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Overheating/Heater Valve Update

To: 6pack@autox.team.net, triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Overheating/Heater Valve Update
From: acekraut11@aol.com
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 15:56:51 -0400
Hi List,

  A little while ago I had been talking to people about an overheating 
problem and a few suggestions regarding the source of the problem were 
thrown about. Someone suggested that I might have a head gasket leak or 
that maybe my leaking heater valve was allowing air into the system. I 
ordered a new heater valve and when the new one came in I removed the 
old one and drilled out the rivet and took the heater valve apart. I 
did find some debris near where the valve closes but that wasn't the 
cause of the leak. The rubber diaphragm had torn so when the heater 
valve was open then the coolant would leak out. If the valve was closed 
then the system would not leak. I would encourage people to check their 
heater valve by taking it apart if they have a problem with it. The 
valve is quite simple and straight forward and if there was some debris 
or other simple problem then it might be able to be repaired. Having 
said that I suspect that pretty much every case of heater valve failure 
will be the rubber diaphragm. Now, if we could convince the 
manufacturer to sell a replacement rubber diaphragm instead of the 
whole assembly then repair would probably be rather easy and cheap.

  As for my overheating problem I believe the problem is the temperature 
sender for the fan. I chose the lowest rated one available that would 
fit the hardware I chose. I think that sensor has either stopped 
working or is just set to come on too high and the car has overheat 
before the fan has come on. On those rare occasions where the 
temperature has begun to get quite high if I manually turn on the fan 
then the car doesn't overheat at all.

  Finally, after I installed the new heater valve I do have complete 
function of the valve. It can be completely closed from inside the car. 
I think that if you don't rotate the valve too far that you can close 
the valve completely from within the car. If you are having a problem 
where you cant close the valve completely then try turning the valve 
counter clockwise slightly and see how that affects the operation. You 
may loose the ability to fully open the valve but a mostly open valve 
will still provide enough heat in most cases.

 Aaron

 Aaron Cropley
 71 TR6 (Throttle Body Injection!)
 http://www.triumphowners.com/108
 Topsham, Maine




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