Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: bob.dent on 30 August 2006, 15:45:02
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Ho hum....summers nearly over so time to get an old heater problem sorted out. I've had an ongoing problem whereby I can only get airflow to the windscreen and rear passenger vents regardless of what position the airflow control knob is in. I did get my garage to look at it months ago and they seem to think there was a problem with the vacuum control on the heater control panel. They said a new one from VX would be pretty expensive and if I could get a replacement from a breaker or other source, they said they would fit it for me.
Having gone for this option, the first panel I ordered was completely wrong (full climate instead of standard a/c). The second and third were both wrong as they only had 5 vacuum connectors and apparently I need one with 7. I was unable to locate a panel that had 7 connectors and sorta gave up for a while as I was still able to get hot and cold air in the car (just not where I wanted it).
So, here are a few questions.
1) Would this problem definitely be caused by a defective heater control panel or are there likely to be other causes?
2) If there are other causes, what could they be?
3) Why do some Omega's have 5 vacuum connectors and others (like mine) have 7?
4) If it is the control panel, anyone know where I can get one with 7 connectors (my control panel has the 4 rotary controls) at areasonable price or do I need to go to VX?
I'm very reluctant to get this sorted out by VX as it's likely to cost me an arm and leg :(
Any good advice would be much appreciated.
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Vacuum pipes in engine bay dent.bob ;), just had same problem
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Vacuum pipes in engine bay dent.bob ;), just had same problem
Thanks Doug but can you give me a bit more detail, (not very good under the bonnet, me :-[)
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Ok, will do my best. This is on my car , 2.5, 1996, manual aircon, dont know if your is the same!!
If you look at your oil filler cap, just to the left of this there are two vacuum pipes running front to rear, check these for obvious signs of damage, if you cant see anything run you fingers along the whole length of the pipes one by one. This was the advice i was given and it worked. The pipes run round the back of the engine around the HBV area. Bit awkward to get to in places. Mine had worn through on the aircon pipe at back of engine near to the bulkhead.
Hope this helps
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Here you go mate ;)
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m275/timbuk1969/DSCF0003-1.jpg)
Here's somewhere for you to start, check as much of the vac system as you can, especially bulkhead area
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My car as developed the same problem... when running the heater it gradually turns cold.. do you know if the vacuum pipes are in the same place for a facelift 2001 2.6 model?
I'm also not very good under the bonnet.
Dave.
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My car as developed the same problem... when running the heater it gradually turns cold.. do you know if the vacuum pipes are in the same place for a facelift 2001 2.6 model?
I'm also not very good under the bonnet.
Dave.
look under thread :- 3.0 v6 engine plenum
Markjay has got a picture of a 2001 2.6 on there. looks similar
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My car as developed the same problem... when running the heater it gradually turns cold.. do you know if the vacuum pipes are in the same place for a facelift 2001 2.6 model?
I'm also not very good under the bonnet.
Dave.
look under thread :- 3.0 v6 engine plenum
Markjay has got a picture of a 2001 2.6 on there. looks similar
thanks will do.
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just had a look ...there is one thick pipe running from the front to the bulk then i loose it(in the same place as the pic above.), if this is the pipe it seems to be ok well the part of the pipe i can see anyway..lol from the bulk onwards wow its tight to check, is there a test i can do or is it just a matter of looking/feeling for a split in the pipe?
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just had a look ...there is one thick pipe running from the front to the bulk then i loose it(in the same place as the pic above.), if this is the pipe it seems to be ok well the part of the pipe i can see anyway..lol from the bulk onwards wow its tight to check, is there a test i can do or is it just a matter of looking/feeling for a split in the pipe?
Arrow is pointing to the two thin plastic pipes, not sure if you've picked up the correct pipes?
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told you i was bad under the bonnet... :-[ so its the thin plastic type pipes which are the vacuum, will check them.
Dave.
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Thanks for the piccie Doug. Checked out the pipes yesterday - there's actually 3 vacuum pipes so don't know which one's which so checked them all. They all appear to be fine, although one of them disappears behind the bulkhead where I couldn't follow it further.
Looks like I'll have to get garage to sort it :(
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Bob.dent
Fistly, I love the gif of the cat scratching?
Secondyl I am currently breaking most of a 1994 Elite which sound like it has the same AC system as yours.
When you figure out what ya need give me a shoput and I'll see if I have what ya need.
Good luck,
Mark
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Keep looking mr Bob.dent ;)
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Bob.dent
Fistly, I love the gif of the cat scratching?
Secondyl I am currently breaking most of a 1994 Elite which sound like it has the same AC system as yours.
When you figure out what ya need give me a shoput and I'll see if I have what ya need.
Good luck,
Mark
Hi Mark
Pleased you like the avatar - only changed it recently.
It's looking like it must be the actual heater control panel. If the one on your Elite has the manual aircon and rotary controls and has 7 vacuum connectors on the back, I'd be very interested in buying it from you. [smiley=dankk2.gif]
Cheers,
Bob
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No worries
Do you have a pic of the part you need.
I'll have a look this eve or tomorrow to see if mine is the same.
Mark
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No worries
Do you have a pic of the part you need.
I'll have a look this eve or tomorrow to see if mine is the same.
Mark
I'll see if I can borrow my son's digital camera and get a snap - might take a day or so
Bob
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Keep looking mr Bob.dent ;)
Keep looking where?? I've checked the pipes as far as I can methinks
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Keep looking mr Bob.dent ;)
Keep looking where?? I've checked the pipes as far as I can methinks
Have you checked where vac pipes go through bulkhead into cabin? ( Left hand side of engine bay, right of servo, two heater pipes go into bulkhead, vac pipe in between ) Can break here. 90% sure it will be a vac pipe, and i'm sure most on here will agree. As i say, Keep looking Mr bob.dent [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
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(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m275/timbuk1969/DSCF0003-1.jpg)
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Ooops, bu**ered up the last post - DOH!
Doug, I've had another good root around on the left hand side of the engine, near the bulkhead and found something quite worrying. There's actually a thin pipe that's not connected to anything and even worse, it looks like someone has tried to block it by screwing a self-tapping screww in the end!!
I can't see where it could possibly go either, because all the other T sections and connectors have got pipes attached. I tried to follow where the other end goes and appears to go round to the right side of the bulkhead and then disappears behind a silver pipe - possibly into the bulkhead. Any ideas?
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Sounds a bit more promising, depending on which way you look at it. There should be a vac pipe going through the bulkhead in between the two heater hoses. I have heard of these being broke off. If you can't see it there it could be this one that is floating round with the screw in it. It is difficult to see where it goes through the bulkhead because the top hose will be obscuring your view. These hoses are quick release so if you've got time pop it off via the plastic clip on the end of the hose and you will be able to see better. Keep going bob.dent [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
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4) If it is the control panel, anyone know where I can get one with 7 connectors (my control panel has the 4 rotary controls) at areasonable price or do I need to go to VX?
Bob.dent not sure if this will be of any use to you here is an Ebay link
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/vauxhall-omega-complete-switch-unit_W0QQitemZ230025598528QQihZ013QQcategoryZ10404QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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4) If it is the control panel, anyone know where I can get one with 7 connectors (my control panel has the 4 rotary controls) at areasonable price or do I need to go to VX?
Bob.dent not sure if this will be of any use to you here is an Ebay link
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/vauxhall-omega-complete-switch-unit_W0QQitemZ230025598528QQihZ013QQcategoryZ10404QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Sounds like yours is the same as mine. If the problem with mine isn't the vacuum pipes I'm going to need one with 7 connectors too. I had a look and the one on Fleabay that you sent the link for, but you can't tell if it's a 5 or 7 connector version. Don't think I'd risk it personally.
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Off topic replies have been moved to [link=http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1157484928]This Thread[/link]
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Ooops, bu**ered up the last post - DOH!
Doug, I've had another good root around on the left hand side of the engine, near the bulkhead and found something quite worrying. There's actually a thin pipe that's not connected to anything and even worse, it looks like someone has tried to block it by screwing a self-tapping screww in the end!!
I can't see where it could possibly go either, because all the other T sections and connectors have got pipes attached. I tried to follow where the other end goes and appears to go round to the right side of the bulkhead and then disappears behind a silver pipe - possibly into the bulkhead. Any ideas?
Have a look at this link http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152565204 it shows the vacuum pipe layout for the V6, its a bit diagramatic but you should be able to work out which pipe is disconnected.
Have a close look at the rubber seal where the heater pipes pass through from engine bay to cabin (mirror helps), the vacuum pipes do not simply pass through this seal, there are one (or two) bits of rubber 'pipe' moulded as part of the seal which are used as connectors to join the cabin-side pipes to the engine-side pipes.
Im guessing one of the pipes has come out of the bulkhead seal but use the diagrams to work out what is wrong then work from there.
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4) If it is the control panel, anyone know where I can get one with 7 connectors (my control panel has the 4 rotary controls) at areasonable price or do I need to go to VX?
Bob.dent not sure if this will be of any use to you here is an Ebay link
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/vauxhall-omega-complete-switch-unit_W0QQitemZ230025598528QQihZ013QQcategoryZ10404QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Sounds like yours is the same as mine. If the problem with mine isn't the vacuum pipes I'm going to need one with 7 connectors too. I had a look and the one on Fleabay that you sent the link for, but you can't tell if it's a 5 or 7 connector version. Don't think I'd risk it personally.
Might be worth asking the seller if only for peace of mind.