I have recently bought a 1994 Rover Mini Sprite and upon driving it have notice that when I turn on the fan and pull out the heat/cool control, the fan blows out cold air at all times.
Does anybody know what the reason could be?
It does not show any signs of overheating and otherwise runs well.
Any clues would be greatly appreciated.
Also I live in Harrow Middlesex, does anyone know any Classic Mini experts they can recommend?
Rover Mini Sprite No Heating?
Started by
SanjMini
, Mar 31 2012 11:25 AM
9 replies to this topic
#1
SanjMini
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Posted 31 March 2012 - 11:25 AM
#2
A362 TTU
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Posted 31 March 2012 - 12:15 PM
blocked heater matrix is a possibility - try flushing it - if its in a particularly bad way (it could be 17 or so years old afterall) and funds permit you could buy a new matrix.
You say you get no overheating - but does the engine get up to the 'normal' temperature range? if its not getting to a good operating temp (about 88deg c) then your thermostat could be at fault.
You say you get no overheating - but does the engine get up to the 'normal' temperature range? if its not getting to a good operating temp (about 88deg c) then your thermostat could be at fault.
#3
Big_Adam
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Posted 31 March 2012 - 12:30 PM
I'd put my money on stuck heater tap / valve depending on what you have.
Run engine up to temp, then shut it off and pop the bonnet. Standing in front of the car facing engine bay, on the left side top of the block is a water pipe that feeds the heater, check the valve connected to it (I think its an odd inline setup on younger cars) works feely and its hot either side. If its hot one side, cold on the other then the valve is stuck or borked.
Run engine up to temp, then shut it off and pop the bonnet. Standing in front of the car facing engine bay, on the left side top of the block is a water pipe that feeds the heater, check the valve connected to it (I think its an odd inline setup on younger cars) works feely and its hot either side. If its hot one side, cold on the other then the valve is stuck or borked.
#4
Ocado Man
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Posted 31 March 2012 - 02:45 PM
I'd put my money on stuck heater tap / valve depending on what you have.
Standing in front of the car facing engine bay, on the left side top of the block is a water pipe that feeds the heater,
On my 1994 Sprite the heater valve is to the right hand side of the bay. Just behind & to the right of the rocker box cover. It is one of those in line jobbies were the cable, when pulled / pushed, doesn't always operate the valve. I set mine manually under the bonnet & then don't adjust in the car. I really need to get that cable changed!!!
#5
AVV IT
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Posted 31 March 2012 - 05:40 PM
As above the heater valve on a 94 sprite will be the in line version on the heater inlet hose on the passenger side of the bulkhead. (where the green garden hose is connected in the photo below). First try opening the valve manually (i.e with your fingers) to see if it's jammed. if it's not moving then spray the mechanism with some WD40 and then try opening and closing it a few times manually, to get it free and moving again. If it's totally jammed then you might need a new one. http://www.minispare...id=34140&title=
If the valve is moving freely, then get someone else to push/pull the heater control knob whilst you watch the valve itself to see if it actually opening/closing when using the control knob inside the car. If it's not then you may need to adjust the cable or even replace it to get it to working properly.
If the valve is opening closing ok , then the chances are that it's a blockage in the matrix especially if it's still the original item. The matrix is one of the lowest points in the coolant system, with some of the smallest coolant channels as well, so all the corrosion, gunge and debris in the system tends to settle in it and block it. It's also prone to blockages as the coolant does not circulate and flow through the matrix during the summer months, when the heater and demisters are not in use
As previously suggested the easiest way to clear any blockage is to flush the matrix with a garden hose. This can be done with the matrix still in situ in the car. Disconnect the heater inlet & outlet hoses at the bulk head then connect a garden hose to the inlet and a spare length of hose running to a bucket to the outlet, using some jubilee clips (see pic below). Then turn the garden hose on and flush through into the bucket until the water runs clear, be careful not to use full mains water pressure though, as that is likely to blow holies in your ageing matrix (which will make it leak inside the car and give you more problems.) When you have flushed the matrix, connect the hoses back up again and run the engine until it gets up to temperature, with the heater valve open (and the radiator cap off to clear any air locks), then check to see if the heater is producing any warm air.
If the valve is moving freely, then get someone else to push/pull the heater control knob whilst you watch the valve itself to see if it actually opening/closing when using the control knob inside the car. If it's not then you may need to adjust the cable or even replace it to get it to working properly.
If the valve is opening closing ok , then the chances are that it's a blockage in the matrix especially if it's still the original item. The matrix is one of the lowest points in the coolant system, with some of the smallest coolant channels as well, so all the corrosion, gunge and debris in the system tends to settle in it and block it. It's also prone to blockages as the coolant does not circulate and flow through the matrix during the summer months, when the heater and demisters are not in use
As previously suggested the easiest way to clear any blockage is to flush the matrix with a garden hose. This can be done with the matrix still in situ in the car. Disconnect the heater inlet & outlet hoses at the bulk head then connect a garden hose to the inlet and a spare length of hose running to a bucket to the outlet, using some jubilee clips (see pic below). Then turn the garden hose on and flush through into the bucket until the water runs clear, be careful not to use full mains water pressure though, as that is likely to blow holies in your ageing matrix (which will make it leak inside the car and give you more problems.) When you have flushed the matrix, connect the hoses back up again and run the engine until it gets up to temperature, with the heater valve open (and the radiator cap off to clear any air locks), then check to see if the heater is producing any warm air.
Edited by AVV IT, 31 March 2012 - 05:43 PM.
#6
rik_t
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Posted 27 November 2014 - 10:45 AM
I have just flushed my matrix (was very dirty water) and also checked the valve. The valve is fine and I can feel the pipe on the other side of the valve is hot, also the pipe in the car going into the matrix is hot (near drivers feet). But I am getting no hot air from the vents, please can anyone advise?
#7
Steve220
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Posted 27 November 2014 - 01:22 PM
I have just flushed my matrix (was very dirty water) and also checked the valve. The valve is fine and I can feel the pipe on the other side of the valve is hot, also the pipe in the car going into the matrix is hot (near drivers feet). But I am getting no hot air from the vents, please can anyone advise?
Did you reverse flush the matrix? As if here's something like Kseal in there it can really gum these things up. Next would be to see if the water is actually flowing properly. Pull the pipe off from where the water comes out the matrix in the engine bay, attach a hose and turn the car over without the king lead on the coil. If it's flowing properly it should chuck water out the hose.
#8
Dan
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Posted 27 November 2014 - 01:50 PM
If you mean the dash vents they aren't connected to the heater, they are fresh air only.
#9
AVV IT
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Posted 27 November 2014 - 04:14 PM
As above warm air only comes out of the bottom of the heater and the windscreen demisters, the vents at either end of the dash are for ventilation/ fresh air that's ducted from the front of the car, and aren't actually connected to the heater.
If you're not getting any heat from the heater itself, but the inlet hose is hot at the matrix, then it would suggest that the matrix is blocked. It's possible that you may have dislodged some debris when flushing it, which had now lodged itself elsewhere and is causing a blockage, or you may have let some air into the circuit and created an air lock in the system. I would try reverse flushing as suggested above, by attaching the garden hose to the outlet hose and flushing the matrix again but against the normal flow of coolant, hopefully this will remove/clear any blockage and purge the circuit of any air locks aswell. Just be careful when you are reconnecting the hoses afterwards though, if water escapes whilst you are doing this, air will replace it which can create an air lock in the system.
If you're not getting any heat from the heater itself, but the inlet hose is hot at the matrix, then it would suggest that the matrix is blocked. It's possible that you may have dislodged some debris when flushing it, which had now lodged itself elsewhere and is causing a blockage, or you may have let some air into the circuit and created an air lock in the system. I would try reverse flushing as suggested above, by attaching the garden hose to the outlet hose and flushing the matrix again but against the normal flow of coolant, hopefully this will remove/clear any blockage and purge the circuit of any air locks aswell. Just be careful when you are reconnecting the hoses afterwards though, if water escapes whilst you are doing this, air will replace it which can create an air lock in the system.
#10
splintercat
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Posted 27 November 2014 - 04:33 PM
As above really mate..
check your heater water valve is opening ALL THE WAY mine only opened 1/2 way
check your pipes into the matrix itself if the matrix IS OKAY both inlet and outlet should be hot with the valve open if not then flush it
someone on here recommended using a caustic/ cillit bang type additive anything to try and get rid of crud/limescale
should only get heat from yer heater and or demist vents on top of yer dash the eye balls are for fresh air....
if your careful you shouldn't get air locks but they are easy to get rid of
be careful if you do intend to flush out yer matrix as you don't really want to bang in to much pressure from a pressurised water
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check your heater water valve is opening ALL THE WAY mine only opened 1/2 way
check your pipes into the matrix itself if the matrix IS OKAY both inlet and outlet should be hot with the valve open if not then flush it
someone on here recommended using a caustic/ cillit bang type additive anything to try and get rid of crud/limescale
should only get heat from yer heater and or demist vents on top of yer dash the eye balls are for fresh air....
if your careful you shouldn't get air locks but they are easy to get rid of
be careful if you do intend to flush out yer matrix as you don't really want to bang in to much pressure from a pressurised water
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