Pointless Heater Valve Solenoid

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Dweed144
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:00 pm

Post Tue Nov 11, 2014 4:42 pm

Hi All.

I recently had a coolant leak from the heater valve. First I just diverted the pipes in the engine bay, but then I decided I needed the hot air to dry out the passenger footwell. I bodged it by making a blanking plate over where the solenoid mounted and reinstalled it.
I assumed that it would give me only hot air, but it turns out I still have full control over the temperature of the air.

So what is the point in the solenoid?

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Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
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Posts: 49360
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Post Tue Nov 11, 2014 6:35 pm

To give fully cold air. Without the valve, the air from the vents will be slightly warmed on the coolest setting.
I have the valve disabled on one of mine. It has a LPG vaporiser connected in series with the heater, so I need flow through the pipes all of the time. The heating of the air is small, but noticeable.
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