Thunderbird finaly ready to go.

[wolfman]

Since i bought my tbird i had some troubles with overheating.
I replaced the waterpump, thermohousing and thermostat and also placed a 3 row radiator.
Now the Tbird stays cool and im able to make longer trips.

Next thing to do is check why the heater does not work. It only blows when i put it on max and the air is hardly getting hotter when i switch to heat.

 

[Tim Cole]

Lack of heat in your T-Bird

You may have one or two problems: Start with the most likely:
1) The heat/hot air for your Bird is generated by having the hot coolant flow from the water pump into the heater core on the firewall by means of heater hoses. If the coolant is not getting into the heater core, you won't get any hot air out of your vents. Sometimes the problem is the heater control valve--located on one of the two heater hoses.
(See attached pix of different types of the hcv and placement near the firewall):
-Is your heater control valve rusty and not opening up?
-Is it hooked up to the very small rubber vacuum line from the firewall?
-Is the "arrow" on the temperature control valve pointed in the right direction?
-If the heater core is rusted or simply not working, you should replace it. It's an easy and inexpensive fix.

Keep us informed as to your progress. All the best to you in your work! Tim, Florida

 

[wolfman]

I dont have a heater control valve. Both heater hoses are hot.
I do have a small vacuum tube thats doing nothing. It sucks air so i put a screw in it.
As i see it now the air should always be hot in the car.

 

[Tim Cole]

Heater Control Valve

Your Bird does indeed need a heater control valve and it does need to be attached to the "loose" vacuum hose. The vaccum hose will open a small "gate" or "door" in your heat duct system to allow the hot air into your car.
Are you able to find heater control valves in the Netherlands? If you don't, you have can have one of mine for free.
Let me know. Thanks, tim, Florida

 

[wolfman]

Am i right when i think the heater should always be "ON" now?

 

[Tim Cole]

Heater Control Valve

To your question, yes, the heater control valve should be "on" now.
From your picture, it looks like someone has hooked up additional heater hoses to your heater control valve. Where do these hoses go??? They should not be there. Study the picture I posted earlier and you will see how the heater control valve/hoses should look.

As I mentioned earlier, the coolant should flow freely into the heater core (on the firewall; the coolant heats up the heater core so it can produce heat for your car) and then flow freely out again without blockage. If there is a blockage (of the hot coolant) anywhere, the heater core cannot function and you will not get any heat in your car.
Keep me posted. Best wishes. tim

 

[wolfman]

Those additional heater hoses are for the cooling of the LPG installation. My car runs on LPG. I think if i put a heater control valve just infront of my heater core it should work fine.

But thats not the reason why my heater isnt working now. Is there a extra valve somewhere thats bloks the hot air that comming into the car now.
The heator core is getting hot.

 

[Tim Cole]

Heater control valve

Once you install the heater control valve (make sure the arrow is pointed in the right direction) and hook up the small rubber vacuum line to the small port on the valve itself, you should get all the heat you need. The vacuum line runs to a small actuator inside your car which will open and close a small door--allowing hot air into your heating system.
Can you get a heater control valve over there?

 

[wolfman]

Thanks verry mutch Tim. So without the heater control valve it wil never work to get the heat in the car. I have been asking around and its hard to get here. But i havent called all the shops i know over here.

If i cant get it i wil let you know as soon as posible.

 

[wolfman]

Yep i found one. Tomorow or maybe this afternoon i wil pick it up.

 

[wolfman]

Its in.
Im going to a americancar meeting today so i have to drive about 100 miles.
I have time to check the heater on my way.
I let you know.

 

[wolfman]

There hardly coming any heat out of the heater. Both waterhoses are getting hot. Into and out of the heater radiator.

There must be somthing blocking the hot air into the car. Are there valves in the dash?

 

[Tim Cole]

heater core

There hardly coming any heat out of the heater. Both waterhoses are getting hot. Into and out of the heater radiator.

There must be somthing blocking the hot air into the car. Are there valves in the dash?

This is truly a mystery. Looks like from your picture that the heater control valve is hooked up the right direction. I am assuming that your blower motor works well and blows hard.

You said both hoses are hot. Just thinking out loud here: even though both hoses get hot, do you know if the coolant is actually flowing through the heater core freely? Or is there a blockage in the heater core due to age/rust/dirt?

To check on the free flow of coolant through the core 1) turn car on and heater on; let it run for a few minutes to get hot 2) unhook the small heater hose (furthest away from the passenger fender) from the heater core. The coolant should be flowing out of the heater core freely.

Try this and get back with me.
tim

 

[wolfman]

Ok i will try that.
I let you know.

 

[wolfman]

I checked the heater core and there wasn’t going any water going through it.
I unhooked the hoses and put a gardenhose on it.
I turned the water on and after a while there was water coming thru.
At first it was real dirty and not much but i kept the water going through until the water was bright and later there was much more water going through.

Now i have all the heat i need.

 

[Tim Cole]

clogged heater core

Looks like you've discovered the root of your problem. Great job!

I would recommend taking the core out (easy to do) and soaking/immersing it for a few a week in a cleaning solution (such as radiator cleaning solution) in order to remove all rust, dirt, old coolant, etc. Then re-install it. Water alone will not clean out the heater core.

Keep me posted. Good to know you are on the road to "heat recovery". tc, Florida, usa

 

[wolfman]

I also repaired the heater resitand now the ventilation works good again.
Before i could only use the full option. It made a lot of noise in the car and when i shut it down there was no air coming in so within a few mininits i got steamed windows. It was a simple job to do once you know how things work and where to find them.

There was a lot of dirt in the ventilation system. I cleaned it al up.

 

[Tim Cole]

Heater resistor

Congratulations on your good work. Looks like you dug deep into the heating system and both learned a lot about it as well as repairing the problem. It's always such a great feeling to finally track down a problem and fix it. I am happy for you. You will be warm in your T-Bird!

You are now ready for the cold Dutch winter.
What is your next challenge?

 

[wolfman]

Tanks Tim.
Today i worked on my next challenge and its a big one.

My left turnsignal wanst blinking in the dashbord. So i took the dash out today. What a mess was that! The previous owner did a lot of work there but made a mess.

I got one problem solved but created a other. The print was dirty and when i cleaned it the turnsignal light worked. But also my oilpressur light didnt work. I now think it must be the sensor.
But now also my alternate light isnt going on when i turn the key on.
But im not sure it should. I cant remember if it went on before.
I know when i start the car in the mornging when its cold he idles so low that i saw it burning, so i have to wait to see if it does when i start the car tommorow.

Maybe you can tel me if the alternate light should go on when i turn the key of the car on?

 

[Tim Cole]

Printed Circuit and bulbs

The part you have been cleaning is called the "printed circuit." It does wear out with heat and with age. If you think your printed circuit is still is good working condition, not cracked or broken, and all the "electrical tracks" are intact, then good. If you can find a new one, that might be something you should consider as well--in view of the age of the car.

In addition, I would replace all of the small light bulbs with new ones. The old bulbs might "look" good, but still not burn. Also, clean all of the contact points on the small plastic housings where the light bulbs fit. Use fine grained sandpaper to clean them.

Let me know how it goes. All the best to you.
tc