23 replies to this topic

[AntsClubby]

Hey,
Im just wondering what the pros and cons are of removing the heater...apart from cold days!
Not thinking weight saving, i just never really use it!
Apart from demisting which i could use a 12v plug in type if need be, i wouldnt really use in the winter anyway as the car would be off the road.

Daft question...is the heater there to just keep me warm or 'really' needed?
Cheers

[amarcd]

i dont have one in the race mini, i just use rain-x on the windscreen to stop it foggin up. other than the obvious the heater can be good at cooling the engine if it gets hot in traffic etc, just turn it on and the heat will go you will sweat though.

But if you dont use it, get rid and save space and weight.

[AntsClubby]

Could i not fit a manual switched fan so when i hit traffic or on extra hot days i can just overide the stat and not worry about over heating?
Cheers

[amarcd]

can do yes, i have an addon electric fan on one of my minis, works really well.

[matt615]

The only thing you 'need' the heater for (other than keeping warm, and cooling the engine on hot days) is to demist the windscreen for MOTs. If you can fit some other de misting device that satisfies the MOT tester, there is no reason you cannot remove the heater.

[Wakey-Dan]

Seems like a lot of work for no point to me. Its not broke, don't break it just to bodge it with something else.

[Dan]

I must say I can't really see a pro to removing the heater from a road car.

[reallybig]

don't need heater for mot

had my mot this morning, no heater at all, passed with no advisories.

[Dan]

Not for the MOT no but a demister is required by the Construction and Use and so it is the law that you have one. Having said that, people have passed the SVA with a chamois or sponge in the car to satisfy the demister requirement. Although that was some time back and you probably couldn't get away with it now.

[tiger99]

IVA definitely requires a permanently fitted demister, not a stick-on heater or similar, as, I would think, do the Construction and Use Regulations. IVA is not really entitled to test and examine things that are not required by law.

Why would anyone want to remove the heater anyway? Surely the car is there to be used, and half of the year you do need the heater. A cold and uncomfortanle driver is less safe than one who is in a good environment.

In a Mini, I would be far more inclined to fit a better heating and ventilation system than remove it. Warm air for the rear passengers, for example, is quite useful, or even demisting of the side windows, like most modern cars.

[reallybig]

because a new heater matrix is expensive and the heater and it's pipes get in the way of my foot on the clutch....

[tiger99]

Well, I have big feet and don't recall that problem. Of course, there was more than one type of heater used in Minis, so maybe a swap would solve that problem? I guess I should check out my next Mini carefully to see if it gives me foot clearance problems too, something I had never thought about till now.

The best place to find some nice diagrams of what the heating various systems look like is the Somerford Mini web site. Some types of matrix last almost for ever, others apparently not, so you may find that an early one from a scrappy will not be too expensive, and may be much better than your old one.

[Remylebleu]

i think the simple answer is.............if you dont want the heater in the car, take it out. job done.

if it fails the MOT for not having a demister......take the windscreen out. job done haha

[AntsClubby]

http://m.direct.gov....726201205052314

This is from the UK Gov MOT help site...no mention of a heater, demisting etc?

My car is fully stripped for restoration, the heaters out anyway, i was just wondering wether to bother putting it back in or blanking the feed off...ive opened a rite can of worms!ha!

De-misting, ill use rain x and a cloth
If im risking damage to my engine ill refit the heater...if i just need to use a manual overide and/or a lower temp thermostat and it wont cause any damage ill refit without a heater.

In my opinion as it was when the car was on the road it shouldnt really be called a heater! More like a warm air blower!ha!

[AntsClubby]

Out of interest...
If i was to remove the heater...buy blank plate 2A180 (m/s) and thats it im guessing?

If i want to fit a manual switch to turn the fan on when i wanted how would i do this as the fan runs off the engine?
Would i be best to fit a 12v electric fan? Do i then not use the one on the engine?
I can do the 12v wiring no probs im bit confused what id fit and not fit regarding the std fan/cooling system?
Is there a link/page showing how to do this?...or would the mini spares kit C-ARA4401 be just what i need?

Cheers

Edited by AntsClubby, 05 May 2012 - 11:07 PM.