A/C-Heater Matrix

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

Well, I traced down everything I could under the hood and now have the A/C clutch and radiator fans starting when the fan control is on and the A/C switch is pulled out. Only problem is that it doesn't cool.

No big deal now that the weather is cooling off. Hum, except that now the heater will not heat! The hoses are hot going into the heater. I think that both problems are being caused by the to thermostats.

Is there someone here that throughly understands the heater matrix and how it operates? Any advice would be great!

<font color="brown">Revision: Found that the end of the 50 apm fuse for the heater blower was not soldered properly, it fell off, so I resoldered it and now it does not pull down the batteray when it is running!

I checked the water pipes right up to the water control valve and they are hot, both in and out. So does that mean the the valve is bad or is there another controller that controls both the A/C expansion valve and the water control valve?</font id="brown">


Have fun, drive fast & safe, be kewl,

jclay

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

Gee? Does this mean that no one knows how the heater works?

Have fun, drive fast & safe, be kewl,

jclay

[KRenken]

jclay,
I was having the same problem you are now experiencing...no, or very little, heat produced even though both heater hoses were hot. In addition, the no heat situation was a bit "hit and miss" with a little heat during one trip and then no heat with the next.

Then the heater matrix began leaking, prompting me to remove and disassemble the heating/cooling unit. One thing that I found was a LOT of deteriorated foam around the matrix. I'm wondering if that was blocking the air flow through the matrix.

My leaky matrix has been repaired and hopefully I'll get my heating/cooling unit back in the car this week and I can report on the results.

Kimmit

1980 DHC
GM 3.8 v6 fi

[john 215]

Hi jclay,
On the left hand side of the A/C heater ass there is the hot thermostat,this has a capilary tube pressed up against the matrix which has to be located the correct distance, i assume this is the water control valve you mention?.Years ago i had to change one of these,car belonged to a US service man,but i am sure the return pipe from the heater was'nt feeling warm,i remeber the fascia had to come out.Have you checked all the control rods are ok? Does the compressor turn on and off?.
Cheers John.

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)
1982 2.0 DHC Soon to be a 4.6 fire breather!!
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[jclay (RIP 2018)]

Hi jclay,
On the left hand side of the A/C heater ass there is the hot thermostat,this has a capilary tube pressed up against the matrix which has to be located the correct distance, i assume this is the water control valve you mention?. <font color="red">Yes, you assume correctly!</font id="red"> Years ago i had to change one of these,car belonged to a US service man,but i am sure the return pipe from the heater was'nt feeling warm, <font color="red">Inlet & outlet pipes are both hot!</font id="red"> I remeber the fascia had to come out. <font color="red">Was hoping to avoid that!</font id="red"> Have you checked all the control rods are ok? <font color="red">Yes, they are all working!</font id="red"> Does the compressor turn on and off?. <font color="red">Yes, it does and since I resoldered the 50 amp fuse for the heater, it works great with out pulling down the voltage in the battery!</font id="red">

Have fun, drive fast & safe, be kewl,

jclay

[KRenken]

Hi jlcay,
Have you solved your intermittent heat problem, yet? Mine was due to water freezing in the heater matrix some time in it's life. The tanks on each end of the matrix were bulged out slightly. This created a hole in the divider in the "inlet/outlet" end of the matrix, allowing coolant to bypass the rest of the matrix.

I have to admit, I don't understand the purpose of the capillary tube coming from the heater control valve.

Also, I have in the process managed to lose one of the little connectors for the control rods. Does anyone have one they could spare...or know where I can locate one?

Kimmit

1980 DHC
GM 3.8 v6 fi

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

I actually got heat out of the heater yesterday!

When I got home and opened the garage door, I saw my air duct sitting on the work bench.

My hot air was coming from the engine bay!

Oh, well!

Have fun, drive fast & safe, be kewl,

jclay