Heater. Is it all there?

Post by **Mr Bean** » 23 Jul 2008, 16:50

Now that I have calmed down after my intermittent engine cutting episode I am starting to pick up on those small but irritating faults which need a bit of motivation. My vehicle is a 1988 2.1 digijet water boxer. In this instance it is the cab heater. I do not seem to have a cable connected to the middle heater control lever and I can't find the on-off valve in the feed or return pipe to the heater matrix. The question is has someone removed these items or were they not fitted in the first place. On a long run I can find a combination of lever positions which reduce the heat input to a warm draft but frankly don't see why I shouldn't get a same temp as outside draft. I am considering retrofitting a proprietary valve in the circuit and operating it through a hole in the plastic cover or simply arranging for it to be accessible by nature of its location. Any ideas?
Cheers
Ken

Post by **Mocki** » 23 Jul 2008, 17:07

the hot/cold lever i assume?

if it is fitted, and you are suffering from not getting any cooler air, chances are the valve that is fitted (Above the spare wheel) is dirty within, and isnt closing completely.......

Post by **DoKa90** » 23 Jul 2008, 19:12

Mocki wrote:the hot/cold lever i assume?

if it is fitted, and you are suffering from not getting any cooler air, chances are the valve that is fitted (Above the spare wheel) is dirty within, and isnt closing completely.......

I think I have the same problem. Is this valve of which you speak fairly easy to clean?

Post by **Mr Bean** » 23 Jul 2008, 20:57

Mocki wrote:the hot/cold lever i assume?

if it is fitted, and you are suffering from not getting any cooler air, chances are the valve that is fitted (Above the spare wheel) is dirty within, and isnt closing completely.......

I don't have a cable fitted to the middle lever so if I do indeed have a valve fitted over the spare wheel I have no way to talk to it from within the cab. So I shall kit up in my bobble hat, strap on cycling headlight and chalk to mark the way and go under there in the morning.
Cheers
Ken

Post by **Mr Bean** » 24 Jul 2008, 10:58

DoKa90 wrote:
Mocki wrote:the hot/cold lever i assume?

if it is fitted, and you are suffering from not getting any cooler air, chances are the valve that is fitted (Above the spare wheel) is dirty within, and isnt closing completely.......

I think I have the same problem. Is this valve of which you speak fairly easy to clean?

And how do you get at it?
Cheers
Ken

Post by **1664** » 24 Jul 2008, 11:05

It's just clamped in line with a water pipe. Easy to remove but you will get wet doing it so do it when cold and have something to bung the pipes with to hand. The control cable is the pain in the a$$. Easier to do if there's two of you. It's a sealed unit IIRC, you could still get replacements from VW about four years ago...about £20 I think

ken simmonds wrote:And how do you get at it?

Take out spare tyre and crawl under there on your back

Post by **Mr Bean** » 24 Jul 2008, 13:36

ken simmonds wrote:And how do you get at it?

Take out spare tyre and crawl under there on your back[/quote]

Sussed! The 20mm of cable specified in the manual was catching on the lever and stopping complete closure. So I trimmed it off and bent the lever a bit so as to prevent any future occurence.
However in deference to the dirt gods I did go out for a slither around in the dirt just to level the good luck/bad luck balance. No more flying down the motorway trying to find that elusive lever combination in order to bring the cabin heat down to a tolerable level.
Cheers
Ken