Damn cold

Can anybody help ?

This morning was the first chilly frosty morning of the year over our way, so when i jumped into my Discovery at 6am it was pretty cold. I work near Manchester and live 40 miles away, however even by the time i'd got there it still wasn't warm in the motor ! After about 5 miles i was checking the console to make sure that i'd selected hot air etc, which i had, but it just wasn't really putting any hot air through. There was a slight feeling of warm when i put my hand right in front of the vents for the windscreen, but nothing to write home about. Does anyone know what this could mean, or anything that i should be doing ? It's a 2.5tdi if that has any bearing on the possible problem.

Cheers

Obvious, but have you checked the coolant level?

Yeah, done that and all seems to be fine. No obvious leaks anywhere either. Just have one of those horrible feelings about it !

Air lock in the heater matrix?

Would that be easy to locate and to rectify myself, or would it need a visit to the garage ? Bearing in mind that im not the most practical person around the motor !!

were you getting a good temperature reading for the engine?

Its not that difficult, disconnect the pipes, shove a hose through it (gives it a clean etc, could be blocked) might as well clean the rest of the system then plumb it back up, refill the system with the proper mix of antifreeze/water, just work out the percentage you need for the minimum temperature its likly to reach where you stay/may visit etc...

no one has asked if the fan is actually working, is it blowing air>???? and just warm air comming out or or blowing hard and just cold air? could be that the fan has packed in.
craig

Thermostat

Thermostat

Click to expand...

Stuck open? Might want replacing!!!

I have got a simular problem with a 92 V8, only lookwarm air, engine temp reads OK, coolent OK heater fan moving the air well. so am reading this with interest

thermostat stuck open or a heater matrix problem. also could be an air lock.
matrix blockage is a common problem.

assuming everything is in order then try some tinfoil cover on the rad, about halfway up should do it. some cars cooling systems, run too cold in the winter.

Hello to all, I am a new member ..

My Discovery has developed the same fault as jeansd. Tomorrow I will be taking the Dashboard etc etc out as I am convinced it is the Heater Motor, that has stopped working. I have checked all the necessary electrics, and didnt find any faults there. Hopefully the Motor I ordered will be in the mornings post!, just incase it is needed.

Any Help/ tips would be gratefully recieved.!

marmite lover

Very wierd, but yesterday it just started working again ! Started it up and within about ten mins the car was like a furnace. Will see what happens over the weekend and post something back on Monday.

nothing worse than an intermittent faut is there

heater motor (blower) and the heater matrix are 2 completely different problems.

Today I have stripped the Dashboard etc out, took about 2hours. Split the casing apart to get to the motor, and tested it across the battery, the motor worked!!. So on a hunch I went to L+R in Darlaston to buy a fan speed switch and a Relay for good measure. Got back and tried the new parts and all is working again. It seems that the switch and the Relay were at fault. New Motor didnt arrive in post so I will finish putting it back together tomorrow. Not too bad of a job to do, I would say the fiddliest part is putting the two heater casing halves back together without cursing!.

Next jobs to do are the shock absorbers and springs in the next week or so.

bye for now, marmite lover