Hullo,

 

I've just taken my car to Lion Garage in Hinckley as the heater isn't working.

 

I'm informed that it's potentially the head gasket pressurising the heating system, but AFAIK they haven't done any tests to check for exhaust gas in the coolant and the coolant itself is relatively clear. There's no way in hell I'm willing to pay them for 12+ hours exploratory work to strip the engine down and check if the head is cracked etc without a little more reassurance that that is the correct course of action.

 

I've been running torque to monitor coolant temperature and it sits happily between 80-90 degrees.

 

Does anyone around the area have a tame and knowledgeable mechanic who could give me a second opinion?

 

Engine is a CR170

Speak to Iain Andrew @ ISA Technik - he's an Indy and is a very nice guy.

 

He's based in Acocks Green, Birmingham

Anyone else got any recommendations? Or any advice about the issue for that matter?

Midland vw

So the heater is not getting hot but the engine is?

Does the temp vary at all from the heater? Both sides the same?

So the heater is not getting hot but the engine is?

Does the temp vary at all from the heater? Both sides the same?

 

The engine gets to standard running temperature and stays there.

 

The heater spits out air that can best be described as 'tepid'.

I'd check to see if the heater matrix pipes are both the same temp with the engine at operating temperature.

I'd check to see if the heater matrix pipes are both the same temp with the engine at operating temperature.

 

This is something that a friend checked for me, they aren't heating up.

So the engine is warm but the heater matrix pipes aren't. Then in that case I would flow check the matrix by taking the pipes off and running a hose into one side.

So the engine is warm but the heater matrix pipes aren't. Then in that case I would flow check the matrix by taking the pipes off and running a hose into one side.

 

How easy would that be to achieve? I am not particularly mechanically minded...Will the system drop coolant all over my drive when I disconnect them from the matrix?

How easy would that be to achieve? I am not particularly mechanically minded...Will the system drop coolant all over my drive when I disconnect them from the matrix?

You'll lose at least what is in the matrix and any above that level, so yes. Have a bottle of G13 coolant to top it back up after you've finished playing.