Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Kate on 03 February 2008, 23:43:20

Title: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: Kate on 03 February 2008, 23:43:20
Hello everyone.  It doesn't matter how long I drive my omega it won't heat up.  The heater always blows cold and I think this must be bad for the engine.  I have looked in my car books and it says this must be the thermostat or temperature sensor.  I realise omegas are complex cars so do you think this is right or is it something else?  Any information would be greatly appreciated as when I take my car to the garage I get looked at like I am more stupid than a stupid man's donkey. Kate
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: albitz on 03 February 2008, 23:48:54
could be the thermostat stuck open or the cooling system needs a good flushing. :-/
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 03 February 2008, 23:51:41
Does the temperature gauge read normally? (80-90 degrees during normal driving)?

Could be the thermostat, but if the engine is at normal running temperature it's more likely to be a blocked heater matrix, faulty heater bypass valve or a flap in the climate control that's become disconnected.

Kevin
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: zippo on 04 February 2008, 00:01:10
Quote
Hello everyone.  It doesn't matter how long I drive my omega it won't heat up.  The heater always blows cold and I think this must be bad for the engine.  I have looked in my car books and it says this must be the thermostat or temperature sensor.  I realise omegas are complex cars so do you think this is right or is it something else?  Any information would be greatly appreciated as when I take my car to the garage I get looked at like I am more stupid than a stupid man's donkey. Kate
[/highlight]

that's one Ive not heard before  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up!
Post by: Kate on 04 February 2008, 09:13:39
Thanks for that.  The temperature guage does not move at all and even with the heater set to high only cold air blows out.

I took it to a dodgey looking garage and the guy there suggested that the head gasket had gone but I thought that would mean the car would overheat?

Thanks again for your help.

Kate
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: Dazzler on 04 February 2008, 09:19:51
You will need to get your hands dirty and have a feel of all the water pipes, are they getting hot?? Mind the aux belt ::)
There are 2 pipes on the bulkhead which connect to the matrix, are both of these hot??
Ignore the garage i think he was being an ASS.
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: x25xe on 04 February 2008, 09:27:41
I would suspect the thermostat based on what you say.  After a long run, hot warm is the top radiator hose??

If it is still cold, or only warmish, then it is the thermostat.  If it is very hot and the engine is not overheating, then the thermostat is okay and, as Kevin says, there is a fault in the heating system inside the car.  One thing that I have just though of is that the vacuum line on the heather bypass valve may have become disconnected.

My money is on the thermostat.

I very much doubt that the head gasket has gone.  You are correct in the fact that the engine would overheat.  There would be lots of smoke etc.

Hope this helps and good luck
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: TheBoy on 04 February 2008, 10:16:57
Sounds like thermostat.
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up!
Post by: Kate on 04 February 2008, 11:01:51
Thanks very much! I will have a look at the hoses today but I'm taking it to a garage tomorrow.  I used this particular garage before and they seem ok so hopefully they will be able to fix it.

Thanks again. I will let you know what happened.

Kate
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 04 February 2008, 17:24:06
Out of interest, how much is a new part, and how much chew is it to fit?
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: Mike Collins on 04 February 2008, 18:19:14
Bought a thermostat, three o ring seals and five litres of coolant today, total was around £45 on trade club.
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up!
Post by: Kate on 05 February 2008, 19:35:48
Hi. I'm trying to put a pic of my car on here.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gillandkate/Omega1.jpg
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up!
Post by: Kate on 05 February 2008, 19:36:36
Quote
Hi. I'm trying to put a pic of my car on here.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gillandkate/Omega1.jpg
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: Grumpy on 05 February 2008, 19:45:40
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gillandkate/Omega1.jpg)
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: Grumpy on 05 February 2008, 19:48:37
As you can see from the result.

When posting reply, click the image link on the top line above the
the posting box and then paste your image location between the
brackets that come up in the posting box.
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: davlad22 on 05 February 2008, 21:14:53
Quote
It doesn't matter how long I drive my omega it won't heat up.
Cue "release the handbrake" remarks  ;)

seriously though, don't let the garages take advantage. Personally I wouldn't authorise them to do any major work until you've had a second opinion, i.e. off HERE! There's a handful of common faults with the omega which tend to raise their ugly head time and time again. What these lot don't know about vauxhalls isn't worth knowing!

Nice car btw, hope you get to the bottom of your, errm cold bottom!  :y
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: Kate on 05 February 2008, 23:39:26
Thanks for your help grumpy is this right?

(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gillandkate/Omega1.jpg)
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: hotel21 on 05 February 2008, 23:49:46
Certainly looks fine to me....   :y

Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 06 February 2008, 08:41:48
Facelift CDx alloys............I'll get my Anorak.
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up!
Post by: Kate on 07 February 2008, 19:35:11
I took my car to a garage on Tuesday and because one of the mechanics was away they kept my car all day and did nothing!

Another garage is changing the thermostat tomorrow so I'm hoping that will fix the problem. They said they would charge £75 plus VAT for the job and I already bought the part for them.  Do you think that's reasonable?

Best wishes.

Kate
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up!
Post by: Dazzler on 07 February 2008, 19:41:38
Quote
I took my car to a garage on Tuesday and because one of the mechanics was away they kept my car all day and did nothing!

Another garage is changing the thermostat tomorrow so I'm hoping that will fix the problem. They said they would charge £75 plus VAT for the job and I already bought the part for them.  Do you think that's reasonable?

Best wishes.

Kate
Thats not a bad price for a V6 ;)
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up!
Post by: Kate on 07 February 2008, 22:40:50
Thanks Dazzler!
Title: Re: My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!
Post by: davlad22 on 08 February 2008, 11:44:09
Some garages aren't keen on fitting customers parts, (all the obvious reasons!) so that sounds fair enough.  :-/