably come out of place or the knob is broken.

Behind the fascia a metal rod is supposed to snap into the back of the heat selector knob. It sounds like it is no longer connected.

i posted a response as to how to access and fix this linkage if disconnected a few months back

have a search and see if you can find it amongst all my ranting since . . .

[Doc Fizzix]

When you say "turns round" do you mean it just moves freely? If so, the metal linkage has probably come out of place or the knob is broken.

Behind the fascia a metal rod is supposed to snap into the back of the heat selector knob. It sounds like it is no longer connected.

I think you are right Ashaman, if the heater temp knob is the one that is turning freely, then the linkage must have popped out or worse, the gears could be stripped.

You could check this by seeing if you can move the linkage on the heater valve in the engine compartment. If you can move the linkage by hand and the knob turns a-o-k then linkage is ok. If you can not move the linkage on the heater control valve then the valve could be frozen at which point someone could have tried to force turn the temp knob busting or stripping the gears on the back of the knob.

[mickmick]

cheers for the advice all

Doug, i'll look for that thread

and the rotary selctor moves freely, just the temp output is the same wherever i have it selected to

mickmick

[Doug]

it's the rod linkage then

probably popped off the back of the knob

[mickmick]

ok, so how do i get the knob off, just a screwdriver behind it job or something much more complex?????

[Doug]

I'd rather not repeat the whole thing (but I know it could have been lost off the old forum or something like that) but you have to reach your left hand around the side of the low center console to the rear of the heater temp knob, find the rod laying on the ground, and hook it back into the rear of the dial

there's a picture in the manual that shows the rear of this dial and this is important to see to know what you are trying to do . . .

try this thread too http://lotuselancentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1479&start=0

[mickmick]

Cheers Doug, i'll try the contortionists thingy tomorow, not easy as i am on the wrong side of the middle aged spread, but i'll try it

I'll come back later to let you know how i got on and too see if there are any answers to my other questions

Mick

[mickmick]

ok, found an easier way to see if rod is connected:

take out the ashtray, and hey presto, even a chuncky bugger like me can get their arm down there to feel for the rod!!!!!

oh yeah, to futher this thread, the rod IS connected at the rotary selector end, so it looks like the problem is in the heater mixer thingy itself, or at least at that end of things

Any clues how to get to it are readily welcomed

Mick

[Doc Fizzix]

Again, the gears holding the rod might be stripped out, I would check to make sure that by turning the heater knob that the heater valve (in the engine compartment) is actually opening or closing. Start there first

[mickmick]

ok, latest update on the heater problem, and to get my thread back to the tp and noticed again:

The rotary knob turns
It is DEF connected to the control rod, as when i turn the knob the rod moves in a backwards and forwards manner, my next port of call is somewhere in the enigne itself, or so i beleive, any tips on what to look for/access to the area i need to be working in, i am assuming is going to be at the back of the engine, in those ever so dificult to reach areas

Mick

[Doug]

my be a duff vacuum-controlled heater coolant valve (can't remember the shorter/better name for this) which controls the coolant flow to the heater core--if inoperative then you may not be getting flow of hot watter to the core and thus not hot air. This valve is notorious for going limp. See the CommonParts page in repairs for more info . . .

http://www.lotuselancentral.com/repair/commonparts.htm#heater

[Exbury]

Fuel odour - do you get this when driving or when at standstill.

I used to get a fuel odour when driving but cound't see from a visual inspection. Turned out one of the rubber hoses had worn against another hose and fuel was seeping through the worn patch. It wasn't enough to squirt everywhere and the heat in the engine bay evapourated the fuel rapidly so no tell-tale lines of fuel.

Only until I wiggled and moved hoses while running that I pushed aside the metal hose leaning against the faulty hose and fuel then sprayed out.

Denfinetly worth checking.

[Doc Fizzix]

ok, latest update on the heater problem, and to get my thread back to the tp and noticed again:

The rotary knob turns
It is DEF connected to the control rod, as when i turn the knob the rod moves in a backwards and forwards manner, my next port of call is somewhere in the enigne itself, or so i beleive, any tips on what to look for/access to the area i need to be working in, i am assuming is going to be at the back of the engine, in those ever so dificult to reach areas

Mick

You need to check the heater control valve in the engine compartment.
- remover the intake and look straight down.

The heater valve is vacuum-controlled, just checked manual

[Doc Fizzix]

Does the heater work? I mean does it get hot?

It could be that there is a vacuum leak in the lines going to the heater control knob. The heater vent flap are controlled by amount of vacuum pressure at the knobs.

Downlad the manual so you can read up on it and chase that gremlin away.


Ammateur gynacology? sound fun

Not to repeat myself, but this was suggested before

It is sounding like you have a vacuum leak

[Simeon]

When I lost control of my heater I found that the hose connecting to the vacuum accumulator/reservoir (hidden behind the LH wheel arch, simply peel back the liner) had popped off. 20 sec repair, I walked tall like a God for a day.

[mickmick]

WOW,
been away for a couple of days, and loads of replies.

I'll get busy the soonest i have time spare and check out all these top tips.

Cheers again all

Oh yeah, i do get a lot of fuel odour when i accelerate, and also seem to be using a sh*t load of fuel too, even for a lil moster like this, so i'll get me head in there soonest, MOT time is soon coming!!!!!

Mick

[mickmick]

finally fixed my heater probelm!!!!

It turned out to be the little plastic clip, that connects the rod to the heat changing thingy, had come off the rod and fallen out of the lever its meant to sit in.

It only took me 2 hours of contortion, and 2 bulbs for my maglight, and a small amount of sticky gunk on my finger, and a few cuts on my chunky forearms, and a lot of sweating cos today it is red hot, and more than a smattering of choice soldier like swearing words, and hey presto, a small amount of exercising later i now have cool air, and hot air, and all the choices in between.

i am convinced that the designers made hits for either extra terestrials with imensely long thin and double jointed hands and arms, or its all put together with the entire dash removed.

Now to get on with the other little problems i have, a mere oil leak, broken high beam glass lense, and the ocasional CEL with very lumpy running, that appears on the odd start, then disappears when i turn off and restart again.

Thanks for all the advice all, i'll be begging for help again soon

Mick(happy owner at the mo)