I can only guess that given the symptoms Russ, you have a blocked heater matrix. I know you are getting water through it, so you will think i'm talking 'dangle berries', but the fact is the heat exchange pipes leading off the main waterway are so small they become choked with debris/limescale even though the main waterway allows a good flow through. Rather than go through the removal/fitting of the matrix, you may like to try a descaling solution first?
I have just done mine using 'Fernox' central heating descaler. You will only need a small tub. It is orange & looks just like sherbet!
1 - Remove the expansion tank cap & drain the coolant into a dish using the radiator drain tap (right hand side under front bumper, with a round, red handle)
2 - Close the radiator drain tap.
3 - Mix up the descaling solution in an old bucket or similar (use nothing you may use for cooking in or drinking from!!) using no more than 1 rounded tablespoon of descaler per litre of hot water. Any stronger solution
may cause problems with thin wall aluminium.
4 - Pour the solution (approx. 5 to 6 litres) into the expansion tank slowly, until it stops filling and you still have a half empty tank ( you need this space to allow for the gas generated by the descaler) preferably using a funnel or lipped jug as you don't want it on your paintwork!
5 - Leave the expansion tank cap off and run the engine at idle speed until it reaches normal operating temperature with the cabin heating turned on to full heat. While it is warming up, squeeze the radiator & matrix hoses periodically to assist the removal of any air.
6- When the engine is at normal temperature, replace the tank cap and place an old towel or thick cloth over the tank to catch excess gas/descaler mist as it pressurises the system.
7- Now the important bit - you need to leave the engine idling for 30 minutes to 1 hour, and every 10 minutes or so, you must slacken off the expansion tank cap a little to release the excess pressure. BE CAREFUL, the liquid is scalding hot acid (albeit diluted) so make sure the towel/cloth fully covers the cap AND YOUR HAND!
8- After 30mins - 1hour you will see the liquid has got a lot darker and you can now turn off the engine & either wait until the engine cools before opening the radiator drain tap and emptying the descaler, or draining it hot WITH YOUR HAND & ARM SUITABLY PROTECTED!
9- You now need to put a hosepipe in the expansion tank and flush the system thoroughly with clean water several times. Fill the system with fresh water one last time and begin draining again, whilst at the same time filling up with the hose so you have a steady stream of fresh water in at the tank and out at the radiator drain. Now start the car and allow the water pump to circulate the water throughout the engine while it is draining. Keep this up for about 15 minutes, turn off the engine and water hose, allow the system to drain, close the radiator drain tap, refill the system with HALF the coolant you saved and top up with new neat coolant to maintain the 50/50 mix.
10 - Repeat the hose squeezing to help get rid of any air and run the car with the heating on full until it reaches temperature.
Hopefully, you should now have heat! If not.......
HTH, Regards, Phil.
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Topic: no heater (Read 4957 times)