nuke777

after being in a small accident the left side of my front bumper had a little dent. I gave my car to a reputable repair shop. They replaced bumper assy and decided to replace a bunch of other stuff to make money of the other guys insurance, like head light assembly, head lights, door handle, repainted the door...etc. All cool...... up until I test my heater and it does not work.

I called these guys explained the situation and they told me to bring it in and they will asses if its an accident related or not. well it is not accident related since it worked fine after the accident.

The engine runs at a normal operating temps, I cheeked the coolant level and it was good, checked the temperature control **** and it moves when I switch between heat and no heat. the only thing that is left is either a bad thermostat or a cloged heater core. how do I test these two? also if my thermostat was at fault wouldn't a/c also not work?

ezone

****? What ****? You mean the one on the dash that you spin, or the water valve out in the engine compartment?

There's a lot left.
Air lock in the core, bad water valve, water valve not opening, HVAC door or mode motor issues, straight undiluted antifreeze, maybe more.

Did the bodyshop have the cooling system open for any reason? Did it get a radiator replaced or something? Did it get the correct antifreeze, and is it the proper concentration?

By understanding how they work and observation/testing of temperatures at certain locations.

What's the temp gauge do? Does it show cold all the time?

What temps are the heater hoses at the firewall?

Only if the engine were overheating.

nuke777

sorry for my late response i was so busy with the work that i completely forgot that I posted here.

lol I spelled the word **** wrong or what?? never knew there is a swear word like that . the one that is out in the engine compartment.

oh boy this is way over my head, I hope it is just a thermostat. coolant is ok, I used 50/50.

they claim they only replaced radiator bracket, nothing more.

By understanding how they work and observation/testing of temperatures at certain locations.

it's showing normal temps between cold and hot right on the middle.

how do I locate that firewall?


today the heater started working again, I strongly suspect the thermostat is sticking.

thanks for your reply.

ezone

That's the vertical panel of sheetmetal between the engine compartment and the passengers compartment.
Gonna make it tough to diagnose if it's working right LOL.

Try it and see, it's certainly cheap enough. I urge you to use a factory stat though.

nuke777

bastard stopped working again . guess Ill have to wait for that thermostat to come in the mail, will change that and see from there.

again thanks for your help, much appreciated.

johndeerebones

Thermo is cheap enough, sounds like air. Sticking thermos usually aren't intermittent. Replace the thermo and fill the system up to make sure any air is out. It is commonplace for leaks to rear their head after a collision, don't rule it out.

nuke777

good tip thanks, will do that once the thermo comes .

nuke777

I replaced thermostat added coolant, purged the system of air and surprise surprise, it still does not work. after running the car for 25min I cheked the two hoses that connect to the firewall and they are cold. also the hose that is connected to the thermostat is cold also. any ideas?

ezone

Go back to posts 1, 2, and 3: What were you calling a "****" in the engine compartment?

nuke777

I read online and some fool called it a **** but i think its called heater control valve. how much does heater controll valve move, mine moves only 1/4 inch.

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

The one with the blue cable attached, on the firewall near the top ??
(01-05 models)

That may be the problem.

nuke777

I will take a picture tomorrow of when the heat is turned on and off.

ezone

NOW do you understand why I wrote what I wrote in my first reply?




The lever on that valve should move a quarter of a turn (90 degrees) going between full cold to full heat.
If it doesn't make the full quarter turn, you need to find out why.

nuke777

wow 90 degree!! no way mine moves that much. the bloody thing is located in such a deep assholl that it will be hard to work in there. at least now I know which component is acting naughty with me.

Thanks.

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

What model year are we discussing here btw ???

ezone

I found 02 LX coupe in his handle history, I assumed this is about the same car.

OP: Whenever you start a thread, please state exactly what your car is in the first post. It makes things so much simpler.

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

Agree, ^^^

The 7th gens are right up top (have never found any info for a valve used on 06-11 models...and find that strange)

nuke777

sorry guys, yes its 02 coup lx. I manualy moved that heater controll valve with a long screw driver and whala the heat came back. unfortunately if I turn heat off and put it back on its getting stuck so I have to move it with a screw driver again. Does it mean I have to replace that entire thing or maybe I can lube it or something?
no way in hell I'm replacing that one myself, its in a completely inaccessible place.

ezone

You need to figure out WHY the cable isn't moving the lever correctly.

Inspect at both ends of the cable, inspect the outer sheath of the cable for not being anchored in its little clips at either end, heater box linkages, etc.

nuke777

yeh I was also wondering if it's the cable getting stuck or the lever on the valve. I'll have to check that one out on one of these weekends, at least now I have heat.

thanks again.

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

Can you move it with your fingers ?? May be binding if you need a long screwdriver.

Would that valve try to move during the HVAC system test ???

nuke777

well now its permanently stuck and I cant manually pry it with a long screw driver, so I'm stuck with no heat . is there a good guide on how to remove and replace that heater control valve for civic 2002. this valve is located in such a deep @!#hole that the sheer thought of trying to remove it scares the bejesus out of me.

ezone

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...pdated-12.html

nuke777

thanks