Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[The Omega Glory]

Just replaced the Heater Bypass Valve on my 3.2 (a testing little job and cutting the hands to ribbons), the second in a couple of years. Took the top off the old one and there's a rubber seal inside. I presume this is the area that fails? Is there any alternative for the next time that might last a bit longer than the GM part or is this as good as we get? Any other possible reason for early failure?

[05omegav6]

It is essentially a service item

Should add, they tend to fail in one of three or so places, the diaphragm being one of them... might have been a duff one, but mine is on its third since 2009 fwiw, all genuine too

[joff]

I must say, why is it that when the car was new the parts would last 100K or 9-10 years and then parts fail. Ok that's a good life for the part, but then you buy new from dealer at extra cost and still the new parts fail in 1-2 years why are they not the same as when the car was new and last another 9-10 years.

[chrisgixer]

They don't last 9-10 years ime. Non of my cars have been on the original hbv. And I've had three I considered my own cars as daily drivers, at various points, and a few others  sold on. All had been disturbed/busted off its bracket/cable tied to its post etc etc.

Any production line will have a few bad eggs. But two years is disappointing it has to be said.


There's no alternative though.


More modern cars don't have a valve at all.

[TheBoy]

IIRC, my bullet is still on its original. None of the other Omegas are, with the possible exception of Goldie, which didn't like me anyway.

I wonder if coolant servicing has an impact, as this is frequently neglected on "professionally" serviced vehicles.

[chrisgixer]

IIRC, my bullet is still on its original. None of the other Omegas are, with the possible exception of Goldie, which didn't like me anyway.

I wonder if coolant servicing has an impact, as this is frequently neglected on "professionally" serviced vehicles.

You are joking? After the state of your coolant at Wycombe? Lazy bloody admin!

[steve6367]

Do you actually need it?

Does it only shut off the coolant to the matrix when you select 'LO' - which I don't think I've ever done....

Steve

[05omegav6]

It opens variably to allow more accurate control of the cabin temperature 

[steve6367]

Scrap that idea then 

[05omegav6]

That's not to say a servo controlled valve couldn't be fabricated to suit... Issues would be size/weight and converting the vacuum to a suitable electrical signal