Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 06:34:52

Title: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 06:34:52
Following an otherwise very sucesfull top-end engine rebuild on my project Estate, I am getting next to no heat through the vents, with the climate set to "hi".

Initially suspected an airlock, but I have run the car for ages with the header tank cap off and heaters up. The temperature of the engine is totally stable.

Something else I find odd, is that when you feel the heater matrix hoses at the back of the engine, they are both pretty hot. So surely this means hot water is going around the matrix?

HBV is spanking brand new genuine part. I've checked the Vacc setup, which is working correctly. Climate on low - good vac. climate on high - no vac.

It does get luke warm, but nowhere anywhere near what it should be.

I'd appreciate some advice, not getting any heat from any vents was like going to work in an icebox today!
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 30 January 2008, 08:16:19
Are the servo links on the climate motors ok?

Done a reset?
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 30 January 2008, 08:17:13
The return pipes from the bypass valve connected the right way and not crossed over?
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 10:45:19
Cheers Mark

Remind me how to do a climate reset  :-[

I'll compare the pipes against my facelift later, BUT I didn't take them off....
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 12:18:49
I've just noticed, that the TOP matix pipe gets red hot, but the bottom one is only just warm (I can hold my hand on it indefinately...)

What's going on with that. I cant compare the pipes with mine until I pick mine up.

Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Kevin Wood on 30 January 2008, 12:24:32
Bits of old head gasket clogging the matrix?  ;)

Kevin
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 12:27:34
Quote
Bits of old head gasket clogging the matrix?  ;)

Kevin

rekon it might want a flush?
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Kevin Wood on 30 January 2008, 12:30:03
Seeing the state of those gaskets I would say drive it for a month and then give it a good flushing out, making sure to reverse flush the matrix and radiator. Can do that when we LPG it :P.

Glad to hear it's up and running well, though, minor niggles aside.

Kevin
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 12:33:53
Quote
Seeing the state of those gaskets I would say drive it for a month and then give it a good flushing out, making sure to reverse flush the matrix and radiator. Can do that when we LPG it :P.

Glad to hear it's up and running well, though, minor niggles aside.

Kevin

I need to sort out the heating issue later really. I can't drive around with no heater, and can't demist the windows  :'(

Might give that matrix a darn good flush later...
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 30 January 2008, 13:45:13
Do the matrix pipes both get hot when you put the climate on max chill?
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 13:59:00
Quote
Do the matrix pipes both get hot when you put the climate on max chill?

I'll check when I finish work at 3 and post up :y
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Kieran on 30 January 2008, 14:12:46
In the owners manual it mentions resetting your heater if you have a problem. Have you tried that
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 14:14:18
Quote
In the owners manual it mentions resetting your heater if you have a problem. Have you tried that

Yep ;)
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Dazzler on 30 January 2008, 16:50:10
Sounds like a damn good back flushing of the matrix as said ;)
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Mike Collins on 30 January 2008, 17:59:18
Is the pipe from the coolant bridge to the throttle body clear? I suspect that is the route for air to bleed.

If you back off the heat demand so the fans slow down, does the lower heater pipe get hotter?

Did it ever work any better?

Sounds like mine, I have fitted the additional pump and pipework as in the facelift cars. That has improved flow through the matrix considerably.
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 18:32:48
It's an airlock I'm convinced.

I flushed the whole cooling system tonight and reverse flushed the matrix.

I refilled with coolant, and ran the car with the cap off. I was getting some impressive heat in the car, then!!!

Took it for a run, and the heat gradually died away. Came back home and slowly removed the header tank cap. It was just "gurgling" for ages, it got rid of loads of air.

Took it for a run, got some more heat again, and then it went away.

Seems a V stubborn airlock, how should I go about removing it?
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 30 January 2008, 18:41:31
So you have carried out the test I sudgested then?

What was the outcome!
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 19:14:42
Quote
So you have carried out the test I sudgested then?

What was the outcome!

The outcome was no different mate, because both pipes were hot anyway....  I did try it ;)
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: TheBoy on 30 January 2008, 19:23:58
have you reverse flushed the matrix?
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: TheBoy on 30 January 2008, 19:24:35
another thing to try - remove vac hose from hbv...
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 19:29:11
TB

Yes I've reverse flushed it

And removed the vacc hose ;)
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 30 January 2008, 20:29:39
SO, you are confident that the VAC is good and that the pipes are connectd the correct way round to the HBV (i.e. the one from the engine is to the bottom outlet and the one to the matrix is the top outlet).

I have seen quite a few that are wrong following HBV replacement.

Dont over look the obvious!
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: mark.adams on 30 January 2008, 21:57:18
Quote
I refilled with coolant, and ran the car with the cap off. I was getting some impressive heat in the car, then!!!

Took it for a run, and the heat gradually died away. Came back home and slowly removed the header tank cap. It was just "gurgling" for ages, it got rid of loads of air.

Took it for a run, got some more heat again, and then it went away.

Seems a V stubborn airlock, how should I go about removing it?

Thats exactly what mine does.....
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 22:29:55
Quote
SO, you are confident that the VAC is good and that the pipes are connectd the correct way round to the HBV (i.e. the one from the engine is to the bottom outlet and the one to the matrix is the top outlet).

I have seen quite a few that are wrong following HBV replacement.

Dont over look the obvious!


Just had a check. The top matrix hose goes to the top HBV connection. The hose from the bottom HBV connection goes back around to the engine...

Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Entwood on 30 January 2008, 22:39:50
[start Random thoughts ...]

If you get initial heat the pipes must be the "right" way round.

Flow obviously starts then stops, is this about when the thermostat opens ?

If so then it is a flow regulation issue, or could it be a "weak" water pump ??

Have you run the system to fully warm with the header lid off and "burped" ALL the hoses you can reach ??

If both pipes remain hot when air flow goes cold, then it might be nowt to do with water system but a failure of the cabin control system?

[/end random thoughts]
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 23:20:49
I'm convinced it's coolant related... when I reved the engine hard I had a burst of heat!! :)

TBH, it's just about acceptable at the mo actually. I may just be used to my singing and dancing facelift, which makes getting into something a little older etc mean you notice things you wouldn't usually.

I'll see how it goes, if it becomes unacceptable again, and engine temp is otherwise stable - I'll be throwing an auxiliary coolant pump in there ;D ;D
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Andy B on 30 January 2008, 23:26:46
Quote
I.......  I'll be throwing an auxiliary coolant pump in there ;D ;D

what about the ordinary water pump? Is it plastic & lost an impellor blade?  :-/ (I don't know -- just a guess as the diseasal cars tend to have plastic water pumps)
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: mark.adams on 31 January 2008, 07:51:14
If the water pump was sh@gged or weak wouldn't you suffer overheating problems? I would have thought you'd see the tmp gauge going up and the fans cutting in when in normal driving mode as opposed to sat in traffic.
I have thought along these same routes as i have the same problem.
After a flush, for the first drive is it great, then the heat gradually gets less and less??
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 31 January 2008, 08:29:29
The fact that you get heat when revving sudgests to me that you have a vac problem..........do you get heat with the vac feed to the bypass valve disconnected.....or when you suck on it?
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 31 January 2008, 08:42:23
Quote
The fact that you get heat when revving sudgests to me that you have a vac problem..........do you get heat with the vac feed to the bypass valve disconnected.....or when you suck on it?

I've tried disconnecting the Vac from the valve (I've left it off and plugged for a while) and it makes no difference. Is anything else vacc contrtolled that could be effected by revving?
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 31 January 2008, 08:45:00
Quote
Quote
The fact that you get heat when revving sudgests to me that you have a vac problem..........do you get heat with the vac feed to the bypass valve disconnected.....or when you suck on it?

I've tried disconnecting the Vac from the valve (I've left it off and plugged for a while) and it makes no difference. Is anything else vacc contrtolled that could be effected by revving?

Do you get heat when you suck on the pipe?
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 31 January 2008, 08:50:06
Quote
Quote
Quote
The fact that you get heat when revving sudgests to me that you have a vac problem..........do you get heat with the vac feed to the bypass valve disconnected.....or when you suck on it?

I've tried disconnecting the Vac from the valve (I've left it off and plugged for a while) and it makes no difference. Is anything else vacc contrtolled that could be effected by revving?

Do you get heat when you suck on the pipe?

I'll check it asap. Unfortunately my arms aren't that long, so I'll probably have to get markie to suck on my pipe while I feel the heat  ;D

Presumably, you mean suck on the vacc pipe that goes to the hbv?

On a serious note, if I can't reach it, can I just shove a vacc feed into it, off, say, the SAInjection?
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 31 January 2008, 09:20:03
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
The fact that you get heat when revving sudgests to me that you have a vac problem..........do you get heat with the vac feed to the bypass valve disconnected.....or when you suck on it?

I've tried disconnecting the Vac from the valve (I've left it off and plugged for a while) and it makes no difference. Is anything else vacc contrtolled that could be effected by revving?

Do you get heat when you suck on the pipe?

I'll check it asap. Unfortunately my arms aren't that long, so I'll probably have to get markie to suck on my pipe while I feel the heat  ;D

Presumably, you mean suck on the vacc pipe that goes to the hbv?

On a serious note, if I can't reach it, can I just shove a vacc feed into it, off, say, the SAInjection?


Do it which ever way you prefer......I carry a length of vac pipe off a breaker to do such tests and yes, I mean the feed to the HBV.

I would suck on it rather than using any other vac source, at least that way you can be confident that vac exists.

Have you had a vac gauge on the engine?
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 31 January 2008, 11:19:41
Update....


Went out for a quick run to take some backup tapes offsite. As a test, I put a vacc feed on the hbv pipe that runs to the bulkhead before I went.

It by the time I got back to work, the heater was as hot as I would expect.

I'm not sure if it's this, or the airlock causing the problem.

If it is this, what's the cure? :)
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Kevin Wood on 31 January 2008, 11:38:00
Sounds like it could be the air valve / plumbing under the dash or the reservoir that feeds that part of the system...

Kevin
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 31 January 2008, 11:41:41
Quote
Update....


Went out for a quick run to take some backup tapes offsite. As a test, I put a vacc feed on the hbv pipe that runs to the bulkhead before I went.

It by the time I got back to work, the heater was as hot as I would expect.

I'm not sure if it's this, or the airlock causing the problem.

If it is this, what's the cure? :)

Check the negine bay vac pipes for chaffing/damage.

Also check the vac res to see if the one way valve is working ok.

I suspect at high vac(low throttle opening), its all working fine  but, at higher throttle openings (lower vac) the vac is leaking away and causing the HBV to shut off the supply.
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: Mike Collins on 31 January 2008, 13:23:09
I though from the tests I ran that, at hte HBV, no vaccuum allows heat, around 4 inches shuts off coolant to matrix.
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 31 January 2008, 13:25:37
Quote
I though from the tests I ran that, at hte HBV, no vaccuum allows heat, around 4 inches shuts off coolant to matrix.

You are right, but what mark is suggesting is to apply a vaccum (suck) on the pipe that goes TO the hbv, not onto the hbv itself...
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: sammohi on 11 February 2008, 20:20:22
hiiii everyone
i really like the forum
i have cadillac catera which is cexact clone from omega
and i have same prb with the overheating
may i ask for pictures for the original pipes connections
my car runing nicely in cold weather :y
 :obut when its summer and in short midtown trips its overheated >:(
any tips please
if possible for some pictures and i will send mine also to check for the errors
thx
Title: Re: No Heat in cabin
Post by: shanjon on 25 March 2008, 21:07:33
Quote
Following an otherwise very sucesfull top-end engine rebuild on my project Estate, I am getting next to no heat through the vents, with the climate set to "hi".

Initially suspected an airlock, but I have run the car for ages with the header tank cap off and heaters up. The temperature of the engine is totally stable.

Something else I find odd, is that when you feel the heater matrix hoses at the back of the engine, they are both pretty hot. So surely this means hot water is going around the matrix?

HBV is spanking brand new genuine part. I've checked the Vacc setup, which is working correctly. Climate on low - good vac. climate on high - no vac.

It does get luke warm, but nowhere anywhere near what it should be.

I'd appreciate some advice, not getting any heat from any vents was like going to work in an icebox today!
hi m8 sorry to bring up an old post but did you ever get to the bottom of the problem