Rear Or Auxiliary Heater Matrix Air Flow Path?

[antzatgalaxy]

Can someone give me a detailed description of where the air is taken from and where the air blown to in the rear heater matrix before I start removing panels to find out. This is the blower behind panels in the rear wheel arch passenger side (heated by coolant [additionally heated by auxiliary heater when cold]). I'm asking about the heater matrix in the car, not the combustion air flow in the auxiliary heater beneath the car.

 

There are three vents at ground level in the wheel arch panel that blow (is that all?), and I guess a small over pressure vent into the void behind this panel near the rear light access panel. The reason I ask is that I sometimes place a tarp in the rear and fill it up with stuff (removing kids first) and I've realised that these three vents become covered. Are they ducted or is it just flow from the void behind the panel (so flow will escape elsewhere)? Also where is the air intake? If I know this I can avoid damage (stuff getting sucked in) and work out if I'm likely to damage something by not turning it off.

 

Many thanks

 

Anthony

[seatkid]

All I know is it re circulated air only. The intake will either be one or two of the three vents, or maybe its over the wheelarch, so the air is sucked in via the rear storage compartment.

[antzatgalaxy]

All I know is it re circulated air only. The intake will either be one or two of the three vents, or maybe its over the wheelarch, so the air is sucked in via the rear storage compartment.

 

I gathered it was recirculated air, just not sure where the air intake is. The three floor vents all blow. I had assumed it might be from the rear compartment normally used to access lights (as this is grilled), but if I reach up in there I can feel a jet of (warm)air, which I assume is just pressure release from the main blower to the three floor vents. I normally have this compartment stuffed with my jump leads in a bag, so was worried about restricting air intake (as well as the out flow!)

 

I'm not sure if you can overheat the unit, but I'm obviously giving it a good try !... I guess the fan resistor pack is in there somewhere? and that has a thermal fuse. Hoping to avoid this with a bit of understating/adaption.

 

The handbook always instructs not to turn on the rear unit till the coolant reaches temperature. Never fully understood this, unless the assumption is that engine temperature is more important than my body temperature and turning it on will take heat from the coolant slowing the engine warming? If it was that important the switch should be latched to the ignition, so it turns off. In winter I tent to just leave it on, so forget when I've stuffed the boot full.

 

Anthony