I NEED HEAT!!!

[whitewolf]

Ok, I have to consult those wiser than me once more.....

.... I nearly got frostbite yesterday morning, all blow and no heat from the hearter!

Now I have already flushed the system, and heater matrix, in both directions,and water is clean and flowing freely and a new thermostat has been fitted. But she still only gets just past the quarter mark on the temp guage and there is naff all in the way of warmth worth mentioning comming out of the vents. :?

And ideas people??

A very warm thanks in advance

[L90OOK]

How far are you driving?  Is the journey long enough for the engine to warm properly?
Did you bleed the system properly when you flushed & changed bits?  The heater is the hardest to bleed :roll:
What is the coolant level now?

[Evilgoat]

It depends on what you are driving.

V8 should be able to cook chips on the dash after about 5 mins :)
200TDis seem very variable. Serenity is 'warm' after about 3 motorway wiles and hot after about 10. Roo (Datalas's Motor) Takes about 30 miles to get to 'marginally above freezing'

Check water levels, bleed the system, check your thermostat isnt stuck open and bung in some antifreeze (yes this will help)

I've had the idea of removing the engine fan and going for a Kenlowe suggested as a means to raise the point the fan comes in a little.

Not sure about 300TDis

[whitewolf]

The journey is 15 miles with some good hills to get things working.

Spent ages bleeding the system through both the top of the rad and the header tank,the water running from the bleed plug on the rad was free from bubbles.
 level is currently high in the header tank.

[L90OOK]

Is the top rad hose getting hot?
If not I'd suggest the thermostate is stuck open.
What engine is it?

[Evilgoat]

The journey is 15 miles with some good hills to get things working.

Spent ages bleeding the system through both the top of the rad and the header tank,the water running from the bleed plug on the rad was free from bubbles.
 level is currently high in the header tank.

You didnt say what engine. From experience this isnt that uncommon on a 200TDi.

I guess theres is the whole replacing the fan or preheaters like the Webasto if needs be. How about the viscous coupling on your fan, is it seized? If it is it'll be overcooling and may never actually warm up. You should be able to move the fan on a cold engine reasoably easilly. If it wont budge at all its probobly seized up.

[whitewolf]

Is the top rad hose getting hot?
If not I'd suggest the thermostate is stuck open.
What engine is it?

Top hose is getting fairly warm, has a new stat fitted, and its a 200 tdi, sorry.

[whitewolf]

Sorry, should have said its a 200 tdi.

The viscous fan seems to be free when cold, certainly not seized.

I had expected chilly winter from a diesel landy( my defender was awful!) but this is seriously cold.....there really should be more comming out :roll: , eskimo suit may be in order eh?

Would fitting an electric fan make any difference?

[L90OOK]

Fairly warm isn't hot enough  :lol:
I'd do as Evilgoat says & try turning the fan when cold...it should spin fairly easily.
If it doesn't then it's seized therefore overcooling the engine.  You can normally hear seized fans too...sounds like an aircraft when you rev the engine.
If the fan is ok then I'd go for the thermostate stuck open.
You could put something in front of the radiator to stop the ram air cooling effect to the radiator

[Evilgoat]

ISTR that I've seen pics of Serenity when Niel owned her with a 'blind' on the grille to do just this.

Electric fan would help as I said as it would allow you to raise the point it kicked in and prevent overcooling. However I'd try and find out why you are having the issue first. Stone cold means something isnt right. If the top hose is hot them you may have a blockage or soemthing in the heater controls isnt doing its job. Try and find the hoses where they pass through the bulkhead (Sorry I dont know where this is) and see if they are warm.

[L90OOK]

My 200tdi defender has an electric fan with X-Eng fan switch.  90-95% of the time the fan is not running.
The 200tdi warms well but seem to be able maintain a good temp without the need for the fan in normal running.

[SteveGoodz]

Is the top rad hose getting hot?
If not I'd suggest the thermostate is stuck open.
What engine is it?

Top hose is getting fairly warm, has a new stat fitted, and its a 200 tdi, sorry.

Might sound a bit obvious but is the thermostat in the right way up? If fitted the wrong way round it's like being stuck open.

HTH

[whitewolf]

Might sound a bit obvious but is the thermostat in the right way up? If fitted the wrong way round it's like being stuck open.

HTH

Yup its in the right way, water is running around the system fine and pipes are getting hot ( i can still hold them tho, my RRC would burn ) but its still only just not 'cold air' being blown by heater.

Tomorrows job is to remove the viscious fan ( which is not seized ) and see if this makes things warm up a bit  :)

[Landynuts]

My 200 has an electric fan fitted (which only ever comes on during heavy off road stuff) and it still takes at least 15 miles to warm up, I even have a hotter thermostat fitted. The only solution I found is a plastic rad muff, its a genuine accessory but it does mean that I have to stop and take it off once it is warm if I am going any distance.

[whitewolf]

Any ideas where to get one of these rad muffs ( other than landrover ) ?

[Ja1983]

if you want a propper plastic thingy, the bay is probably your first choice, but if its just to see if it hedlps, get some cable ties, and a piece of cardboard... then take it for a spanking... big hills, high revs etc... see how hot it will get.. if an hour later your still not warm under the bonnet theres something very amiss!

it may also just be an air lock somewhere, give it a run down the motorway, this will clean out the whole engine (injector cleaner whilst your at it) and should free up any blockages.

do the trickle vents (by windscreen) come warm? if yes, it couyld be the heater blower, or a heater control at fault..

hope this helps