How do the Heater Controls Work?

[keynsham]

Odd question but I am new to my car! I have a 350i with the two flat wheels for heater control. They both turn easily so I am assuming the are not attached to cables? My heater doesn't work and I actually suspect airlocks but I was really interested, if anyone knows, how these two wheels work and what each is supposed to do?

[Grady]

Somehow, through black magic, one controls the heat-cool blending door and the other the feet-midle-defrost flapper(s). From pictures I've seen, the guts of the box(es) are hopeless. Once I get mine running again, a generic Vintage-Aire system will be on order. Grady

[Rodddimus]

So in my 350i the heater blower is naff its got the power of an asthmatic 1 lunged flea

however the wheels on mine - the left wheel is hot/cold and right wheel is feet/face - both my wheels are functional but the lack of power in the fan is the issue its on my job list but its just not that important to bother taking the dash out etc

[mk1fan]

Badly, and that is being generous.

[Steve_D]

If the wheels are moving freely then they have come adrift from the stiff (piano) wire connections.
Left controls temperature. Cars with aircon include a microswitch on this wheel to tell the A/C that the wheel is set for cold.

The blower may just need its bearings lubricated. it is not difficult to remove.

Steve

[blaineuk]

Don’t waste to much time trying to sort it, it will never blow cold air, usually hot or hotter, and as for weather it’s on your feet or the screen, it will never matter as it won’t be old in the car.

[jon haines]

For me this is the worse part of the car, why they didn't use one from another car instead of cobbling together the ste they did is beyond me.

[phatman5000]

There isn't much point me commenting as everyone else has pretty much said it, but this is my opportunity to say the heaters AND heater controls on the TVR 350i are the worst thing ever fitted to a thing. They are effectively beyond useless.

Mine have lost their labelling (if they ever had any) and I went through the pain of finding out which one is supposed to do what by google searching for images of some which still had their labels. Even armed with that knowledge, it made no difference.

And if they move freely, they're broken (which probably improves things). They should feel awful and do nothing.