Heater Control Valve HCV
Heater Control Valve HCV
Author
Discussion

lancepar

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

189 months

Monday 8th July 2019
quotequote all
Hi,
As can be seen in this photo my Precat Griff HCV is missing its motor, that's not the issue.



Done a lot of searching but still have some questions.

From the photo can anybody say which position the lever on the VW valve should be for 'heat off', up or down towards the battery? Mine doesn't seem to make any difference so maybe the valve is not working anyway.

Between the HCV and the heater matrix I have the bypass hose, not fitted to all cars. Please try and explain how the bypass in its present position prevents hot coolant getting to the heater matrix when a working correctly HCV is shut, because I don't get it. confused

I have yet to determine which hose in the photo, top or bottom, the coolant flows and returns BTW.

Cheers
cool






BIG DUNC

1,918 posts

240 months

Monday 8th July 2019
quotequote all
In order to say which position is hot and which is cold I would have to crawl down the footwell and do an experiment. I don’t mind doing that, but it won’t be tonight.

Remember it won’t make an instant difference. You are controlling the flow of water and air constantly blows across the matrix. If it is hot and you close the valve you won’t notice a reduction in temperature until the air has cooled the water in the matrix. Most modern cars work the other way round. I.e. water flows through the matrix all the time but the heater controller diverts air around the matrix for cold or through it for hot. Therefore the temperature change is much quicker (instant in comparison).

If the valve is closed then that stops water flowing through the matrix and it is forced through the bypass.

I am not sure it matters which way the water flows, I.e whether the control valve is on the supply or return. Again, I could carry out an experience but these pipes have been replaced on my car and I am not sure whether or not they are the same way round as they originally were.

Let me know if you want me to tell you which way round the lever goes when operating the switch.

BIG DUNC

1,918 posts

240 months

Tuesday 9th July 2019
quotequote all
My valve is mounted the other way round to yours, i.e. the lever is in front of it, not behind. (It is also mounted the other way up so the lever points down).

Anyway, on mine, pressing the cold button turns the lever clock wise. Hot, anticlockwise. As your valve is the other way round, then I would expect these to be reversed.

I hope that this helps.

lancepar

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

189 months

Tuesday 9th July 2019
quotequote all
Good of you to do some delving.

I think i've found a photo of how the complete assembly should look and gather from your message that this is how yours looks
when viewed from the passenger seat with the gubbins controlling it above nearest the scuttle. If so then on yours when the shinny
lever is down the valve is in the closed and cold position ..........yes?



Regarding the bypass in the pipe maybe mine is in the wrong place and should should be between the HCV and flow from the engine, then what you say would work.

"If the valve is closed then that stops water flowing through the matrix and it is forced through the bypass"

Because having the bypass between the HCV and the matrix means that regardless of the position of the HCV hot coolant will never be diverted back to the engine.

Anyway thanks for the help, my objective is to make the cockpit cooler so I might rig up a simple/discrete hot/cold control somewhere.

Cheers








chj

776 posts

230 months

Tuesday 9th July 2019
quotequote all
lancepar said:
my objective is to make the cockpit cooler so I might rig up a simple/discrete hot/cold control somewhere.
I had a manual 'override' fitted on my precat by tvrssw. Uses a sort of choke type cable with the handle in the glove box. Cost a few pounds and about 30 mins labour. Works perfectly.
Chris

BIG DUNC

1,918 posts

240 months

Tuesday 9th July 2019
quotequote all
Yes, that picture is how mine looks.

The by-pass on your picture looks to be correct, i.e. between the engine and the control valve.

Edited to add, in your text you are saying that the bypass is between the control valve and the matrix.

In the photos, the by pass is in front of the control valve, i.e. between the control; valve and the engine. This is what I would expect, but if I have got it wrong, do say.

Edited by BIG DUNC on Tuesday 9th July 23:04

lancepar

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

189 months

Tuesday 9th July 2019
quotequote all
chj said:
I had a manual 'override' fitted on my precat by tvrssw. Uses a sort of choke type cable with the handle in the glove box. Cost a few pounds and about 30 mins labour. Works perfectly.
Chris
Sounds like a plan Chris, like it, any links?

Cheers


BIG DUNC said:
Yes, that picture is how mine looks.

The by-pass on your picture looks to be correct, i.e. between the engine and the control valve.

Edited to add, in your text you are saying that the bypass is between the control valve and the matrix.

In the photos, the by pass is in front of the control valve, i.e. between the control; valve and the engine. This is what I would expect, but if I have got it wrong, do say.
Duncan,

Here is another photo which shows how mine must have been once upon a time.



In this and on my car the bypass connecting the top and bottom hose is between the HCV and the matrix, that's why I don't understand how coolant is prevented from circulating round the heater box matrix.

Lance
cool

BIG DUNC

1,918 posts

240 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
On mine (early pre-cat), the bypass is between the valve and the engine.

lancepar

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

189 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
Yes, That's how I think it should be to work correctly

I'll do some testing myself.

Cheers
cool

chj

776 posts

230 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
lancepar said:
chj said:
I had a manual 'override' fitted on my precat by tvrssw. Uses a sort of choke type cable with the handle in the glove box. Cost a few pounds and about 30 mins labour. Works perfectly.
Chris
Sounds like a plan Chris, like it, any links?

Cheers
Hi. I can only suggest calling tvrssw in Wellington, Somerset. .. they are really helpful there and I'm sure would advise.

lancepar

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

189 months

Friday 19th July 2019
quotequote all
I've been in touch with tvrssw and received a message stating "they have never done a conversion so not sure which parts are required" so that's a dead end then.

Last visit to Central I picked up a manual HCV and viewed the precats they are working on and they all had the HCV in the flow from the engine, then the bypass between the two pipes before the matrix.confused

cool



Hedgehopper

1,541 posts

261 months

Friday 19th July 2019
quotequote all
If this picture is of any use this is the by-pass as fitted on Pre-Cats...Serps don't have one.


lancepar

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

189 months

Friday 19th July 2019
quotequote all
I've seen this photo, thanks but what it doesn't indicate is the order of components conected to it.
For example, is it from the LH, engine (flow),HCV,bypass,Matrix,then return via the top pipe to the engine, which would be as supplied in the Precat Griffs?

The photos in the thread show how it was originally, but it is difficult to understand how it worked in practice, this is the confusing thing.

cool


Hedgehopper

1,541 posts

261 months

Friday 19th July 2019
quotequote all
Sorry but I can't help you there, I just hoped that the pic might be useful to you.

Barreti

6,687 posts

254 months

Friday 19th July 2019
quotequote all
Hi Lance, the picture of the valve on a table above is mine. I can help you understand what you need by looking at my car and taking any photos which might help. What do you need now?

lancepar

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

189 months

Friday 19th July 2019
quotequote all
Hi Ian,

It's just that if the HCV is turned off and is in the supply it cuts off the flow so the coolant can't reach the bypass junction anyway. I just don't understand how hot coolant is prevented from circulating round the matrix and also how the bypass comes into play.

I'll try and draw a diagram and post it on here.

Cheers
Lance
cool



lancepar

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

189 months

Saturday 20th July 2019
quotequote all
bow

Apologies to all who have been trying to put me straight about this.

At Central today on the floor was a precat heater box with the HCV and pipes attached so now the penny has finally dropped.





I hadn't grasped that the flow and return pipes were via the white ninety degree fittings and not as i thought smash

It all makes perfect sense now.

cool


Barreti

6,687 posts

254 months

Saturday 20th July 2019
quotequote all
Good to hear you have got it sorted Lance.

Can you do me a favour and send me the two photos you posted above so I can add them to my collection of Griff pics.

My email address is [REMOVED]

Thanks
IanB

Edited by Barreti on Saturday 20th July 15:09

lancepar

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

189 months

Saturday 20th July 2019
quotequote all
Ian,
Yes can do but........

If you right click on the photo a drop down menu will appear then click Save Image On then a Save Image window will appear and you can save it on your Desk top or in your Griff pictures. Simples.

If it don't work send me a PM. (and you can delete your email address from prying eyes).

Lance
cool


Edited by lancepar on Saturday 20th July 15:02

Barreti

6,687 posts

254 months

Saturday 20th July 2019
quotequote all
I was hoping for the high quality versions you have Lance but on second thoughts I don't need detail in these pics so the ones I grabbed from your post will do.

Thanks
IanB