heater valve where do I access it?

[bojangles]

first the knob was stiff
then super light ( the cable broke.. ) The heat was stuck on..
i shortened and re-attached the cable, I made up a tiny hose and tried to squirt some lubricant down the sheath.. worked it back and forth and it seemed to free up.
I put it all together and now the heat is not stuck on full hot but it is on slight heat . it makes no differnece if I turn the knob...
I guess the other end of the cable came loose or broke.
I cant find the valve. I have been under the dash as much as I can see without removing any panels..
I removed the spare tire and the fan cover in the front. Nowhere do I see any access to the acutal heater valve..

Bruce
S4s (N/A version?

[saguilar]

I have a 94 S4 and had the same problem => heat would not turn off. I, too, decided that there was slack in the cable and readjusted the cable in the center console. But, before doing that, I wanted to make sure the cable was connected at the heater control valve. So, I happened to have the driver's seat out for redying. I got in the Lotus position, armed with the knowledge provided by the parts schematic, and attempted to find the heater control valve. At first glance, it was not where I thought it should be (ie, up in the dash, left of the steering column). By moving the control nob on the console, I could hear and then eventually feel where the cable was moving. Luckily, the heater control cable was still attached. UNFORTUNATELY, the heater control valve is ABOVE the pedal box! I asked others on various bulletin boards if there was an easier way to access the heater control valve. No one ever responded. Knowing that these valves corrode in all types of cars, its usually a regular replacement item. Many are now being made in ABS plastic just for that reason. Again, no one ever respond to the replacement question. Some recommended putting a manual control valve in the engine compartment and use it to shut off the heat in the summer and live with it in the colder months (with it on all the time). In my case, the adjustment worked and I have yet to touch the temperature knob.

Scott
'94 S4

[cnh1990]

you can get to the actuator cams by removing the stereo unit from the center console pod.

[saguilar]

The actuator cams have to do with air flow/direction. Bruce's issue has to do with the flow of hot coolant through the heater core (and the ability to stop/control that flow).

[bojangles]

at least this seems like a challenging issue.. if it was easy i would feel silly for asking..

it it is in a place where I can feel it, I will assume the position this weekend and see if I can feel the valve...hope i dont feel a broken cable..

[jayinatlanta]

Is this the reason that only warm/hot air comes out of my footwell ducts? I keep the temp knob turned to cold, but if I don't direct the airflow ONLY to the fresh air vents (far right on the direction dial) I feel hottish air in the footwell.

I always thought it was just that mid-engine-poor-air-cooling syndrome. Does anyone have footwell ducts that produce normal room-temperature air without the AC on?

~Jay in Atlanta
1993.5 Silver Frost Esprit SE