Heater Valve

[SteinOnkel]

Hello,

my heater valve is stuck open. I PB blasted it and let it soak for 24 hours. Now I can at least wiggle it.

1) What happens if I loosen the philips screw in the valve itself? Does it loosen the seized armature or will it splurge coolant everywhere?
2) What are the odds that this won't leak once I get it to loosen?

Thanks
Steiny

[RRoller123]

As a temporary resort, If it comes to it, you can bypass the line, inside the engine compartment, and be done with it, unless the car is used in the Winter or other cold weather and you really want the heat.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Steiny, I think the Phillips screw that you're referring to just secures the rotating lever to the shaft of the valve mechanism. In other words, if you remove that screw, the lever would fall off but nothing else would happen. And your heater valve would then still be stuck in whatever position.

Is there a reason you don't just remove the valve and put in a new one? Admittedly, it's not one of my favorite jobs, but replacing the valve might be the best long term solution.

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

Steiny, I think the Phillips screw that you're referring to just secures the rotating lever to the shaft of the valve mechanism. In other words, if you remove that screw, the lever would fall off but nothing else would happen. And your heater valve would then still be stuck in whatever position.

Is there a reason you don't just remove the valve and put in a new one? Admittedly, it's not one of my favorite jobs, but replacing the valve might be the best long term solution.

-Bryan

The pipes to and from look like they are going to leak profusely after touching them. I would not bet money on the heater core being okay either.

Which means, replacing a $35 part quickly becomes a $150 job.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

The pipes to and from look like they are going to leak profusely after touching them. I would not bet money on the heater core being okay either.

Which means, replacing a $35 part quickly becomes a $150 job.

I think you're exactly correct. However, if you get the heater valve to open/close, you still might be faced with replacing the pipes, heater core, and valve before too long. I'm not trying to make extra work for you, but my vote would still be to go in there once, fix everything and (hopefully) be done with it.

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

Well, the heater was stuck in the full open position. My poor feet would always get super hot driving to the beach in flip flops Woe is me, Bryan!

What I'm saying is, I bet the pipes and core are fine. At least for now.

With the help of some PB blaster and some vice grips I got the valve unstuck. It's not leaking (yet). Maybe this is one costly repair I can avoid, only time will tell.

Cheers
Steiny

[DieselSpider]

Hot coolant spraying on your feet isn't much fun and can put a real damper on things for a long time while the burns heal. Your risking quite a bit taking short cuts on the plumbing inside the passenger compartment especially since its hanging above your legs and feet.

[SteinOnkel]

How thin are the walls of these pipes, then? They're rusty, but not catastrophically so.

I'll be keeping an eye out for a good, used set of pipes. The valve I'm okay with it being priced at $35, but I find the pipes outrageously expensive.

Take a look at this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FIAT-124-SPIDE ... SwopRYZP4s

Mine look better than anything in that pile, that's for sure.

[dinghyguy]

I just did the heater valve on one of my fiats and i did not replace the pipe. I too think the pipe price is too high, although it is stainless.
My pipe was structurally OK, so i cut the pipe inside the cabin slipped a short piece of hose and 2 clamps over the cut to accommodate the 5 deg bend needed for the new valve. That way the metal pipe still projects through the firewall and the existing hose in the engine compartment pits properly. Works fine.

cheers
dinghyguy

[SteinOnkel]

All good pointers. I'll keep it in mind and add it to the list of parts I want to source in good used condition.