I know there's been much discussion on this heater valve. I'm now firing up my A/C here in Florida. And I want to zip tie it in the "closed" position. Can't remember whether that's in the "picked" up position, or the relaxed down position?

Hope everyone is staying safe!

 

In normal operating mode the heater valve is open. Just warm it up and with the car running pull the valve the other way and wire it. Then wash your hands.

Jeff

 

I always forget as well.

Whatever position it is in without vacuum applied would be the 'open' position.....which as I recall would be evidenced by the the little arm being in the downward, relaxed position.

Applying vacuum closes the valve, pulling the arm upward

An alternative to tying it shut would be to hook it up to a constant vacuum source. It would closed whenever the engine is running.

Cheers
DD

 

or install a Series 1 heater valve which is normally closed and opens with vacuum. They look identical but operate in reverse.

the normally open heater valves started with the Series 2.

 

And finnaly, you can put an electrically activated valve on it and control it from inside the car. Like you, Bill, I wasn't sure which way was which so I bought a two-way valve that can be either normally open or normally closed then I just switched it around until it did what I wanted. It cost about $10 on the internet. It is electrically activated and the valve itself is a pneumatic valve. Made of plastic and I mounted it right over the heater valve. Constant vacuum from the engine to one port, a vacuum tube to the heater valve and cap the third port. A toggle switch inside sends 12 volts to the valve and presto the heater valve can be manually controlled from inside the car.

Jeff

 

If you are interested, the valve I used is called:

3V1-06 Black Gray 2 Position 3 Way Solenoid Valve

Jeff

 

Thank you all. I just zip tied it in the up position. And will try it out the next hot day. It's only 75d today.

 

Decades ago, I did something akin to that on my 83. It no longer had the original valve witht he exposed pin. But, a plastic unit.

My idea was to isolate the heater matrix in summer from any circulated water. thusly assuring no extra heat in the cabin. I never got around to competing the installation of the AC!!!! At this late age, not likely!!


I installed a simple hardware store water valve. Open in winter, it warms nicely. closed in summer, a nice power vent of moderate days.

I term it my summer/winter valve. Old USA cars used a similar system.



Carl

 

Just received the plastic heater control valve. Went to install it, and it occurs to me that I don't know which way faces which way! Which end goes towards the intake manifold water hose, and which end goes towards the heater hose?? Anyone know?

Many thanks, Bill

 

Makes no difference, Bill. It's simply an open-or-shut situation; the valve doesn't know or care which side the liquid enters or exits

Make sure it's is open with no vacuum applied and closed when vacuum IS applied

Cheers
DD

 

Bill, look for an arrow on either side of the down stem to indicate flow direction. Usually the higher port is IN and the lower port is OUT.

that valve comes in both normally open and normally closed. Used by my Ford minivan for the rear a/c. Sold by NAPA.

 

Installed the heat valve: works great. Now I have to figure out why I have a quart of coolant left over from what I removed from the system. I'm sure I have an air lock somewhere?

 

here's how I do my cars:

fill the cooling system with the engine idling, heater on full heat, radiator or fill tank cap off.
Thermostat will open when engine reaches normal temp, allowing coolant to flow out of radiator into system and heater core.

system will burp any air bubbles as engine warms up, so coolant will spill out until all air is expelled. Add coolant as needed until no more air bubbles out.

Then next morning check coolant level again and fill as needed.

 

probably no water in the heater matrix. Jose's plan should fix that..

Carl

 

Logical thought, but I haven't hooked up the vacuum hose to the heater valve yet. Which means it's open and pushing water through the heater matrix. Drove it for 15 minutes and it only took about a cup. Still got a quart left from what I pulled out. My driveway is tilted down, so the filler cap is a bit higher than the back of the engine.

 

car has to be level.