My Omega won't heat up! No donkey IQ test please!

[Kate]

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

[albitz]

could be the thermostat stuck open or the cooling system needs a good flushing. :-/

[Kevin Wood]

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

[zippo]

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  

[Kate]

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

[Dazzler]

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.

[x25xe]

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

[TheBoy]

Sounds like thermostat.

[Kate]

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

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Out of interest, how much is a new part, and how much chew is it to fit?

[Mike Collins]

Bought a thermostat, three o ring seals and five litres of coolant today, total was around £45 on trade club.

[Kate]

Hi. I'm trying to put a pic of my car on here.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gillandkate/Omega1.jpg

[Kate]

Hi. I'm trying to put a pic of my car on here.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gillandkate/Omega1.jpg

[Grumpy]

[Grumpy]

As you can see from the result.

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