No warm air in my Ford KA

[claire k]

Hi

My heating has packed up. It works but only cold air comes out of it. Been told it could be the heater matrix and the part is not that expensive but to replace it they need to take out the dash board which is a lot of work. Does anyone have any idea's or suggestions of things I could do before this as I don't want to waste my money.

Thanks

[jiimbo]

Unlikely to be the heater matrix.

It may be the heater flow control valve (it controls the flow of water into the heater matrix). Well known Ka weakness.

It's basically a solenoid valve. Mine had burnt out windings so it was stuck open (hot air all the time). Maybe yours is stuck closed.

New valve is approx £30, easy DIY job.

[claire k]

Thanks for your reply, is there any checks I can do to see if it is the valve and where is this valve located?

Thanks

[Defcon5]

Is the car getting up to temp ok? Not overheating or anything?

[nitrodan]

just follow the heater pipes under the bonnet to the heater unit and you will find it its got 2 pipes each side of it and 1 wire connection , fiesta and ka have the same problem we do loads

[claire k]

Brilliant thanks, no the car is working fine and not overheating, I have checked those pipes and both are hot, so should I change that unit do you think?

Thanks

[jiimbo]

Take the heater valve out, and connect the two hoses with a piece of copper pipe (or anything that fits). Run the engine. do you get hot air inside? If yes than the valve is faulty.

If not, then either the heater matrix is completely blocked, or (more likely) the potentiometer behind the heater selection knob is faulty. That's easily checked with a resistance meter.

[nitrodan]

Hi, If you are near to luton i will check it free of charge, did the battery go flat before it stopped working, or was it just 1 day ok the next its not

[claire k]

Hi, Thanks for all this - I am in Luton, where abouts are you?