Club 80-90 Forums

My van is a Westfalia California 1.6 TD

A couple of days ago my heating has decided to stop working, so when I am out an about now I come home to get warmed up.

It wouldn't be so bad if it was August, but with the sudden drop in temperatures over the past couple of days, it's really starting to ---- me off.

Is it a simple fix, or is it 'mega bucks'

many thanks !

ps HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Hello,

if the engine is working fine and running at a decent temperature then it's to do with your heater coolant circuit - this comes from the head and goes through the heater matrix in the dash and back to the engine bay joining up around the water pump housing. I think I'm right in saying this always flows irrespective of the thermostat opening. I would reckon you probably have your heater valve stuck closed - this is a cheap fix.

If you take off the spare wheel, and look up into the gap above you will see the heater pipes going through a rubber grommet into the cab area behind the dash - one of these has a valve on it which is controlled by a cable from the middle lever on your heater controls. You might find that the cable has become unhooked at either that end, or the lever end - you can check this by taking the radio out and facia off the heater controls. On some vans you can get to the valve by removing the gear lever gaiter.

Since it's cold a very cheap fix would be to just leave it fully on and fixing it properly when it gets a bit warmer!

If it's not this then the heater matrix may be blocked or there may be a blockage somewhere else. Someone else might have a better idea.

Good luck sorting it and happy new year!

Ewen

(P.S. this is a heater valve:

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ater+valve" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

if you need to change it you'll want the clip too)

unless he means the Eber......

ewenmaclean wrote: Good luck sorting it and happy new year!

Ewen

Thank you Ewen for your detailed reply.

I'll show your answer to my mate, who has an identical van, but is far more 'mechanical / engine geeky' than me. He might even help me to fix it.

Regards


Brian

ps I bought the van from Leven

Hi Brian,

no probs - hope you get it fixed. Just to check though (as 1664 says) - you do mean the cab heating and not a separate night heater?

Ewen

ewenmaclean wrote:Hi Brian,

no probs - hope you get it fixed. Just to check though (as 1664 says) - you do mean the cab heating and not a separate night heater?

Ewen

Yes !, cab heating, not the Trumatic heater at the rear.

Funny, tonight it was working for a while, so maybe there's something loose. Will have a look in the next couple of days.

Blower not working? or the blower is working but there is no heat? two different things.

The blower motors on these things do have a tendancy to blow fuses. However, the reason for this is usually that the blower motor is partially seized (does it sing like a canary when working)?.
The blower switch and wiring to the switch can also melt and fail (again because the seizing motor draws more power and so puts an extra current load on the switch).

If this turns out to be the motor then ultimately it's a dash out job and a £40 motor.....I would change the rotory speed switch at the same time and any burnt/tarnished terminals.

Martin