16 replies to this topic

[baker_boy]

evening,

i recently changed my heater matrix as the last one was leaking and it absolutely stunk!!

but anyway, its been in about a month now i suppose and when the engines warm i put it on, its hot for about 5 secs then it goes luke-warm?? why is this? have i put the heater pipes on the wrong way around?

sorry to start a new topic on heaters..i just need my suspicions clarifying as i think it could be this....and iv got shizzle loads of coursework to do and havnt got all day looking in the past posts..

thanks

dave

[Leonard]

sounds like an airlock. you need to push water through until the air is out

[baker_boy]

how do i get rid of this? leave it runnin with the rad cap off? does it matter if the the pipes r the wrong way on?

dave

[Jordie]

i find it best, to run the engine with cap off.

turn heater on and make sure the heater tap on the head is open for full heat.

Then squeeze all the pipes to work any air locks free.

When the rad level drops, top it up with more coolant. Do not put cold coolant into a HOT/Red Hot engine. You shouldnt have any problems doing this when warm ish.

[baker_boy]

thanks for the advice, the only thing is we did this when we put it in, my dad squeezed al the pipes and stuff and we left it runnin for a little bit, i know we didnt do this wrong because my dad helped and hes done this loads of times on all diff cars and what not, but maybe we didnt do it long enough, i remember it was pretty cold when we did it plus we had to go out in the evenin, but still after a month its got an air lock in it? i would have though it would have worked out by now??

dave

[Jordie]

possibly a blocked heater matrix.

take it out and run a high pressure hose or jet wash through it.

[baker_boy]

once again thanks for the advice, ill give al of these methods a try, is there anything else that it could be?
its just i want to try it all first, then take it out as a last resort, as i dont have loads of extra time on my hands,prob take it out one weekend if i have to

thanks

[Leonard]

is the valve definately opening properly? on the inline valves the cable can move without moving the lever

[baker_boy]

is the valve definately opening properly? on the inline valves the cable can move without moving the lever

erm im not totally sure, i kno that it works like when you push in its hot and when you pull out its cold but thats about it, im not sure if its working 'properly'.. i think it is thos as its hot when you first turn it on then goes cooler afterwards..

[taffy1967]

Well if the air trap fix doesn't work then you probably need a new thermostat. So fit a replacement soon and you'll then be nice and toasty again.

[binge]

Double check the heater switch valve because this is why my heater wasnt getting hot in the mini.

[Woody]

Are the pipes to the heater getting hot ? if so it is a blocked heater matrix , needs a good flush

[ChrisL]

I have a similar problem, when first turned on I get hot air for a couple of seconds then it goes cold. The only thing is also during this colder weather my temperature gauge only ever gets to a little over the cold mark, never to the normal point. Could this be the thermostat?

Chris

[mini1976]

What I did to clear an air lock I had in my heater was to disconect the matrix return pipe from copper hose that goes into the bottom rad hose, then start the engine with the heater valve open and place your finger the end of the copper pipe so you dont loose all the water from your rad. Your should be getting a slow trickle out of the return pipe. Then gently rev the engine and you should get a steady flow from the return pipe. Quickly push the return pipe back onto the copper tube. Now turn off the engine, re tighten the clip on the hose and top up your rad.

If you do this you just have to be very careful not to stick anything into the fan (ie your fingers). Also you must do it when the engine is cold otherwise you cant keep your finger on the end off the copper pipe as the water is too hot.

If when rev the engine no water comes out then you know either there is no water in your rad or you have a blockage in the matrix plumbing. If no water comes out i would reconnect the return pipe and dissconect the pipe on the heater tap and start the engine again and see if water is coming out of here. If you have a good flow of water from the tap but none from the return then it would suggest you have a blockage in the pipe or matrix

[binge]

I have a similar problem, when first turned on I get hot air for a couple of seconds then it goes cold. The only thing is also during this colder weather my temperature gauge only ever gets to a little over the cold mark, never to the normal point. Could this be the thermostat?

Chris

Sounds like your thermostat