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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:01 am
by ASL642
I've had the high output heater from the Birmingham Centre for about 6 years. It demists the rear doors of the Traveller :lol: It only needs about 5 minutes and you have to turn it off it gets so warm.

Agree with Jimbo1 Worthwhile upgrade, expecially if you use the car daily.

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:18 am
by ssnjimb
is the fan in the mini heater faster than the one in the minor heater

Jamie

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:17 am
by bmcecosse
Not faster -just twice the length!

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:26 am
by Stig
Don't expect miracles from a standard Mini heater, the matrix is still the same size.

I fitted one about a year ago and though it was an improvement over the old one the side windows still misted up pretty badly the other day when it was raining, though there's a leak in the rear side window somewhere as the carpet was damp so that didn't help!

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 5:48 pm
by eastona
Even in the winter, I just open the window an inch, demists fine. I've taken the cold air intake off and blcked it, so it just recirculates, works OK.

Blocking up the "car" bit probably does it good, as lots still leaks out of mine when it's on "screen" or whatever it says for the demist function.

Interested in the -ve earth point as I never changed mine over when I converted the car. And maybe I should clean the flies out. Seems so much effort when it's not really that bad. (or do I just have low carf comfort standards?)

Andrew

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:36 pm
by MarkyB
It makes things much worse if the inside of the car is damp as the humidity is even higher.

The foam bits inside the heater go right downhill after the first 30 years :) and will need replacing to bring the heater back to proper operation (amongst other things).

The design of the demisters leaves a bit to be desired like a something in a shirt sleeve would be a reasonable description.

The people who do Rainex do an anti fog product.
I bought some in a French supermarket then realised I can't read the instructions :oops: maybe someone has tried the UK version?

Mike Anik was talking about making this system work better, maybe he has some input.

Last thought, Clean windows don't fog up as easily as dirty ones, I use a chamois leather damped with water and a tiny amount of washing up liquid to clean mine.
NEVER touch the window with your hand once it is clean or you end up with windows that are misted up AND smeared :( .

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:54 pm
by aupickup
i have tried rainex and found that after every sweep of the wiper blade it smears also in an astra

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:07 pm
by MarkyB
I'm a big fan otherwise I wouldn't suggest it.
Got me back through a lot of very very wet France with no wipers at all.
The secret was to drive fast enough (about 50) for the rain drops to get blown off the screen.
You do need to follow the instructions closely ( tough when it's already pouring with rain) and treated glass isn't the same as untreated which may explain your smears comment.
Anyone tried their anti fog product?

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:31 pm
by charlie_morris_minor
i use both rainx and fogx on my daily driver and find them great.. the trouble is they do not last for ever and you do need to follow the instructions to the letter or they do not last long.

i find that the fogx needs reapplying more frequently than the rainx. but neither take very long to apply..

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:10 pm
by ssnjimb
I may take the heater apart tomorrow instead of fitting my radio as warmth and being able to see beats hearing someone wining on about the weather on lw or mw

Is it easy to remove the heater

Jamie

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:29 pm
by ssnjimb
where and what type of foam can be used in the heater

Jamie

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:30 pm
by paulk
The foam is very thin (4-5mm at most) and goes around the edge of flap that moves between off-demist-car

On our 1970 2 door the foam had all gone and I only guessed where it had been from the glue mark.

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:15 am
by ssnjimb
where can i get foam from does it have to be a special type

Jamie

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:30 am
by MarkyB
Here you go:http://lmgtfy.com/?q=foam+sheet
I'm guessing that it is PVC foam not polystyrene.

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:56 am
by paulk
It's definately a foam as in spongy, compressable.

As long as it will survive 88°C it should be fine.

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 11:00 am
by Peetee
As long as it will survive 88°C it should be fine
The foam in my head would be no good then. 26C in a deck chair and I'm cooked.

Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:16 am
by ssnjimb
The matrix in my heater was quite thick and it had a tested label on it that was printed rather than written could it be a replacement

I flushed out the matrix and some orange water came out but nothing else. It was all clean as it it had been serviced.

Jamie

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:24 am
by DAVIDMCCULLOUGH
So it was very cold with a heavy dew this morning when I was on my way home from nightshift, this reminded me about your post. Heres what I was talking about when I replied<br>Image<br>
This is so easy and Ive being doing this for years!! Its also helps the pad to dry out after you have wiped the windows. I would say it doubles the output to the window vents.

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:59 am
by ssnjimb
ahh i see what you mean. that way there are no air leaks and all the air goes to the windscreen iam going to try that.

When i put my heater box back together i taped up all seams and holes in the box so that no air leaks.i washed the fins of the matrix and a few bits came out but it was very clean otherwise.

Jamie

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:00 pm
by Mick_Anik
Re MarkyB's reference to me here........no real input. When I posted earlier about modding the heater, I was thinking along the lines of using something from a Fiat 1500. I am not a 'purist', and there's plenty of space under the dash even for something from quite a large car. I would, in fact, be happy to relegate my passenger to the back seat and fill up the whole of the passenger side with a mega heating/defrost/warmupapiequickly system.

I will be facing temperatures of minus 20C one day, so I am interested in effect, rather than aesthetics.

Edit: I suppose I am a purist in some respects....I drive Morris Minors :D !