18 replies to this topic

[WimpyMiniMan]

Hi the heater on my 1989 mini city e doesn't seem to be working. Hot water is passing through the heater valve and into the pipe which goes into the matrix however I'm not sure the pipe coming back is warm at all, also the heater matrix is not warm. The fan also does not work. Any ideas?

Regards
George

[CityEPete]

Could be airlocked? Or a pipe blockage, my old one had hoses that looked ok but were blocked solid with rusty debris, I mean solid too!

Get it running up to temp with the rad cap removed give all the hoses a good squeeze (watch your fingers on pulleys etc!) hopefully it will burp it out.

[Richie83]

You might need to flush the system out if there's a blockage. The matrix is basically a glorified radiator, so the only reasons for it not to get hot is that water is not passing through it, or the hoses are connected wrong.

Edited by Richie83, 08 February 2016 - 07:41 PM.

[nicklouse]

Air lock?

Are the hiss connected correctly. Feed to the bottom.

Checked for current to the motor?

[CityEPete]

Give the hoses where they come off the heater a good squeeze too with the cap off, have you drained the system recently or has this just started?
You could try dropping the cold return hose off with a bowl under it, if air followed by water comes out bingo, if nothing comes out then it is probably blocked.

[sonikk4]

Check the switch first as these are a common fail point the rest could be down to an airlock or blockage

[russo]

I just recently replaced my heater matrix due to a leak. As I know they are prone to air locking, I left one heater hose off and sucked water through from the block. Easy peasy, job done.

[WimpyMiniMan]

I have recently rebuilt the top end with refurbed head as had various other problems which are now resolved, I ran with rad cap off until thermostat opened at which point I turned off and fitted rad cap. I will try squeezing the hoses however it did work for a while intermittently. If there is flow then will be an electrical problem although the heater itself doesn't seem to get hot.

Cheers
George

[CityEPete]

If you can feel one hose is hot and the other is cold then the water is not circulating, I presume the fan blows albeit cold? I'm fairly certain it's an air lock if you have had the head off.

[WimpyMiniMan]

If you can feel one hose is hot and the other is cold then the water is not circulating, I presume the fan blows albeit cold? I'm fairly certain it's an air lock if you have had the head off.

No the fan doesn't blow either or a very little amount at that. Surely running with the rad cap off should eliminate air locks?

Edited by WimpyMiniMan, 10 February 2016 - 10:15 AM.

[maximas]

This was my problem last year..although my heater fan worked when it wanted...I purchased another fan...an hour later all was well...could be circulating water fine,just no air being pushed through the matrix....

[ChopperHarris]

Heres a definitive answer although I do get bored typing it I will once again....
Take the hose off heater tap and heater hose off top hose.
Connect a running garden hose to one or other and than swap, alternating till water runs clear of brown water.

Start engine with garden hose connected to heater tap hose, as soon as water comes out of tap quickly plug the heater hose on, as water comes out of the return hose plug that back onto bottom hose (paying attention to fan/finger interface) Have a mate topping up rad while all this is going on. Turn engine off, tighten clips and place cap on rad.

Take car for hack, thank me in your head for toasty tootsies.

Run for a few trips checking for leaks.....top up with antifreeze by detatching heater hose from bottom hose, turn car over to evacuate some water while topping up rad with antifreeze to correct concentration. Refit cap hose and smiley face.


Drive off into wintry sunset. Sounds protracted procedure, shouldn't take more than 20 minutes. Worst part is uncoiling the garden hose!

[CityEPete]

That's great but non of it will help the fan blow if it's not working properly,lol.

[CityEPete]

When you say it blows a bit does it sound like its not blowing fully or do you mean its just not warm? If it's not blowing fully even on cold air then you have an issue there regardless of the hot water flowing.

When the car runs up to temp can you tell if both pipes are hot a few inches away from the heater unit?

Have you got a pull for hot or a push for hot heater control knob? Does it operate fully?

[blacktulip]

Have you checked your thermostat is not stuck open? I had a similar issue last year which turned out to be the stat. I could only think that the stuck open stat was the best route for the water to flow through so bypassed the hose going to the heater. When the stat closes it pushes the hot water round the heater system the same as a balancing valve on your central heating at home. Might be wrong but worth checking.

Edited by blacktulip, 10 February 2016 - 06:04 PM.