Car runs normal temperature but not heat from vents

Car runs normal temperature but not heat from vents

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opm

Original Poster:

79 posts

92 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
Hi,
Not sure how long I have had this problem as today was first time since about April that I have turned the dial up from cold air, but this morning going to work noticed I was cold in car so turned the control to the hottest setting and still it was just blowing cold air out.
The fan is working as I can feel the different speeds but just cold air coming out.
The temperature of the car is dead middle and warmed up fast enough so that to me says thermostat is ok.
Feeling the pipes in engine bay the 2 that are at back of engine going towards bulkhead are both very hot to hold so does that mean the hot water is flowing through them ok so can’t think why I have no heat from fan.
Car is a focus 1.8 petrol 2010 model so it’s a duratec he engine.

Any ideas on what it may be or other things to try and diagnose it?

Scrump

22,939 posts

165 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
Could be blocked heater matrix or maybe the temperature control has become disconnected from the heater valve.

opm

Original Poster:

79 posts

92 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
Is there anything around bottom of engine that may cause it not to work, reason I ask is that I undercoated the front subframe weekend and wondering if I knocked any wire/ sensor without realising

opm

Original Poster:

79 posts

92 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
Scrump said:
Could be blocked heater matrix or maybe the temperature control has become disconnected from the heater valve.
Where would the temperature control be to be disconnected from the heater valve?

opm

Original Poster:

79 posts

92 months

Tuesday 17th October 2023
quotequote all
Fixed it today after a bit more reading on net last night.

Here is solution if anyone else has same problem/symptons.

Carefully remove the fascia trim that sits around the cd player and heater controls, ( just clips in but quite tough to prise out so a bit of care needed).

Undo the 4 Philips screws that hold the radio/ cd player in, either unplug the connections from back of radio/cd unit or just hold it forward( there is enough room) and if you look down at back of temperature dial there is a wire cable to it. If you have same problem as mine you will instantly see the wire kinking upwards instead of feeding back along direction of travel. Either use finger/screwdriver or small pliers to push kink out of cable and voila when you now turn the temperature dial the cable goes back and forth and you will have heat again in car.

For good measure I also squirted a bit of WD40 ( other brands are available) to help it not snag again.

Re-assembly is the reverse of the above unsurprisingly enough.

Enjoy the heat.