Heater Problem

[(minisniper)]

Hiya folks.
I have a problem with my heater. I went out tonight in Molly and had the heater on. I had set it to blow on the screen and there was absolutely no air blowing on to the screen
I have had the heater and the hoses out once because of this problem. I have made sure there are no holes in the hoses or the screen vent things but I have a feeling that the damper in the heater is in the wrong position and not closing properly and not allowing all the air to go to the screen.

So my question is, is there any way of adjusting the damper? and what do I have to do?

Please keep it simple as I get confused very easily, just ask Jodie!!! ;D

Minisniper

[kalkat]

The damper flap never really 'closes' ...that is part of the problem in Minis One area that can show improvement is if you tape up the joins in the demister vent hoses. Just ordinary insulating tape will do the job, it helps keep the moving air IN the pipe.

Other tricks include checking the foam on the heater matrix itself as this seals to the body of the heater so's the air has to pass through the matrix, is warmed and then passes through the main body of the heater. The second is to see if the addition of a flexible lip to the edge of the heater flap helps. Use something like old bicycle inner tube.

Of course as you pointed out, it does need the flap to be correctly mounted in the first place

Emma

[(minisniper)]

Hiya Emma
I have put tape around the demister vents when I took the hoses out before. I noticed tonight that the damper didn't move at all when I changed it from "car" to "screen" so I think the damper isn't in the correct position at all.

The air coming out of the heater is warm so I've got no problems with it heating up. I'm abit confused about the foam on the heater matrix. You've confused me I don't think I have any there there again I can't remember seeing any!!!

Do you know how to adjust the damper? or position it correctly??

[kalkat]

the foam is glued to the heater matrix... each side on the ends. I'll check me books and get back to yuo regarding the flappy bit

Emma

[kalkat]

Right then ... I've had a read of me books, fought the dog off and retrieved a page or three from his jaws

The position of the heater flap is governed by the lever visible under your dashrail pushing against what the manuals call a 'trunnion screw' . This is essentially a tube with two holes in it, one down its length and the other across one end. The hole through the end slips over the rod that sticks out of the heater box (it's attached to the flap inside) The hole through the tube is threaded to take a fastening screw and clamps the whole caboodle onto the heater operation rod.

If you take the sliding lever off the heater (it's seperate apparently) you should be able to see the rod. Check and see if the flap is free to move and that the trunnion thing is fastened properly. If it is, put the lever assembly back on and see if it moves the flap correctly, adjust if needed.

You do not have to take the heater right out ...simply undo the two front screws, the heater should then pivot downwards exposing the screws that hold the slidy lever assembly on.

One of my supplemnt bits mentions foam - it says:

"Heater - poor performance

Where poor heater performance is experienced, it may be due to the foam liner in the inlet duct being too long and causing a partial blockage of the inlet duct. Where this is so, remove the inlet duct and cut approximately 3"/75mm of foam liner from the liner rear end. Refit the liner ensuring it is now clear of the air box and refit the air duct "

I assume this is a foam liner in the big inlet pipe/hose, pressumaby in an attempt to quieten things down. I haven't see this myself, but then I've never had cause to work on heaters in cars late enough to have this.

Hope this all helps

Emma (and the library squirrel)

[(minisniper)]

Hiya Emma
Thank you for your reply and the effort you went to especially fighting off the dog ;D ;D it is very helpful.

I will take a look at things tomorrow if it's abit drier as the weather here isn't very nice at the moment and do what you have suggested.


I will let you know how I get on and with any luck with your help I would have solved my problem.

[kalkat]

You're welcome *kicks dog*

Emma

[asahartz]

Another thing to check is that there is actually air going into the heater! When we bought Nemo the Neon there was no inlet duct at all - the hole in the inner wing had been gaffa'd over, there was no ducting under the wing or into the heater!

Without those the heater just won't work at all. Luckily I had plenty of bits in the parts shed from past breakers.

Heaters in general tend to benefit from a stripdown & rebuild; remember our cars are all pretty old now! There is a foam strip round the matrix, and smaller ones like draught excluders on the back of the flap. The casing should be sealed with a small bead of sealant but this has often cracked & flaked away - I put them together with Tiger Seal now!

Often you will find the matrix corroding and starting to leak. If the heater is out of the car it's usually worth the £40 for a new matrix - but they don't come with new foam! I cut my own from thin foam sheet and glue it on with impact adhesive. (Why new? well recently I took a used one and tested it by connecting into the heater pipework under the bonnet. No leaks, so I fitted it into a refurbed case and put it in the car. Two days later it split, spectacularly, on my way to work, leaving me with a flooded carpet, wet feet, and having to top up the rad every few miles! New is worth it, believe me!)

The screw & lever Kalkat talks about are actually joined to the flap by a short flexi link like a 4" section of curtain wire. These can corrode and break, something else worth checking.

[(minisniper)]

Hiya
Well I've managed to have a fiddle with my heater today in the freezing cold. I took the front off and tightened everything so the damper closes better and I do have more air blowing onto the screen but not alot. The only problem I seem to have now is I can't push the lever to the OFF position but I can live with that for now as I will need all the heat I can get.

I did notice when we had the front off that the damper was behind a lip so I put it in front of the lip which is probably the reason why it won't go to the OFF position?

[kalkat]

errrmmmm........... probably

Emma