27 replies to this topic

[its_courts28]

Every heater valve I buy whether it's from minispares, eBay, or local mini shops they all drop to bits. Are there any decent 12v heaters that plug into a cigarette light or is it possible to wire a little heater in somewhere else?

[Ethel]

It'd be a huge drain of power to be any way near as effective as the free heat from the cooling system. You could swap or convert it to a full flow water system, with air bypass to control the temperature. Or you could look for an alternate valve: Fiestas have a solenoid water valve, or you could use a plumbing ball valve.

[roblightbody]

How quickly do they 'drop to bits' ?  Have you asked Mini Spares about it?  What did they say?  Persevere and get one that doesn't fall to bits!

 

On a standard Mini, working properly, the Mini heater should provide very hot air once the car is warmed up, and as Ethel says, I can't imagine you finding an alternative to this!

[HarrysMini]

Maplin sell these in car ceramic heaters, I think they're designed for de-icing your windscreen, but it might work as an extra heater too.

[mab01uk]

Swap to later 5/8" hoses or use 1/2" silicon hose (see below) and plumb heater pipe straight into the head and use these later inline valves which work ok:

 

From 1989 until the introduction of the twin point injection cars, Rover fitted this in line floating heater valve which was the first time they never bolted the heater valve as a direct outlet on the cylinder head. A strange looking black plastic valve to control the water to the heater.

http://www.minispare...17.aspx|Back to

 

Heater hoses for cars up to 1991 used heater matrix BAU5043 and were on the right hand side of the heater, whereas later cars used JEF10005 heater matrix and were on the left hand side of the heater, hence different hoses from item 17-21
Cars from late 1984 to late 1988 had 5⁄8”outlets on the heater matrix and will require 5⁄8”hose and then reducers
MOC210 from 5⁄8” to 1⁄2”size, to enable using 1⁄2”hose to fit the heater valve and bottom hose.
The 1⁄2”silicon hoses when well lubricated will push over the 5⁄8” outlets as they are of a more supple and longer lasting material.

http://www.minispare...s.aspx?2~19~184

Edited by mab01uk, 28 September 2013 - 08:31 PM.

[bpirie1000]

Heated front screen could be an option......expensive, but it is an option.......

[HarrysMini]

I agree with roblightbody though. They definitely should not just drop to bits! Find out why and try and get a good one. That's the cheapest and easiest option.

[jmmini]

My dad has a couple of these in his ac cobra (kit car we're not millionaires ) and they do a good job, nice and simple too
http://www.cbsonline...st_Heater_DEMST

[its_courts28]

I agree with roblightbody though. They definitely should not just drop to bits! Find out why and try and get a good one. That's the cheapest and easiest option.

Yeah I know, but they do and I can't keep shelling out £20 a time for one, it's because they don't make genuine ones so they're cheap copy's I guess

[Shifty]

Maplin sell these in car ceramic heaters, I think they're designed for de-icing your windscreen, but it might work as an extra heater too.

 

I tried one and they are utterly useless!!

 

Have a look here

 

http://www.cbsonline...y=2964&q=heater

 

They do a range of kit car type heaters.

 

Just seen this valve..

 

http://www.cbsonline...ter_Valve_BCOHV

 

That could work, just use replace the heater tap with a hose tail fitting and use this valve to control the flow.

 

 

http://www.cbsonline...ter_Valve_BHTVD

 

This could be swish, you could dash mount it and do away with the cable!!

[HarrysMini]

 

 

http://www.cbsonline...ter_Valve_BHTVD

 

This could be swish, you could dash mount it and do away with the cable!!

 

That looks like it could be a really good idea. I suppose you would use one of these http://www.minispare...|Back to search

 

And run some pipe through the valve. 

 

As I haven't yet bought my heating equipment, this may be an idea I have to use.

[Ro8bieg]

This may be of interest...

[its_courts28]

its the gold bit that always drops off mine, thanks for the ideas

[cradley-heathen]

for some reason noone ever seems to agree with me on this, but i NEVER keep any of those valves on my minis, i always take it off and either have just a plain heater take off from the end of the head, or on later cars replace that inline valve with a bit of copper pipe to remove it completely. this way there is nothing to break or leak and your heater always gets full flow of hot water, always nice and toasty round your feet!

 

in the summer i just open the window! there isnt nearly enough wind blown around by the heater fan (when its on cold) to keep me cool on hot summer days, and i like having fresh air coming in around my face too. a faint gust of wind around my feet just doesnt cut it in the middle of july im affraid.

 

i have had every mini in the past 12 years like this, and even did the same on my missis ford KA when the heater vlave kept jamming on that.

[AVV IT]

I've had the same problem with head mounted heater valves lately, but to dump the entire heater system because of a few dodgy valves is a bit excessive. Either convert to the later in-line type, by fitting an outlet to the take off on the head (you can actually get away with not changing your hoses to do this, with a little persuasion standard 1/2" rubber hoses will stretch to fit over the larger 5/8" outlets on the later in line valves), or just remove the valve completely as suggested above.