Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 10:38 am, by: Samantha Hornby(Marla_singer)
Ok so my heater only works when the line in the temperature gauge is in the middle between hot and cold - I assume this is normal? Also, when I stop at the traffic lights...the heater blows cold air and only gets hot again when I set off.
This is only a recent thing and it was working perfectly up until about a month ago. Any ideas?
Also just FYI...my turbos have blown and are being replaced next week - is this relevant?
Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 10:48 am, by: Jason Kingsmill(Jason_k)
Sam - the heater works by routing hot water(coolant) through the heater core...so the temperature guage would need to be sitting above cold for the heater to blow warm air.
It's a little weird that it blows cold air when you stop. I would have suggested that thermostat might be bung, allowing the coolant to get too cold, but normally that's only while you're driving that it cools too much. When you stop, it should raise in temperature. So no idea's about that one.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 11:02 am, by: Dan McColl(Hoon)
Sounds like maybe there is a problem with vacumn getting to the VSV valve?? Possibly a vac line come off somewhere.
It should start blowing warm before you even see an indication on the guage. The guage probably only shows around 20 deg from cold to hot. The car temp will be running around 86 I think. The guage should only start to move when the car gets to 76 or so.
It's strange that it stops blowing hot when you stop, leading me to think it could be a vac line or something like that.
Sam, I have a similar problem with my A/C - works OK when cruising, then suddenly switches itself off at idling speeds. I'm fairly sure it's the heater vacuum switching valve which is the problem but am looking for time to run the full diagnostics - have you tried that?
My diagnostics came up with code 14 - a problem with the engine coolant sensor. Funnily enough, the temperature is tending to run a little cold also - the temp gauge is not bang in the middle as usual, even when cruising at 120. It's one notch below the middle. Anyway, I'm not going to investigate the coolant sensor yet as the Bible seems to indicate I have to pretty much dismantle the A/C system inside the car to get at it. I reckon I'll change the heater VSV anyway since the one I'm using is from another Toyota and had to be modified for the Soarer. In your case, Sam, I'd say VSV or vacuum line, as the other guys have said. Certainly sounds as if it'll be an easier fix than mine!
You're probably right about the thermostat, Peter. I'm going to try changing that, plus the heater VSV, before doing anything else because I've just had another look at the Bible and the A/C coolant sensor is definitely mounted on top of the A/C unit inside the car. The instruction blithely says "Remove A/C unit - see page AC107", as if it was a 5 minute job!
Friday, May 12, 2006 - 06:00 pm, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
Seamus, in the first post you said engine coolant sensor, not A/C coolant sensor. You might want to check which one it actually is before pulling things apart.
Yes, sloppy language! But the coolant running through the A/C heater matrix is engine coolant as well, isn't it? Anyway, I've no intention of demolishing the inside of the car before exploring all other avenues!
Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 07:50 pm, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
Engine coolant runs though the A/C heater matrix to provide heat only. The A/C cooling in summer is provided by the A/C compressor using refrigerant gases in a totally separate system.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008 - 03:31 pm, by: Lynton Dickens(Kiweed)
Guys,
I'm suffering the same problem, the heater only works when the car is moving, and pretty fast at that! Grinding along in peak traffic, she blow cold air.
Where is the heater VSV and how do I check it?
Peter Nitschke Junk Filterer South Australia UZZ30 UZZ31
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 01:31 am, by: Nye Phillips(Nye)
That's great advice, but how do you remove an airlock on a tt??? Air con works great but the heater does not work, if the aircon is on and I set the temp to HOT the fan blows hard but only ice cold air comes out! With the air con off all I get is ambient temp with the fan on full or on the first setting...is it an airlock, I can hear a waterfall sometimes when driving, any ideas??
Peter Nitschke Junk Filterer South Australia UZZ30 UZZ31
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 02:45 am, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
First thing is to see if the heater is connected and the VSV is working. Have a look under the bonnet to see if the heater hoses have been bypassed, and also to see if the VSV moves when the heater is turned up/down.
Search on VSV will find more info and pics.
Peter Nitschke Junk Filterer South Australia UZZ30 UZZ31
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