Strange heater problems

[Kris James]

basicly i drive the mini like normal and normal running tempeter is reached i switch heater on and blows hot are out but only for about 2mins then if i switch the heater blower off leave for say 5 mins then switch back on hot air comes out but only short period. this all going on while im driving i check thermostate to make shore not sticking open but then tempter is reached normal time sooooo mmmmmmm any idears please as its starting to get anoying

[mk1morris]

mini heaters are renouned for performing poorly. however your problem could be down to a few things.
air lock or blockage in heater pipwork,
heater matrix blocked /faulty,
heater tap faulty. disconect the pipe off the heater tap with the heater cable pulled out. i believe this should stop the flow of water. then push it in, this should then poor water from the tap. if this is the case the tap/valve is fine.
try disconecting the return pipe from the bottom rad hose. plug the bottom rad hose and check if water is circulating through the system out of the return pipe. if its not or very little water is coming out the return pipe you prob have a blockage in the matrix or pipe work
remember your rad will lose water and you will prob get air in the system, so top the rad up after and leave the cap off while running the engine for a short period. then top up and put cap back on. this should get rid of any air in the system.

hope this is of some help or you could always fix the problem by wearing more clothes ;D ;D ;D ;D

[katentel]

hi kris may or may not help but we had same prob and found water pump had gone! or you may just be airlocked

[mk1morris]

your engine would still stay around the normal running temp if there was a fault due to the bypass hose keeping water circuling (i think but dont quote me on that)

[Kris James]

yer i have tried bleeding the system MK1 the way you explaind so im starting to think along lins of water pump but the problem started beacuse i replaced the matrix there for this makes me think air lock lol GRRRRRRR

[katentel]

if you changed the matrix then you are probably airlocked are the heater pipes getting hot?obviously 1 hot pipe would signify blockage in the heater if both pipes are hot!!then god knows if neither are hot then water is not being pumped to the heater!! sure someone will correct me if im wrong

[Kris James]

both pipes are WARM coming out matrix but i mean warm that i can hold them till my heart content lol