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Robin

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Posts posted by Robin

  7. Vitesse mk2 heater blowing cold

    in Cooling System

    Posted

    Have tried again to shift the blockage but no luck - it’s absolutely solid from about a third along the inlet manifold from the heater valve. So I think the next step is to take the inlet manifold off and see if I can get a long drill to shift it as previously suggested. In case it all goes wrong, where can I pick up a new or good used inlet manifold?

  9. Vitesse mk2 heater blowing cold

    in Cooling System

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said:

    No - or rather it shouldn't if the pipe is solely to the heater. Just keep an eye on the gauge and see if it's behaving.

    I don't know the Vitesse layout but it must be possible to run a parallel pipe to the heater, bypassing the manifold pipe, to see if it's working?

    Hi Colin - yes I can bypass the inlet manifold but I’m curious to know what function the water flow through the manifold performs?

  10. Vitesse mk2 heater blowing cold

    in Cooling System

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, classiclife said:

    Morning Robin,

    1- it certainly will not assist and yes it is more than likely to reduce / stop the heat output. I presume the heater matrix is okay but if compared with the manifold it is likely to be clogged as well - have attached a photo of how bad they can get albeit from another marque.

    2- no it should be fine but the coolant system will not be operating at max benefit.

    Regards.

    Richard.

    DSC00180.JPG

    Thanks Richard

  11. Vitesse mk2 heater blowing cold

    in Cooling System

    Posted

    Ok - I’m going to try and unblock the inlet manifold but two quick questions:

    1. I’m assuming that because the manifold is blocked and no water is flowing through it then this will cause the loss of heat from the heater?

    2. if I can’t clear the blockage will it cause any damage by still running the car?

  13. Vitesse mk2 heater blowing cold

    in Cooling System

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, classiclife said:

    Hello Robin,

    I would measure how far you can get the coat hanger in to the manifold from each end - that will give you a rough idea as to how thick the obstruction is. If the distance is slight you should be able to break through it with aggressive prodding. If a lot thicker then it will take more work; I'm just trying to save you taking the manifold off initially if you can deal with the blockage in situ.  

    Something more stout than a coat hanger would be useful - do have a long thin drill bit or similar ??

    When you do sort it out, as I am sure you will, may I suggest using a 50/50AF coolant mixture which goes some way to stop scaling etc if you do not already do that.

    Regards.

    Richard.

    Hi Richard - I can get the coat hanger about half way from the thermostat end. The heater end is trickier because of the angle needed to get the wire into the manifold - needs to be bendy but strong. Will see if I can find a piece of pipe to attack from the thermostat end but the blockage seems pretty solid so god knows what it is.

  14. Vitesse mk2 heater blowing cold

    in Cooling System

    Posted

    As Doug suggested earlier I took the hose off the inlet manifold to see if there was a blockage. I used an old metal coat hanger but it only goes about half way along the inlet manifold before it stops and doesn’t want to go any further even with some pressure. Any advice on how to remove the blockage ? I ‘m assuming i need to take the manifold off and use a stronger rod to move anything that’s blocking the water flow?

  15. Vitesse mk2 heater blowing cold

    in Cooling System

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, dave.vitesse said:

    It may be the water heated inlet manifold blocked as this feeds the heater. Do not try to undo the large nut at the heater end of the manifold as it will break off. Clean out it's ports with a piece of stiff wire, plus flush through with water

    Dave

    Hi Dave - ok will try this if all else fails

    • Like 1

  16. Vitesse mk2 heater blowing cold

    in Cooling System

    Posted

    4 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said:

    Pipes to the heater will be cold for most of their length if the heater is off, or if the valve is stuck or blocked. Easiest way to check is to disconnect the valve and run a pipe straight to the heater, this will tell you if the heater is working ok. You can clean the valve - in fact you can clean the heater too - by disconnecting the heater pipes and flushing them in both directions using a hose, making sure the valve is open, but it's also easy enough to take the valve off and clean it, even poking a short length of wire through it can clear debris. 

    One other small point - are you sure the valve is opening and closing, and it's not just the dashboard control moving about but doing nothing? It's happened to me before, so check if you can see the valve physically opening or closing. Is it a Smiths or Delaney Gallay heater?

    Hi Colin

    I did take the heater matrix out and gave it a quick flush with a hose and it seemed to be ok. The heater valve also moves freely and is working from the dash pull knob. It’s a Smiths heater. Will try and connect the hoses directly to the matrix. So is the thermostat an unlikely cause?

     

     

  17. Vitesse mk2 heater blowing cold

    in Cooling System

    Posted

    Hi Nick

    engine is coming up to temperature according to gauge and cooling system is full. What’s confusing me is the hose from the thermostat housing to the manifold and the hose from the manifold to the heater valve is cold - shouldn’t this have warm water running through?

  18. Vitesse mk2 heater blowing cold

    in Cooling System

    Posted

    I don’t often use the heater and last time I checked the fan was blowing warm air into the footwell. I tried in recently and found it’s now only blowing cool air. The car is coming up to temperature as normal and the top and bottom radiator hoses are warm but the hose from the thermostat housing to the manifold and the hoses connecting the heater valve to the heater matrix are cold (but water is flowing ok). Would this suggest a faulty thermostat or do I need to look elsewhere for the problem? 

  20. Vitesse fuel tank leak and repair

    in Fuel System

    Posted

    I filled up the vitesse this afternoon and driving home had a strong smell of fuel. I checked the boot and found some fuel on the boot floor and also around the back of the fuel neck where it joins the tank - so I suspect I’ve got some sort of hole or crack . If so then it probably needs soldering or welding - any recommendations in the Herts/Beds/Essex area?

    Thanks

    Robin

  23. Rust Inhibitor

    in Bodywork & Fittings

    Posted

    Just wonder if anyone has a recommendations for a rust inhibitor to use inside of the door - Ideally I'm looking for something that can be spayed into the areas that I can't get to with a brush.

    Bilt Hamber products seem to be well reviewed but are there any other products worth looking at?

     

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