Heater - Hot Air

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Gavla
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Post Thu Jan 10, 2013 6:49 pm

How long should it take to get hot air to come through if all is in working order.

The reason I ask is that I only get hot air once the temp gauge is on half.
FinalD
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Post Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:32 pm

The temp needle should sit bang on half all the time, but when you first drive the car it needs to warm up. :wink:

The heater is not an electric item, it runs on the temp of the coolant flowing around the engine so it won't be full heat instantly.
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BenHar
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Post Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:06 pm

FinalD wrote:The temp needle should sit bang on half all the time
If it's a 4 pot.

Just above a quarter for a proper engine.

Heater should give hot air after about ten minutes driving.

Ben
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cakey87
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Post Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:22 pm

10 mins? i get hot air after about half a mile, from my b27,
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harry_p
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Post Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:53 pm

10 minutes? i'd be worried.

you should be getting air with some warmth within a minute, even at 0c, and the heater should be properly hot when the engine is up to normal operating temperature, which if driven sensibly should be well under ten minutes.

a long warmup usually points to a thermostat not shutting completely, a heater not being as hot as it should be would have me making sure the system is bleb properly, looking at the heater valve and matrix.
cheers,

harry
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Brianmoooore
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Post Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:48 pm

cakey87 wrote:10 mins? i get hot air after about half a mile, from my b27,
Air should be noticeably warm after half a mile, although it won't be at full temp. until the gauge has reached its running position, which will depend to some extent whether it's -10 degrees in winter or +25 in summer.
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Gavla
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Post Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:59 am

Thank you everyone, seems as though mine is taking a bit longer than normal to reach temperature, needle sits a tiny bit over half but takes about 10 minutes if idling and about a mile + if driving.

Is really as simple as changing the thermostat? or is there something else I should also be looking at.?