Poor heater

[starion-babe]

Hi

My GPX heater dont seem to be putting much heat out even with the temp turned right up. Has anyone else had this prob?

[Myfeckin FTO]

Welcome Starion-babe (Did you own a Starion?)

The heater not putting out much heat could be a number of things.
1) Air lock in the heater matrix.
2)Blockage in the heater matrix or broken Heater matrix (do you have a damp footwell?)
3) The little air sampling tube that runs into the back of your aircon unit on the dash has disconnected.


Have you had any work done on the car recently that may have had an effect on the heater - new water pump?

Is the grill at the bottom of your windscreen blocked up with leaves?

[starion-babe]

Hi

Yes I did have a Starion before I got my FTO, it was a red 2ltr wide body with loads of mods but I had to get rid due to the dreaded rot.
Ive not had any work done on the cooling system and I dont have any water in the footwells. The only thing I can thnk of is maybe the sampling tube could have been disturbed as ive recently had some new ICE fitted in the dash.
How easy is it to get to, to check.

Thanks for your help

starion-babe

[CJ]

The only thing I can thnk of is maybe the sampling tube could have been disturbed as ive recently had some new ICE fitted in the dash.How easy is it to get to, to check.

Welcome starion-babe

You will need to remove the stereo surround and then the upper pod section that houses the aircon ECU, there are 2 Phillips screws at the bottom of the pod that will need to be removed, the upper pod will them come away from the dash quite easily. If you look at the aircon temperature dial, you'll notice a small vent, some tubing connects at the rear of this vent, its most likely that this has become unattached.

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

Hi

Yes I did have a Starion before I got my FTO, it was a red 2ltr wide body with loads of mods but I had to get rid due to the dreaded rot.
Ive not had any work done on the cooling system and I dont have any water in the footwells. The only thing I can thnk of is maybe the sampling tube could have been disturbed as ive recently had some new ICE fitted in the dash.
How easy is it to get to, to check.

Quite liked the Starions - quick car back in its day. Looked as well.

Simple job to get to the air sampling tube - just lift the panel surrounding the gearshift - un-screw the centre section and pull out - (from memory) I think theres a little connection that this rubber tube just pushes onto on the back of the Aircon unit - it may have fallen down the dash.

Edit - this may be clearer. http://www.hostilesmoker.pwp.blueyonder ... wto01.html

Thank you Mr Hostile.

Edit my edit - Snap CJ.

[starion-babe]

I have checked the pipe at the back and yes it was diconnected but putting it back on has made no difference to the amount of heat coming out of the heater ( still just warm at max ).
Does anyone know what the photo sensor in the window does and what effect it has on the heating. The reason I ask this is because the workshop manual says that to test that its working you should have the blower on and when you cover it up with your hand the blower speed should go down, mine dont.
I ve done the obvious and checked the inlet/outlet pipes to the heater in the engine bay and both are hot so I dont think its a blocked heater matrix. Also ive spoken to my local mitsi dealer and they have told me that the heater is a constant flow type and the amount of heat is controlled by a flap opening and closing. They have also said that they can check it by plugging in their box of tricks into the heater ECU to try and find the prob but you know what they can be like with their charges so im a bit reluctant.
If anyone knows what could be causing my prob, please help as im frozen

[kevinod]

Does anyone know what the photo sensor in the window does and what effect it has on the heating. The reason I ask this is because the workshop manual says that to test that its working you should have the blower on and when you cover it up with your hand the blower speed should go down, mine dont.

Just on the blower - did you turn it on the blower manually, so it no longer had auto on the screen? If you did then the blower was switched to manual control and covering that sensor would have no effect on the blower.

In case you did, and you want to get the blower going, press the window button to direct air onto it, that usually blows like a mad thing when I switch it on. That failing I guess turn the temp way up or way down (not sure which, the workshop manual might suggest one way or the other?), but whichever way you go, start with the controls on auto (press the temperator selector wheel), and get the blower going without pressing the fan up or down control.

hth,
Kev.

[ronbyrne]

the windscreen sensor measures sunlight, it preempts a change in cabin temperature and changes blower speed etc before it gets too hot/cold, god i miss my fto!

[CJ]

the windscreen sensor measures sunlight, it preempts a change in cabin temperature and changes blower speed etc before it gets too hot/cold, god i miss my fto!

Back on the scene I see Ron, what you drivin' these days?

CJ

[kevinod]

On topic, any luck with this SB?

[ronbyrne]

hi cj,
i'm driving a 91 pajero lwb 2.5 diesel !!! 0-60 on a good day 27ish seconds. handles scarey, same consumption as the gpx. but i need it for work. i couldnt justify 2 insurance policys (1 with 0 years no claim) and loading the fto with bricks etc. affected the handling. btw how have fto gone up in price ? i bought my 95gpx for 6.5k that was over 2 years ago. now they go for 7+ for the same year!!!

[Myfeckin FTO]

.......and loading the fto with bricks etc. affected the handling....

Theres no sustitute for lowering springs!

[starion-babe]

the windscreen sensor measures sunlight, it preempts a change in cabin temperature and changes blower speed etc before it gets too hot/cold, god i miss my fto!

Ok cheers. I still dont know why I cant get a decent amount of heat though.

[Storm]

Hi, I replaced my matrix recently, the third time in three months, dont buy second hand if you're as unlucky as me! Anyway I have had to turn down the temp by a long way with the new matrix so maybe yours is a bit clogged up or needing replaced?

Just a thought

Arashi