Heater controls - Dumb question Part IV

[Fifi1981]

Greetings again all,

I have discovered that one (center) of the heater controls on my 1981 Spider has quite a bit of resistance and will not travel it's full range of motion. My question is, what does this actually control? If a replacement is needed now is the perfect time as the interior is completely out. Thanks.

[KillerB]

That's the one that controls the heater valve next to the core (on the passenger side), it meters the flow of warm (hot) coolant to the heater core. Mine has been stiff and doesn't give full travel ever since I installed an aftermarket valve. That's hopefully the problem. I check mine periodically to make sure it isn't leaking. The coolant ruined a pair of the girlfriend's shoes, and I doubt she'll ever forgive me or the car.

[rlux4]

You could disconnect the cable from the valve and check to see if it still has resistance, in which case you probably have a cable inside the sleeve that has rusted and is sticking, or is kinked somewhere in the run from the lever to the valve. If it's rusty inside the sleeve you could take it out and get some cable lubricant from an auto parts strore. Hold the cable vertical and put drops of the lubricant down it and keep working it until the lube does it's job. There are new ones available though.
Ron

[Fifi1981]

Well, it may be the valve. I was "dinking" around with it when the cable sleeve popped off of the control mount in the center console. To make matters worse, one of the four screw heads is stripped and I can't the the *#@$#* off.