Heating has a mind of its own

Hi guys just brought my first puma but the heating does what it likes mainly blows cold but here and there it comes out hot. I've read others post on here and checked the hcv seems to be fine and the fan blows in all 4 settings what else could it be. Any advise what be very helpful

Hi, in what manner did you test the HCV to ascertain its fine?

A possibility is you need to replace the heater control panel.

Have you any overheating problems? you might have a water circulation problem?

Where does your temperature needle sit?

Hi the needle sits half way which I assume is normal and the hcv I put it on cold left it then turned it to hot and the 2 pipes going out of it got hot aswel. No over heating problem as of yet.

Yep the needle sitting half way is perfect.

It sounds like a HCV problem, I don't know what you did to check it but the main way to check it is ok is if it works and your doesn't seem to.

The fact both the pipe going in and out are hot is only showing the bypass part of the valve is working, It would seem in your case the valve simply isn't working properly and allowing hot water into the heater matrix.

Sounds like a classic case of cheap eBay HCV to me though

That's what I mean when I said the 2 pipes are getting hot to the heater matrix. The pipes between the hcv and the matrix get hot and cold depending what I set it too but still nothing.

Also if it was the hcv would it be able to come out hot sometimes or would it just blow cold. Thanks for the help guys

Actually you didn't say the two pipes to the heater matrix were getting hot you said when talking about the HCV "the 2 pipes going out of it got hot aswel" so your saying the two rubber pipes at the back of the valve are as hot as the ones at the front?

I still think the most likely problem is a HCV problem if your heaters sometimes hot and sometimes cold either the valve is opening and closing at whim or sometimes theres water going through the heater matrix and sometimes there isn't for reasons other than the valve i.e. lack of water in the system or an air blockage.

I may be wrong but if you had a heater control panel problem I think you would be stuck on hot or cold but not alternating itself between hot and cold.

You could try and see if you can get any air out of the system by running it on the drive with the header tank cap off for 20 mins and gently squeezing the pipes and checking you have the correct water level. You might as well check the pipes in and out of the radiator are equally as hot as well. It will probably come down to a new or used Ford HCV though as mentioned leave the cheap ebay jobbies alone. Yes I think a dodgy HCV can be hot and cold at whim and ignoring its orders from the heater control panel.

You won't loose anything by changing the HCV. The plastic pipes (Inlet/Outlet) become brittle over time, and it's best to change it now, before one of the inlet/outlet pipes break off and dump all your coolant.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-OE-Heater-Coolant-Control-Valve-HCV-Replacement-Part-/400819811698?fits=Car+Make%3AFord&hash=item5d52b8f572:g:jw0AAOSwaNBUgbBP" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ok guys thanks for the help I'll go ford and get one then report back and let you know. Thanks again

My heater was a bit weird like that. Drove to work one day and it was actually blowing hot. All seemed fine. When I came out of work the car had dumped every drop of coolant as the pipe had sheared. It was just sat in the car park, wasn't even driving when it happened.

It's well worth checking the pipe connections (but only when you have time to get and fit valve!) as mine were like cheese and broke off on a very busy dual carriageway dumping all the coolant onto the exhaust manifold, creating the biggest "smokescreen" I've ever seen!

Bob

Ok cool I'll get one ASAP is it a big job to change them? Can't find a link to watch to change it.

Strangely enough, you'll find it in the "How To Guides" Section :wink: :
http://www.projectpuma.com/viewforum.php?f=51" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.projectpuma.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=12365" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.projectpuma.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=25905" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.projectpuma.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=26051" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Haha ok cool I'll have a look thanks again

Guys is it worth changing or checking the heater resister as well as well I've ordered the hcv just wondering if I should do the resister too. Also where is it located

Change the HCV first, and see if that solves the problem.

Heater Resistor:
Strangely enough, you'll find it in the "How To Guides" Section :wink: :
http://www.projectpuma.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=3272" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Haha ok next time I'll check the how to before I open my mouth lol

The heater resistor would only give you problems with the fan on certain speeds.

Ok cool cheers