Aux Heater Nightmare!

[marinabrid]

well there i was this mornin, been -5 overnight so instaed of starting the car and testing ther heater i gets under it and checks the wiring, the voltage was there at the termionals so i started it up and it whizzed a bit then stopped.

i followed the removel instructions but beware.....its not that easy on all.

after prising the unit down from a rusty braket and unbolting the exhaaust pipe there it was. i saw the photos that mike ha put on here butooooooooo

the top screws totally rusted.over. i carefully chipped the cover off with a chisel then o dear to put it politlely, the other 2 upper screws totaly rusted in the bottom allen key bolt, well i put the key in and twisted and you guessed metal gone soft, just rounded off. no way was the unit going to be parted to readch the plug.

o sod it.

anyway i hit it with the hammer bolted it back together and fire upthe car. it whizzed again ,stopped then whoosh it started to run, i step back in awe.

it kept going and going. the heater got warm very soon and then it cut out.

i now waut till morning to see if it works again. also i did the temp sensor removel and bridged the terminals. i simply put one of the new type mini fuses across it.

went out this aft, when we stoped the thing seemed to run for a few mins then stop. waitnig now for monday morn. joy or deep dimay.

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Where are you that it got to -5 last night? It's forecast to get down there tonight in the south-east, but it was well above zero this morning (Surrey-Hampshire border).

[marinabrid]

-5 in west yorkshire last night.

dog went for wee and got stuck on lamp post !

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Did you throw a bucket of salt over it? :D

[GSMGuy]

Martin, how old is your car? Mine's a 03/2002 and althogh the top cover bolts were a little rusty, all of them came out ok - an when I reasssembled it, I coated them all with some copper grease... You nerer know..

 

Mike

[Guest vr6galaxy]

More's to the point did it work and do you have heat?

ps. it's in the post

[marinabrid]

im wondering if it worked all along! but wasnt cold enough for it to work, any way i bypassed the temp switch on the wiper arm and of she went.

i had to wait all day for it to cool down to test again,of it went again.

this mornin monday i was up at 6.30 and after the engine ran for a few mins up it fired again. i drove a bit round the estate where i live and there was warm air.

much sooner than before. it not a miracle heater and i wonder if all the fuss is worth it but any heat bertter than none. it carrys on after engine of and blows out hot exhaust fumes for a while.

i guess im in the club of working heaters!

[Guest vr6galaxy]

Nice one :D bet the mrs is happy, no more thermals just her glad rags and a coat now :D have you try tried it with the link on the temp sensor removed? I hear it's getting a bit nippy up your way and the snows falling so it should work more often now!

[GSMGuy]

im wondering if it worked all along!

 

i drove a bit round the estate where i live and there was warm air.much sooner than before. it not a miracle heater and i wonder if all the fuss is worth it but any heat bertter than none.

Martin, try getting in your Gal when it's freezing and then driving it in town for 10 miles before it gets hot - then you'll know what all the fuss is about!!!!

 

Mike

[Tigger]

I seem to remember a picture of insulating the pipe work? Or was that just for the heater that runs to the back unit heating the rear passengers?

[marinabrid]

i saw the pipe insulating story as well, im off to do asap.

the chap said get 22mm thin walled pipe lage and do al the exposed metel water pipes under the car that run to the aux heater.