S2 Heater

[Badgersport]

I've owned an 04 plate Elise 111S for just over a month now and the heater is useless. It makes no difference if it's set to hot or cold it just blows out icy cold air all the time. Are they all like this or is it likely I've got a fault. The engine gets up to temperature OK it's just the heater that doesn't - Any ideas anybody?

[greysquirrel]

my heater takes about 20 minutes before hot air starts to come out... think TADTS.. unless you are talking about a long journey, mines seems to take however long my journey is - 30 seconds to demist the windscreen and heat the cabin up! lol

[bogie]

it could be that the actuator flap is stuck on cold...get it checked out at a specialist....the std S2 heater is poor..but the 111S had the uprated heater box/fan so should be better

[shangani]

My 111s 03 heater is fine - cold air till the engine is warm, then gets really warm. I only drive 4 miles to work and am well toasty on arrival - there must be a fault with yours - should still be under warranty.

Timed it - warm within 5 min.

>> Edited by shangani on Wednesday 30th November 19:25

[Badgersport]

Thanks Guys. I thought it must be faulty, I just didn't want to take it in and be told 'they're all like that'

[GTRene]

When the heater stays cool even when the engine is hot, you've proberbly got some air in your pipelines from the heater water! and cooling system! get it checkt or else you could get an overheated engine because the water can't circle in the system...try to get the air out your system just like a cv/water heater system works in your house...
Hope your on time, at least as the elise is as a "normal" car.
René

[Badgersport]

Just had a look and it's definately the flap that's not moving. My manual shows a cable but the car seems to have an electric motor to move the flap. I'll have a closer look with the multi meter later.

[bogie]

you have the newer style better heater.....if the box is knackered I hope you have a warranty...they are like £400 + clam off/on...not much change out of a grand...unless you can unjam it and lube it up manually.....

[MJK 24]

If the heater's not working then either the acuator arm is sezied (spray a load of white grease on it and move it).

Alternatively, the ducting pipe that goes from the heater to the vents may have fallen off at one end. It's not clipped on, just sits there so it can be dislodged easily enough.

Famous last words but I've got an old S2 and my heater is fine!

[Badgersport]

Thanks for the replies - here goes with an update.

There's not much skin left on my knuckles but the flap isn't/wasn't seized but it doesn't move when I move the heater control and the pipe is, well was in place (I took it off to get at the flap). I suspect an electrical issue with the flap motor or dash control but the manual I've got doesn't have a wiring diagram or any other details on this heater unit only a cable operated unit. I've tried a meter across the pins on the plug and can't find any voltage at all on any of them. At least I can manually move the flap to 3/4 hot relatively easily and stop freezing my bits off whilst I find a wiring diagram.

I got the car as a stolen recovered with no service history so I doubt it's under warranty as it will have missed a service whilst it was 'borrowed' for a bit. Registered March 04 and very low miles, everything else is fine so I'm not too worried as it was cheap.

[MJK 24]

Badgersport said:

Thanks for the replies - here goes with an update. There's not much skin left on my knuckles but the flap isn't/wasn't seized but it doesn't move when I move the heater control and the pipe is, well was in place (I took it off to get at the flap). I suspect an electrical issue with the flap motor or dash control but the manual I've got doesn't have a wiring diagram or any other details on this heater unit only a cable operated unit. I've tried a meter across the pins on the plug and can't find any voltage at all on any of them. At least I can manually move the flap to 3/4 hot relatively easily and stop freezing my bits off whilst I find a wiring diagram. I got the car as a stolen recovered with no service history so I doubt it's under warranty as it will have missed a service whilst it was 'borrowed' for a bit. Registered March 04 and very low miles, everything else is fine so I'm not too worried as it was cheap.

There's no electric operation of 'hot & cold' as you say it's just cable operated. Sometimes the cable can be badly routed and moving it slightly sorts things out. Also, if you want, you can manualy move the lever to hot and leave it there until the Spring.

Did you check that the ducting pipe is attached at both ends? Otherwise the hot air will literally be blowing away.

[pjm]

My heater didn't work from new, dealer fixed it fine at 1st service and its worked well since. I don't know what they did, but it seemed to be a pretty common problem.

[Badgersport]

MJK 24 said:

[ There's no electric operation of 'hot & cold' as you say it's just cable operated.

Can anybody confirm that for me, as there is definately no cable going anywhere near the heater. There are 2 sets of wires going to the heater unit though: 1 set for the blower unit and another that goes to what looks like a stepper motor on the side of the heater covering the flap axle. I just assumed that they had moved from cable to servo and I'd got an electrical fault but if they're all cable operated that's my problem - the cable is missing. I could pull the dash out and look at the end but if anybody knows the answer it might save me a few hours work.

Thanks.

[Arno]

Badgersport said:

Can anybody confirm that for me, as there is definately no cable going anywhere near the heater.

AFAIK the later cars and the ones with A/C do not use cables, but use vacuum operated servo's to move the flaps that direct the air around and also control the heat.

The older S2's without A/C (and the much more pathetic heater) use cables to operate both the hot/cold (lukewarm/lukewarm ) and windscreen/feet flaps.

Bye, Arno.

[Badgersport]

Thanks for that, I thought I was going blind when I couldnt find a cable.