Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: viper357 on 25 February 2013, 18:39:12

Title: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: viper357 on 25 February 2013, 18:39:12
Hi everyone. Please help. I'm busy trying to problem solve my issue with low heat in the cabin.

So far I have:
Reset the Climate Control
Replaced HBV
Flushed Heater Matrix
Flushed Radiator with Wynns rad flush

Still only getting luke warm air in the cabin. Radiator and pipes all seem to be warming up as they should, i.e. top rad pipe hot, bottom pipe cold for a while and then slowly warms up which would indicate the thermostat is working ok, I think?

But looking inside the coolant box, the water doesn't seem to move very fast, it's like a gentle movement, I would have thought that once the thermostat opens up then the water movement would be quite noticeable???

When I first flushed the radiator only clean water with pink coolant came out, no muck whatsoever.

I'm a bit stumped as to what the problem could be?

So two questions for now :p

1. Could the water pump be so knackered so as not to pump sufficiently? I thought they either worked or not?

2. How hard should the vacuum be for the HBV? If I remove the pipe from the HBV and put my finger over it I "think" there is suction, it could be my imagination, lol, but it feels like there might be a bit of a gentle vacuum, again to me that should be quite a solid suction on there shouldn't it be?

Thanks for the help, my feet will thank you if I can get my heat working. :p

p.s. my temp seems to hover around 80 to 85, seldom reaching 90, if it does reach 90 then it's only after a very long drive.

Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: symes on 25 February 2013, 18:45:56
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90476.0    try here mate :y
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: TheBoy on 25 February 2013, 18:50:48
As a quick test, unplug the vac from top of HBV, and see if that improves things.

Is it climate control, or manual heating?
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: viper357 on 25 February 2013, 18:58:06
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90476.0    try here mate :y
Thanks, I've flushed and reverse flushed the matrix, a lot of brown muck came out but I did it a couple of times until only clear water came out, I haven't done it again since I ran the Wynns rad flush, maybe I should try flush it again? But my water pressure is not very high :(

As a quick test, unplug the vac from top of HBV, and see if that improves things.

Is it climate control, or manual heating?
It's climate control.

Removing the vac from the HBV doesn't seem to do anything and the vacuum seems to be very soft, should it be sucking like the vacuum from the brake booster?

How does the HBV work, no vacuum=hot water in matrix?
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: dbdb on 25 February 2013, 20:08:46
I had some limited sucess with this problem in my last mig, by adding radiator descaler at increasing dosages and for longer periods.  As the engine had done nearly 200K I was willing to exceed the recommended concentrations/time periods.
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: viper357 on 25 February 2013, 20:14:46
I had some limited sucess with this problem in my last mig, by adding radiator descaler at increasing dosages and for longer periods.  As the engine had done nearly 200K I was willing to exceed the recommended concentrations/time periods.
Thanks, I was thinking of doing something similar, trying a few different makes of flush/descaler over a couple of weeks. What descaler did you use?

How long can I run the car without anti-freeze in it?
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: dbdb on 25 February 2013, 23:11:13
I tried holts speedflush and bars flush I think.  I supect they are all the same.  I didn't remove the antifreeze, don't run your car without antifreeze for any time if its cold out.  Antifreeze also has corrosion inhibitors so even in warm weather don't run for long periods without it. I think I put in the recommended dose and left it in from london to devon rather than the 30 miles it said.  Then flush it out with water and see if it is better, if it has fixed it put antifreeze in, if not try more.  I might also have tried more than the recommended dose.  It's not the proper answer and do it at your own risk.
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: albitz on 26 February 2013, 00:30:54
Fernox is the best descaling agent.Available fom DIY shops.Dont leave the car overnight without antifreeze thistime of year. :y
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: Rods2 on 26 February 2013, 00:45:08
Hi everyone. Please help. I'm busy trying to problem solve my issue with low heat in the cabin.

So far I have:
Reset the Climate Control
Replaced HBV
Flushed Heater Matrix
Flushed Radiator with Wynns rad flush

Still only getting luke warm air in the cabin. Radiator and pipes all seem to be warming up as they should, i.e. top rad pipe hot, bottom pipe cold for a while and then slowly warms up which would indicate the thermostat is working ok, I think?

But looking inside the coolant box, the water doesn't seem to move very fast, it's like a gentle movement, I would have thought that once the thermostat opens up then the water movement would be quite noticeable???

When I first flushed the radiator only clean water with pink coolant came out, no muck whatsoever.

I'm a bit stumped as to what the problem could be?

So two questions for now :p

1. Could the water pump be so knackered so as not to pump sufficiently? I thought they either worked or not?

2. How hard should the vacuum be for the HBV? If I remove the pipe from the HBV and put my finger over it I "think" there is suction, it could be my imagination, lol, but it feels like there might be a bit of a gentle vacuum, again to me that should be quite a solid suction on there shouldn't it be?

Thanks for the help, my feet will thank you if I can get my heat working. :p

p.s. my temp seems to hover around 80 to 85, seldom reaching 90, if it does reach 90 then it's only after a very long drive.

Lazy thermostat?
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: viper357 on 26 February 2013, 09:13:00
Thanks guys.

Hi everyone. Please help. I'm busy trying to problem solve my issue with low heat in the cabin.

So far I have:
Reset the Climate Control
Replaced HBV
Flushed Heater Matrix
Flushed Radiator with Wynns rad flush

Still only getting luke warm air in the cabin. Radiator and pipes all seem to be warming up as they should, i.e. top rad pipe hot, bottom pipe cold for a while and then slowly warms up which would indicate the thermostat is working ok, I think?

But looking inside the coolant box, the water doesn't seem to move very fast, it's like a gentle movement, I would have thought that once the thermostat opens up then the water movement would be quite noticeable???

When I first flushed the radiator only clean water with pink coolant came out, no muck whatsoever.

I'm a bit stumped as to what the problem could be?

So two questions for now :p

1. Could the water pump be so knackered so as not to pump sufficiently? I thought they either worked or not?

2. How hard should the vacuum be for the HBV? If I remove the pipe from the HBV and put my finger over it I "think" there is suction, it could be my imagination, lol, but it feels like there might be a bit of a gentle vacuum, again to me that should be quite a solid suction on there shouldn't it be?

Thanks for the help, my feet will thank you if I can get my heat working. :p

p.s. my temp seems to hover around 80 to 85, seldom reaching 90, if it does reach 90 then it's only after a very long drive.

Lazy thermostat?
Hi Rods2, yeah, I'm kinda thinking along those lines now, I timed it on this mornings school run and it took about 25 minutes/8 miles before it eventually crept up to 90, then what I assume is when the fans come on it drops right back down to under the 85 line.
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: car5car on 26 February 2013, 11:28:43
I don't know how to flush coolant system well. All bottles from parts store almost don't work.
A few days ago I did flush removed coolant expansion tank from Ford to 100% clean condition. I used muriatic acid overnight.
I flushed a few heater cores successfully by garden hose, reversing flow a few times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxm3E5SkHrI
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: 2woody on 26 February 2013, 22:09:58
you should only get HBV vacuum when the aircon is set "ON" and BOTH temperature controls are selected to "LO".

Any other situation removes the vacuum
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: Bob G on 27 February 2013, 19:27:49
which fernox would it be the F5?
Title: Re: A few v6 heating questions
Post by: albitz on 27 February 2013, 19:39:40
Not sure on the number.Normally used for flushing central heating rads etc.