'82' Heater problems / questions
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
'82' Heater problems / questions
Greetings,
I purchased an 82 vette earlier this spring and tried to use the heater the other day, and to my surprise...... the heater blew only cold air. I think this car has some kind of vacuum controlled water shut-off valve, but I dont know exactly how it works. Any advise on how this thing works would be appreciated and is there anything else I should check in order to get this thing working again.
Thanks
I purchased an 82 vette earlier this spring and tried to use the heater the other day, and to my surprise...... the heater blew only cold air. I think this car has some kind of vacuum controlled water shut-off valve, but I dont know exactly how it works. Any advise on how this thing works would be appreciated and is there anything else I should check in order to get this thing working again.
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
When the heater is running, do you have the ability to select the defrost vents, dash vents and floor vent? If not, the system isn't getting vacuum. If the vent selections work, your problem is after the heater controls and is probably the shutoff valve. Check to see if there is vacuum present at the water shutoff valve. It is located in front of the firewall where the heater hoses run to and from the heater core. Up higher in the passenger side of the firewall is a grommet with three small vacuum hoses. Those are for the heater controls. One is the source vacuum, one runs down to the switch and I cannot remember what the third does off the top of my head.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Originally Posted by Ak. Mal
When the heater is running, do you have the ability to select the defrost vents, dash vents and floor vent? If not, the system isn't getting vacuum. If the vent selections work, your problem is after the heater controls and is probably the shutoff valve. Check to see if there is vacuum present at the water shutoff valve. It is located in front of the firewall where the heater hoses run to and from the heater core. Up higher in the passenger side of the firewall is a grommet with three small vacuum hoses. Those are for the heater controls. One is the source vacuum, one runs down to the switch and I cannot remember what the third does off the top of my head.
There is also a door in the heater core box that closes off the hot side. Easy to find. There is a cable (looks like one you would find on the brake of a bicycle) going from the switch to the box. Easiest way to examine is by removing the glove box you will see the cable attaching to a lever on the core box. Try moving the lever on the heater switch while you watch the lever....should move.You can also try moving the lever on the core box by hand and seeing if it makes a difference.
Jim
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Thanks,
When I was in the car I did hear the 'switching' of the mechanisms, for example the defrost air came out by the windshield, the heater blew air both down towards my feet as well as my face, so I do believe the vacuum switching is o.k. .I do know that there is vacuum availabe at the switch but I dont hear any leaking from the switch housing. Is there any way to check that valve while its on the car. And I will crawl under just to see if the 'door' is functioning properly
When I was in the car I did hear the 'switching' of the mechanisms, for example the defrost air came out by the windshield, the heater blew air both down towards my feet as well as my face, so I do believe the vacuum switching is o.k. .I do know that there is vacuum availabe at the switch but I dont hear any leaking from the switch housing. Is there any way to check that valve while its on the car. And I will crawl under just to see if the 'door' is functioning properly
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
The temp door is inside the air box. If you remove the liner of your glove box you can see the cable mentioned earlier at its endpoint on the top of the air box. I have my dash disassembled if you need pics.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Originally Posted by Ivan_the_Red
Thanks,
When I was in the car I did hear the 'switching' of the mechanisms, for example the defrost air came out by the windshield, the heater blew air both down towards my feet as well as my face, so I do believe the vacuum switching is o.k. .I do know that there is vacuum availabe at the switch but I dont hear any leaking from the switch housing. Is there any way to check that valve while its on the car. And I will crawl under just to see if the 'door' is functioning properly
When I was in the car I did hear the 'switching' of the mechanisms, for example the defrost air came out by the windshield, the heater blew air both down towards my feet as well as my face, so I do believe the vacuum switching is o.k. .I do know that there is vacuum availabe at the switch but I dont hear any leaking from the switch housing. Is there any way to check that valve while its on the car. And I will crawl under just to see if the 'door' is functioning properly
Jim
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski