Club 80-90 Forums

The last couple of times I have driven the van i've noticed the heater isn't as hot as it used to be.

Fan works fine and i'm still getting hottish air and the engine temp needle is still as it's always been.

It used to be that i'd only have to slide the heater control lever about 1cm (Max) from the LHS to get nice levels of warm air. Any further and it'd be way to hot in no time. Now, I have the lever about 3/4 of the way accross and it's pleasant - but even all the way to the RHS and it doesn't get too hot.

It's a very sudden thing, I know the outside temp has a bearing but it's not exactly brass monkey out there at the moment. Last year when it was frosty i was still getting super toasty, i think if it got really cold out there now it would struggle to cope.

Ive looked on wiki but may have missed something

The two things I found that had a marked effect on heating are the thermostat, and oddly, timing. When I got mine, the heating was rather poor and only when I checked and reset the timing (which was out) did I start to get heat. I guess it just wasn't getting up to temperature. My thermostat also tended to keep temperatures in the low end and when I replaced that this year (anyone remember the saga of the stuck bolts I had?) the temperature improved further.

That said, it is colder right now and I often use the Propex on the way to work. Its at least a mile or two before the engine starts to get warm otherwise. If you've checked the valve underneath, then I'd look at timing and/or thermostat. Its surprising how much effect those two have on heating.

My guess would be the cable operating the valve has slipped in it's outer retaining clips (or similar malady) so that it is not opening the valve properly.




I never ever disagree with CovKid, but...... imho, The only thing that can make an engine run cooler than it should, is the thermostat. And anyway, Jim San does say his gauge is still reading the same as it always has

We'll agree to disagree on that one John. Incorrect timing does have an effect on engine temperatures - try it . I'd only had my van a week or so and it used to languish in the stone cold region (as well as being gutless) until I set the timing correctly and then it warmed up and ran as it should. I mentioned the valve although they often tend to stick open. Mine is.

Back in the days when motorbikes had a manual advance retard lever I could make the exhaust glow red by having the incorrect timing - very handy when my cig lighter wasn't working. Timing certainly has an effect on engine temp!
(Didn't like the dynamos and voltage regulators though getting the best out of them wasn't easy.) It was great when alternators appeared on bikes.

I've had the same thing happen on mine a couple of times. Both times it was a very slight coolant leak on a hose causing air to get into the heater circuit.

Cheers guys, can't see timing being an issue, it runs perfectly fine and the engine temp gauge is as before.

I'll have a good look at the cooling system in the daylight and see if there is a breach - i'll also check the temperature control, would never have thought about seeing if a cable had slipped

I'm hardly driving it now as my current job is 10 minute walk Once i've had a load of work done on it and fitted power steering the insurance will have the good lady added and she'll drive to work alternating between her car and the van just so it gets used.