Heater valve possible malfunction

[debruiser]

So, after freezing driving the perentie home from Minto auctions and not thinking the heater was anything to write home about (lets agree it isn't) I now find myself perplexed. I'm now in Mackay again and it's getting rather warm so windows are living in the shed and the canvas is rolled up, vents permanently wide open, I reach down to the "fan vent" and can feel warm air coming through - warmer than I think it should be. I've replaced the foam between the plastic vent box thing and the blower housing to keep the hot engine air out of the mix but it hasn't made any real difference. I was fiddling around under the bonnet and I see that the heater lever can move maybe 4 or 5mm further in it's stroke before it hits the 'stopper?

would adjusting the cable so it's hard on the 'stopper? help? or maybe the heater valve is dead? I'd just bypass the heater completely but it'd be nice to keep it working if possible since it's there already and I'm keen to do some travelling to colder parts.

[Red90]

Here is no heater valve. It is just a flap. Adjust it so it is tight. The heater adjusted and setup properly should work as well as any other car. The sealing foam falls put over time and needs to be replaced.

[87County]

There are alternatives debruiser if you need to have the heater NOT functioning for a while.

1. short circuit the heater pipes from the heater unit
2. fit a valve like in the civvie version of the 110
3. place a manual ball valve in the flexible parts of heater pipes
4. sell me your heater unit for my County rebuild :)

[Bearman]

What Red90 said. The flap has a ****ty old foam strip for a seal, it falls apart over time.

[debruiser]

I'd contemplated putting a ball valve in the coolant line but then thought that would suck turning it on and off blah blah blah..... better to fix it properly if possible.

So this foam seal thing is inside the heater box?..... I shall have to do some research and then build up to pulling it apart.

Cheers fellas.

[DiscoMick]

I just replaced my heater valve in the Puma because of this problem for US$28 from China. It's a Fiat Peugeot part.
Get a mechanic to look at adjusting the moveable arm on the back of the heater valve attached to the cable from the dash dial. Mine was stiff and needed oiling. You may need to disconnect the cable and adjust it so the valve closes completely.
There are pics in my thread in Member's Rides. Hope that helps.

[Bearman]

I'd contemplated putting a ball valve in the coolant line but then thought that would suck turning it on and off blah blah blah..... better to fix it properly if possible.

So this foam seal thing is inside the heater box?..... I shall have to do some research and then build up to pulling it apart.

Cheers fellas.

Yes, inside the heater box. Pretty easy to pull apart. A ball valve in the inlet pipe is the go.

[Zcoota]

So run the ball valve as a heater bypass or just block the thing off all together?

[DiscoMick]

Like this?
Make sure the valve can cope with 100 degree heated coolant. This is from Pirtek. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181209/074270ff839f9d102818371884d66fdb.jpg

[bee utey]

Rather than fitting a manual ball valve, just fit a universal cable operated valve that can be opened and closed from the cab with a choke cable. Example:

Heater Tap Valve Universal Type Car Hot Rod 16mm (5/8") Cable Type Inline | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Heater-Tap-Valve-Universal-Type-Car-Hot-Rod-16mm-5-8-Cable-Type-Inline/120858720854?hash=item1c23bdba56:rk:1:pf:0)

[DiscoMick]

That's the white plastic thing on the right of the pic I posted. They can warp over time because of the heat.

[martnH]

Surely it's not that hard.....To find a valve that can last 10 years.

My pajero never have this problem....The climate control is always on and set at 24.5"C

[DiscoMick]

They are chosen to last the warranty. After that, it's the owner's problem.

[Red90]

If you want to fit a heater valve, just get a proper one...and hook it up to the hot/cold cable. It is not complicated. 99% of cars in the world use a heater valve without incident. I've been running my 90 that way for a decade.

[DiscoMick]

Yes I know as I just replaced mine. I also got anothet valve fitted to cut the hot coolant to make the air-con work better.

[DiscoMick]

The Defender heater valve is a standard Fiat Peugeot Citroen valve made in China.