10 replies to this topic

[ap0llo_*]

I've got a 1995 Mini Cooper SPI and the heater only blows hot air. This is quite annoying as I have to drive with the windows down all the time! Any suggestions on what could be causing the problem?

[mini-clive]

Switching it off would help. You don't need the vent open and the fan switched on all the time. I sounds like one of two things.
1. The valve is stiff and needs lubricating, i.e its stuck in the hot position.
2. Or like mine, the grommit for the cable in the bulkhead has come out thus the cable doesn't really have any pull.

Because i simply couldn't get the grommit back in, i pushed the switch in to get it out of the way and puched the valve over to hot because if i'm too hot i have the fresh air vents and the window. I only use that system for heating the car or taking heat off of the engine in traffic.

Any help?

[ap0llo_*]

It is switched off, but pipes are still warm to touch.

I have checked the valve and it's moving, however it doesn't look like its moving through its full range. I've tried adjusting it by repositioning the cable in the clamp but I still can't get it to move through the full range. Is there any other places it can be adjusted?

More of an easy question, but as I've never had the heater working I don't know, but do you push in for hot and out for cold?

Cheers

[Carlzilla]

The pipes are still going to be warm anyway, they warm up through conduction, leave the heater switched off, and the valve closed (pushed in on mine, an inline valve, not the one on the head itself)

The heater doesnt blow cold really, only warm through to hot, the fresh air vents were for cold air, as i did away with my fresh air vents i just open my windows a little

[Spitz]

Being a "later" MINI I'm asuming it has the in-line valve. In that case the knob would be pulled out for hot...in for cold.

[ap0llo_*]

The heater doesnt blow cold really, only warm through to hot, the fresh air vents were for cold air, as i did away with my fresh air vents i just open my windows a little

The temperature doesn't seem to change at all.

Being a "later" MINI I'm asuming it has the in-line valve. In that case the knob would be pulled out for hot...in for cold.

Let me get this right, by closing the valve your stopping water getting to the heater thus producing 'heat', and by opening the valve your allowing water to get to the heater producing cold (or warm) air?

I'll get there one day!

[Carlzilla]

nah, with the valve closed youre stopping the flow of hot water through the heater matrix (like a small radiator), and so it stays cooler, but will still stay slightly warm due to conduction through the water and metal, when you open the valve the water flows, and the fan blowing through the heater matrix, in the same way the engines radiator works, as the air is blown past, it draws heat from the matrix, and so the air heats up, and the matrix/radiator cools down. if your car is running on the warm side, turning on the heater is pretty much adding another small radiator to the engine, and so helps keep the engines temperature down (not too sure about your own though )

[ap0llo_*]

nah, with the valve closed youre stopping the flow of hot water through the heater matrix (like a small radiator), and so it stays cooler, but will still stay slightly warm due to conduction through the water and metal, when you open the valve the water flows, and the fan blowing through the heater matrix, in the same way the engines radiator works, as the air is blown past, it draws heat from the matrix, and so the air heats up, and the matrix/radiator cools down. if your car is running on the warm side, turning on the heater is pretty much adding another small radiator to the engine, and so helps keep the engines temperature down (not too sure about your own though )

Ah I see! Got it working now, seemed like the valve wasn't fully closing. Not having any heat problems fortunately, but that's useful to know for in the future when I may have. I love the way that the heater operates simply by using a bicycle brake cable, i doubt many cars are quite as simple!

[Carlzilla]

Good stuff, and yeah, that cable is used for lots of applications because of its strength, used for the choke cable, and the accellerator too i think.

Through bmxing ive managed to snap a few of these cables before though :S

[ap0llo_*]

Ha yeah it does seem rather strong. One thing I don't quite like the look of though is how it touches the rocker cover...surely it gets hot and melts? |

[Carlzilla]

nah, it should be alright on the rocker cover, might be worth cable tying it away from it anyway though