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Vitara: Blocking the heater core good or bad?

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:48 pm
by Dave Hazard
The heater core is constant coolant flow through it and the heating is operated by a flap, which i don't think works too well. I want to block coolant flow through the heater core for cooler A/C but im unsure if i will be blocking coolant flow to other parts of the engine, which would be bad. I could bypass the heater core with a piece of hose but i'd rather be able to turn it on and off with the tap (esp. if im overheating! lol) Any advice appreciated cheers!

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:58 pm
by ScrawnC
The heater is just a bypass, it doesn't matter if there is flow through it or not.The heater tap shuts off flow through the core when it's set to cold. You would be better off just replacing the heater tap, or re-gassing the a/c to fix the problem. Heaps easier than trying to rig up a tap.

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:51 pm
by want33s
Why not have both?? Fit two 'T' pieces with a tap so you can have it flow as normal OR bypass the core but still have flow through pipes.

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:26 am
by suzimad
Bad if you want to demist your windows...

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:35 am
by Goatse.AJ
suzimad wrote:Bad if you want to demist your windows...
Aircon will do that for you a lot quicker...

Heater SHOULD have a tap that operates to stop coolant flowing through it. It could be that the tap is stuck. If it is, then a replacement is the go, otherwise
want33s wrote:Why not have both?? Fit two 'T' pieces with a tap so you can have it flow as normal OR bypass the core but still have flow through pipes.

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:27 pm
by Dave Hazard
Thanks for the replies guys, I bypassed the heater core for the the trip up the coast, pity i did actually need a bit of heating with the stromy weather up the northern rivers but after that cleared up, im glad I bypassed the heater core, because the air-con is definately colder :)
From what I can gather by looking under the bonnet and a Vitara workshop manual, im sure the heater core is constant flow, with a flap operated by the hot/cold lever on the dash that allows air to flow through the heater core, therefor heating the cabin.
I think that flap doesnt work as well now as it did new, so im guna go the bypass tap with T-pieces for return to the engine block.
Cheers Dave