Cooling - or not!

[darkmark07]

Hi all.

A subject close to many of our hearts this time of year - keeping cool!

Armed with Mr. Varley's fantastic manual, I have deduced 2 things:

1. My car (T350) left the factory missing the dividing panel that goes some way towards separating the cabin air intake from the rest of the engine bay

2. The heater matrix seams leakier than the Welsh national vegetable, drawing 30-40% of its air from directly above the exhaust manifolds(!)

I've looked at the space that the dividing panel would take up, and it occurs to me that to be fully effective at reducing the intake temperature, it needs to run from the top edge of the radiator (mine lays parallel to the floor), and encompass pretty much the whole light assembly etc - my concern with this is that it will effect the airflow around the rest of the engine.

Has anyone made a panel and can someone describe to me what it should look like and where it should fit - a photo may help but it's pretty difficult to see in there at the best of times - a template might be even better!

Secondly, has anyone else found problems with a 'leaky' heater matrix and if so what did you do to fix it?

I could just turn the aircon on, I guess, but then that has to work overtime just to make a dent in the ambient temperature.

TIA

Mark

[SwampySi]

At least you have aircon

[darkmark07]

SwampySi said:

At least you have aircon

Fair point, however getting this sorted should help with both aircon and non-aircon cars - both when stationary and on the move...

[Enz7600]

I am interested in this also.. just come back from a quick trip around the m25 and i feel like i have been slowly oven baked! what ever that feels like!

watching this thread with interest!

[SP6 Animal]

SwampySi said:

At least you have aircon

Fit it then!

[SwampySi]

I've got a Targa so no need really.. was just too lazy to take the panels off today.. silly me sat in a pool of my own sweat for 300 miles

(Plus last time I burnt to a crisp.. must remember suntan lotion when panels are off )

[adam_thain]

my air con used to be ice cold - so much so i had turn it down in the summer! Then, last year, it started to warm up until it was the same temp as the cold air blower. I went to kwik fit yesterday and they re gassed it, tested it with the thermometer and it went from 28c to 16c. left, went for a drive and an hour later the cab was still too hot and felt cooler with the windows down. Went back and they re gassed the system for free, and it did feel a little better but not much. The glove box however is ice cold so im taking glove compartment out today to check for any leaks or blower problems. Any one else investigated this before ? - only a few days left till le mans

[darkmark07]

Worth checking around the stereo / door & window controls - mine leaks through there like a seive...

[adam_thain]

Seems the air con is working and cooling ice cold in the glove box but this is not being transfered to the cockpit.

ive just been investigating under the glove box and there is some cold air leak, however, there definitely seems be a lack of pressure from the blower fan (wherever that may be?!) and there is more blow form the passengers side than the drivers so im thinking that it may be the blower fan that is at fault..

Any advice would be appreciated