heater problems
05-31-2007, 07:59 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 7
heater problems
hey my heater for my 1982 280zx will not function properly. The a/c works fine, but if i try to put on any heat nothing happens. I'm not sure how to fix it, ANYONE please help....????
05-31-2007, 09:26 PM
#2
Could be a couple things...
-If the system's coolant is too low, coolant won't reach the heater core & you won't feel heat.
-The coolant heater valve aka "water ****" could be stuck closed.
-One or more of the 20 or so vacuum tubes could be cracked, thus not opening the correct ports for heat.
Start w/ the basics & work your way through... it's a fun road.
-If the system's coolant is too low, coolant won't reach the heater core & you won't feel heat.
-The coolant heater valve aka "water ****" could be stuck closed.
-One or more of the 20 or so vacuum tubes could be cracked, thus not opening the correct ports for heat.
Start w/ the basics & work your way through... it's a fun road.
06-01-2007, 09:11 AM
#4
User Friendly
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Formerly Atlanta, GA; now Central FL
Posts: 1,045
Originally Posted by greyfox
^ fun road indeed... I would die if I had a problem with the vaccum system. It looks like a nightmare.
Originally Posted by NismoPick
Could be a couple things...
-If the system's coolant is too low, coolant won't reach the heater core & you won't feel heat.
-The coolant heater valve aka "water ****" could be stuck closed.
-One or more of the 20 or so vacuum tubes could be cracked, thus not opening the correct ports for heat.
Start w/ the basics & work your way through... it's a fun road.
-If the system's coolant is too low, coolant won't reach the heater core & you won't feel heat.
-The coolant heater valve aka "water ****" could be stuck closed.
-One or more of the 20 or so vacuum tubes could be cracked, thus not opening the correct ports for heat.
Start w/ the basics & work your way through... it's a fun road.
By the way, Bham, did the heater ever work properly since you've owned the car, then later stopped working? Also, did you notice any mold, mildew, puddle stains or standing water on the passenger's side floor board?
12-06-2007, 06:29 PM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 7
my heater motor turns on but does not blow any heat through the vents. my defrost blows warm air so that is what i have been using as my heat source but that really doesnt work that well to heat up the car. so does anyone kno<w wh>y my heat turns on but doesnt blow out of the vents
Last edited by lww; 12-08-2007 at 11:29 PM.
12-16-2007, 07:25 AM
#10
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Myrtle Baech, SC
Posts: 7
280zx auto climate control
Any more thoughts on this subject from those who have repaired an auto climate system? I would like to keep the auto system and not convert it to the manual. This 82zxt, has be garage kept since new with about 70K miles on the clock. I removed the dash and all vacuum hoses appear to be clean, soft and in good condition. Where do I go next? Anyone with practical knowledge on this system. mayolives@aol.co 843 450 6512
12-16-2007, 06:13 PM
#11
Originally Posted by mayolives
I removed the dash and all vacuum hoses appear to be clean, soft and in good condition.
Turbo models use a vacuum pump by the engine bay light for the climate & cruise control. Does your vacuum pump come on when you turn on the acc? If it does, then you'll need to manually test all the vacuum lines & ports (which is why I said above "it's a fun road").
12-16-2007, 07:03 PM
#12
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hayward,CA
Posts: 324
The foam seals between the many sections of the heater/ AC on my car were rotted away and that greatly reduced the heaters efficiency. I replaced them with a few layers of camper foam from the auto parts store and now it works awesome.
12-17-2007, 05:50 PM
#13
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Myrtle Baech, SC
Posts: 7
NismoPick......Thank for the tip on the location of the pump near the light, under the hood. I was able to get the heat and ac working properly after disconnecting and reconnecting all the electrical connectors and manually moving all the doors and vacuum devices under the dash. However, I also discovered a cracked and partially disconnected hose at the vacuum pump under the hose. I haven't reinstalled the hood yet but I think that I have repaired my auto climate control problems.
jmmorriso......I will reseal all the connections when reinstalling the dash. The original foam seals are in poor condition and the new ones should help to keep the air moving in the best direction.
jmmorriso......I will reseal all the connections when reinstalling the dash. The original foam seals are in poor condition and the new ones should help to keep the air moving in the best direction.
12-26-2007, 01:37 PM
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 280
I bet its the control valve.
I just recently had this problem and it was a b#@$!*
My control valve was so old that it rusted to one side and was stuck there.
(getting no water to the heater core)
I just ran a pipe with a little valve (access from engine bay) in order to change from a/c to heat.
good luck
I just recently had this problem and it was a b#@$!*
My control valve was so old that it rusted to one side and was stuck there.
(getting no water to the heater core)
I just ran a pipe with a little valve (access from engine bay) in order to change from a/c to heat.
good luck
03-29-2008, 06:26 PM
#15
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 7
Hello, i'm in the process of replacing the water **** in my 83 slick top. My question is the original water **** had this copper coil that went into the back of my heater box. The replacement from Nissan does not have that. and looks somewaht differnt. I don't have ACC, just the standard manual air. Anyone had this problem?
01-01-2009, 02:42 PM
#18
Super Siver & Black Stud
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hayward Ca
Posts: 1,526
okay.. so im replacing my heater control valve today and i came across the same problem.. the replacement unit i got from the dealer is different than the one that im replacing. i have the manual control with AC and the dealer said it was the right part.. i dont know if i should just go ahead and install it even if its not the same as the one that im replacing it with.. here are pics of what im talking about
01-01-2009, 06:16 PM
#19
Is there any way to attach the lines & coil onto the new one? I bought one from Nissan about 10 years ago & it had to the coil on it.
Maybe Nissan changed the design & decided not to use it anymore?
I'm checking on the Nissan parts catalog: http://nissan4u.com/parts/280zx/
Maybe Nissan changed the design & decided not to use it anymore?
I'm checking on the Nissan parts catalog: http://nissan4u.com/parts/280zx/
01-29-2009, 12:59 PM
#21
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 63
i could not stand the climate controle in my 83 280zx. its been one thing after another intil i got the factory service manual and then every thing came together. its very specific on all of the vacume and electrical diagrams. try and get you one. i found mine on craigslist in knoxville tn for 5 bucks, great deal from another 83zx owner.
02-09-2009, 01:29 PM
#23
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Pleasanton, CA
Posts: 95
sensor on dash - really??
My climate control has been acting posessed since last year when I got the car.
Basically, the fan speed, when set at a low to mid level, all of a suddent jumps to full - and then back again. I took out the unit, cleaned out the **** sensor that controls teh fan speed (thought it was corroded - was not), and put it back togehter - no change!
If there is an issue of a fouled temp sensor in the cabin, this may be it!
Where do I find it? I have a 1980 ZX N/A....
Thanks!
02-09-2009, 01:53 PM
#24
The Evil Twin
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,294
There was a manual heater system in a 1979 Z in the local yard... I may get that valve as a backup! 
Philbert, the auto system is very finicky. The temp sensor is that little tiny round vent on the top right of the dash. It is just to the right of your clock, but to the left of the glovebox.
You can access it by taking out the glovebox. You'll see a little tiny fan up there that pulls air from the dash through a rubber hose to the sensor. It could be that or a weak vacuum line.
Philbert, the auto system is very finicky. The temp sensor is that little tiny round vent on the top right of the dash. It is just to the right of your clock, but to the left of the glovebox.
You can access it by taking out the glovebox. You'll see a little tiny fan up there that pulls air from the dash through a rubber hose to the sensor. It could be that or a weak vacuum line.
Last edited by Bleach; 02-09-2009 at 01:55 PM.
09-23-2009, 12:18 PM
#25
Super Siver & Black Stud
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hayward Ca
Posts: 1,526
yup got it to work... i had to cut the coil off the old choke valve cuz i didnt know how to remove it from the heater. the mounting screw were in diffrent locations but it still mounted right... i had to adjust the cable and push/ pull pins but all in all the new choke works just fine...
