Heater - Corsa SXi 1.2 2005 model

[neutral 3]

Hi all, great little cars, but the heater in a friends SXi is only blowing cold.
Not yet tried changing the thermostat, but in previous cars, it has never made any difference.
Anyone know if the heater controls are cable or rheostat operated ?
Thanks.

[Winky151]

Is it using water/are the carpets wet? Heater matrix can puncture/leak meaning there's not enough water in the system to cover the thermostat. The matrix are pretty easy to replace. Also, try back flushing the system to remove any sludge build up.

HTH

[neutral 3]

Hi Winky, thanks for your reply.
The drivers footwell has been wet for ages, but we think that is a leak from the bulkhead ( we tried sealing this ) and not the heater matrix.
How are the heater controls operated ?
Cable or electrically ?

If it does need a new heater radiator, what is involved to change it ?

[Winky151]

neutral 3 said:

Hi Winky, thanks for your reply.
The drivers footwell has been wet for ages, but we think that is a leak from the bulkhead ( we tried sealing this ) and not the heater matrix.
How are the heater controls operated ?
Cable or electrically ?

If it does need a new heater radiator, what is involved to change it ?

Had exactly this on a C I bought for my wife at the start of the year whilst we awaited an insurance payout, carpet sopping wet & no heat. Advised by a mechanic mate about the bulk head issue but the car was using water, whenever the header tank was full it would have heat but then the water level would drop over a couple of days & the heat would go hence my thoughts on the heater matrix. Only had the car a month as the insurance paid out & we got her another Adam. Same mechanic mate said the matrix swap was about a 20 minute job apparently.

Oh & cable operated.

[neutral 3]

Thanks Winky.

It seems that the head gasket is leaking and that engine oil is getting into the cooling system, as the header tank is oily and the car is using oil.
I suspect that the oil has got into the heater radiator and gummed it up!
The car does seem to take too long to warm up.

[neutral 3]

Quick update, fitted a new thermostat and it now gets up to temp and the electric cooling fan cuts in as it should. However, the ruddy heater still blows cold! The feed hose to the heater is lovely and hot ( along with all of the other hoses ) but the heater outlet hose to the cyl head is barely warm.
Guessing the heater radiator is blocked ??

[Winky151]

If you've replaced the CHG then its a case of flush, run flush, run, flush to get the mayo out of the heater system.