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Heater question

Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 10:53 pm
by rockabillygilly
Hi how good is a minor 1000 heater supose to be because mine is shocking :( when is switched off i get more hot air than when its on

Re: Heater question

Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 11:13 pm
by bmcecosse
Depends what type of heater? The round ones are not great - the rectangular ones are better. And they can be improved by fitting an externally identical one from a Mini, which has a better fan. For your heater - either type - to make the best of it, take the pipes off at the engine and flush it through both ways with a hose pipe. Don't close off one end - it's NOT designed to take mains water pressure! Make sure the pies are not kinked - and that the heater valve is wide open. For the engine - fit an 88 degree thermostat - and for very best heater - block off the little bypass hose If your car has a 'fresh air' trunk - it can be repositioned (in winter) to take air from behind the top of the radiator - so slightly pre-heating the air to the heater. It is possible that the water pump is corroded -and not capable of circulating enough water......by try everything else first!

Re: Heater question

Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 11:42 pm
by rockabillygilly
cheers mine is the later type heater as its a 68

Re: Heater question

Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 7:29 am
by Trickydicky
I beg to differ regarding the Round Heaters effectiveness, mine works well providing plenty of heat. As Roy says though a service of the heater will help.
I think the biggest problem getting the heater up to a good temp is because the radiator due to the large grill at the front is "over cooled"
I have thought about blanking a third of the radiator (equally) to try and allow the radiator to get slightly warmer. My minor is not my everyday car so its not top of the list :D
When the minor was in production they used to sell radiator muffs to overcome this problem

Re: Heater question

Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:09 pm
by bmcecosse
Round heaters 'can' be ok - I used to have one - but the later heaters are more powerful when working well, and fresh air of course. An 88 degree thermostat means the radiator 'overcooling' is not a factor.

Re: Heater question

Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 2:37 pm
by hanvyj
My late type heater on one car is terrible. Took it completely apart and flushed, fixed and resembled: Still awful. I think the heater element is a bad reproduction (certainly not original) because it has hot water going in and hot water coming out but seems to fail spectacularly at heating the air going through it!

Re: Heater question

Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 4:55 pm
by bmcecosse
Worth checking if the fan is running correct direction.....there has been some discussion in the past about this - never fully resolved. In theory it should always run 'right way' - but some have been adamant that theirs is going wrong way. Also possible the fresh air trunk is maybe blocked with something.....bird's nest/hedgehog....(maybe even a badger...). I once found a Mini trunking stuffed with (soaking wet) foam.....presumably an attempt at filtering out the flies......