Heater Tap/Control

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:07 pm

The dreaded Heater Tap problem has struck! Well its been like it for a couple of years now where the sludge in the gate has built up so the tap can not be completly turned off!

Well thats what the dashboard dial says anyways! Thats the problem now an over enthusiastic driver/passenger (ie when the wife has had the car) has tried to turn the dial closer to the blue bit and you know whats happened to the dial behind.

So has anyone come up with a suitable solution to those dodgy dashboard dials?

I am still getting cool air so the tap problem is minor. Just now I cant turn the heat up. Coming into winter there I am sure you guys know what I mean.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:01 am

I've got a wonderfully Heath Robinson repair in mine. Clearly someone has done the same at some point so they've just fitted a straight cable which pokes out of the dash! It does work, though it's impossible to completely turn it off - not an issue this time of year here...

toddao · Post by **toddao** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:11 pm

My 16v has got a piece of wire which hangs into the passenger footwell and pulling said wire shuts off the tap. I didn't do this, I don't recommend it but it works ( til I get round to lubricating the mechanism and cables properly) but then it's a left hand drive car so perhaps this wouldn't work for you strange blokes who sit on the right hand side!

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:06 pm

Hi Kiwi,

Some time ago now, when I replaced all the dash lamps "bulbs", I removed all the cables from the heater to lubricate --- Bad move.

No mater how I tried, I could not re engage one cable, it was just too short, so this is what I did.

Used an old radio knob from my junk box, bent a 90 degree on the cable end, used epoxy to fix it together.

Then made up a simple bracket and screwed to the dash.

Still working fine todate..

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:28 pm

What's that unusual keypad for under a cover to the left of the door open indicator?

Mike

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:14 pm

Mike E (uk) wrote:What's that unusual keypad for under a cover to the left of the door open indicator?

Mike

Looks like another modification to me

A scanner prehaps

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:47 pm

I reckon its one of those credit card cloning machines, pop in a card & up comes the pin details

Vanny · Post by **Vanny** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:45 pm

I managed to literally bolt mine back together. The pin for the cam had failed, rather than the short black pin the knob sits on (ie the knob didn't fall off but would turn and turn).

A rather unusual failure mode i admit, but thought i would mention it as you've haven't stated what your actual failure is.

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 10:59 pm

"What's that unusual keypad for under a cover to the left of the door open indicator? "

Hmm,
I will have to stop posting pictures on my posts, you guys are too observant.

In fact it's the head unit of a converted pmr transceiver, working on the amateur band.

But you made no comment on the tomato sauce bottle.
I am not giving the reason for that away !!!...

RxBX · Post by **RxBX** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:00 am

Brian wrote:But you made no comment on the tomato sauce bottle. I am not giving the reason for that away !!!...

Well thats obviously to collect the anti-freeze/water mixture from the heater matrix when it leaks and then all you have to do is pop the contents back into the radiator/expansion tank when it it gets full

Surely it can't be used for any other use

as the neck is far too small

( A 'Paul Masson' wine bottle is better for that purpose)

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 9:29 am

Too much information there!

The wine bottles may well be OK but I hope you don't throw them out of the window afterwards...

Jaba · Post by **Jaba** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:34 pm

I noticed on ebay recently that Chevronics in Hitchin are selling remanufactured heater valves for £55.
I have never dabbled with these things cos I have never had to but it seems that the heater tap is capable of being opened up and repaired and bolted together again.

Anyone tempted??

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 6:15 pm

I have in the past dismantled and reassembled one of these taps its any easy job to do just the taking out and reinstalling in the car is the birch

The problem really comes down to how flimsy the control cable mech is. I have found in the past that manually wriggling at the tap itself tends to dislodge the crud thats built up eventually. Only snag there is its not exactly doable when you are driving at the same time

Hence Modification to the control

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 7:26 pm

Sorry to drag this one up after almost exactly a year, but I've got the dreaded stuck tap. Just how hideous a job is it to extract the matrix? I presume it has to come out to sort this?

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 7:39 pm

Its a bitch of a job and one I would hate to ever do again but like yourself I may have to!

Lemme guess your stuck on hot and now need cold air blowing?

Have you tried releasing the control cable and manually manipulating (Gently) the tap mechanism to get it to free up a little bit?