Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: tunnie on 11 December 2009, 08:43:47

Title: sticking HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 11 December 2009, 08:43:47

Few weeks back i noticed the Vac pipe on the HBV had fallen off, thought something was up as the drives home the heating was really nice and hot.

I popped the Vac pipe back on, and ever since the heating has not been as good. Today i felt it more, set at 24, the was a little heat comming out but not a lot.

If i wacked it on Hi, and turned the fan speed down, loads of nice hot air came pouring in.

I just got to work and i have disconnected the Vac pipe again, as this should shunt all water through the heater matrix, and give a nice warm drive home  8-)

Question is, can i do any harm running with this pipe off?

Title: Re: sticking HBV?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 December 2009, 10:26:32

You must have some vacuum at the HBV for it to partially cut off, which points to the air valve that drives it IMHO.

Best thing to do is to get a "lo-gauge" or similar and see if the vacuum is turned on/off by the climate panel. No vacuum when heating and vacuum when cooling.

Kevin

Title: Re: sticking HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 11 December 2009, 10:33:57

Quote

You must have some vacuum at the HBV for it to partially cut off, which points to the air valve that drives it IMHO.

Best thing to do is to get a "lo-gauge" or similar and see if the vacuum is turned on/off by the climate panel. No vacuum when heating and vacuum when cooling.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin  :y

Is there a cheapskake version? Would you be able to feel the vacume by hand? Or put a peice of paper on the end of the pipe?

Title: Re: sticking HBV?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 December 2009, 11:52:56

Quote

Thanks Kevin  :y

Is there a cheapskake version? Would you be able to feel the vacume by hand? Or put a peice of paper on the end of the pipe?

£15 well spent if you often have to diagnose vac / air leak issues on an Omega, IME. However, you might be able to feel for a vacuum, with the valve in each state. Problem is, I suspect the issue might be that the air valve is not venting the HBV to atmosphere when it deactivates it, and that's less easy to tell without a gauge on it.

Kevin

Title: Re: sticking HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 11 December 2009, 11:55:34

Quote

Quote

Thanks Kevin  :y

Is there a cheapskake version? Would you be able to feel the vacume by hand? Or put a peice of paper on the end of the pipe?

£15 well spent if you often have to diagnose vac / air leak issues on an Omega, IME. However, you might be able to feel for a vacuum, with the valve in each state. Problem is, I suspect the issue might be that the air valve is not venting the HBV to atmosphere when it deactivates it, and that's less easy to tell without a gauge on it.

Kevin

Noted, is it ok to run for a while with the vac disconnected?

Title: Re: sticking HBV?
Post by: Abiton on 11 December 2009, 12:02:11

I think if my car had an HBV, I'd pull the vac hose off it (and plug the hose) from October to April!

It would be nice to find the real cause of these problems though.