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DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: arcter on May 23, 2010, 10:35:34 AM

Title: Doing HG today, help me with some stuff
Post by: arcter on May 23, 2010, 10:35:34 AM: Hey guys, I'm having my head gasket (and assorted other gaskets) done today after I found white deposits on the dipstick last week. I didn't drive it after that.

So right now I have several questions.

I've never had heat in the car, as long as I can remember. That would tell me that some part of the heater is broken, but I don't think it's the heater core because the shop that was pressure testing my cooling system never found an external leak of coolant. Could it be the heater valve?

Also, if I have no heat, will that affect getting a properly bled system? Will I not be able to bleed properly without the heat on full blast? I'll put it on to be safe but I've never felt anything.

I've also had a problem recently with my temp gauge, it always was showing only 1/4 mark even when warmed up. But I'm not sure if it's just the gauge that's bad, because it also would bounce around a lot and so it kind of seemed like it might be broken. I already tightened the nut on the back of the cluster.

Any idea what might have caused this problem? I had my timing chain components replaced months ago after my car had a rough start one morning and my mechanic told me it had "jumped time". It didn't bend any valves, so they did the chain and "all relevant gaskets" and gave it back to me. Still had the rough start problem. Then I noticed I was losing lots of coolant, then I found coolant in the oil. The new idea is that coolant in the cylinders made for a rough start.

Thanks!
Title: Doing HG today, help me with some stuff
Post by: KenC on May 23, 2010, 11:00:44 AM: Replace your heater valve as well as the thermostat.

I'd question your mechanic as these motors RARELY jump a tooth. Also, the gears are designed to move +/- 6deg. If it ran ok after the "rough start," then it didn't come out of time.

Make sure you have the cam lock tool before you try to put the head back on.
Title: Doing HG today, help me with some stuff
Post by: arcter on May 23, 2010, 11:15:06 AM: Hey Ken,
Is it absolutely necessary to replace the heater valve/thermostat at this time? If so I'll have to order them today and hope my mechanic guy can come back soon. Not sure if he can even finish today anyway.

Also, would a used heater valve be OK? Not liking the idea of spending $200 on it.
Title: Doing HG today, help me with some stuff
Post by: KenC on May 23, 2010, 02:52:27 PM: I would for sure replace the thermostat.

The heater valve is just a guess why your heat doesn't work.
Title: Doing HG today, help me with some stuff
Post by: arcter on May 23, 2010, 07:51:25 PM: Alright I ordered a new 88C t-stat and I'm trying to find a used heater valve to use. Figure I'll also fix my a/c while we're at it.