240 General: Heater Valve replacement - any tips?

[146ken]

Hi Chaps
I recently acquired my 1991 240 SE with a leaking heater valve. I have now got the replacement valve from Brookhouse ( £22.33 inc VAt, delivery, and two bits of hose), and ready to fit it. I have stripped out and dried the carpets and foam backed underlay*, and located the valve.
It looks a bit awkward to work on given my backs preference for avoiding twists and turns, but otherwise a simple plumbing job. Does the coolant need to be drained off before disconnecting, or will I be able to catch any minor leakage in suitable bucket? Any other tips or warnings would be gratefully received.
Cheers
146ken

*I am tempted to set up an owners club for the Hoover Aquamaster. 16 years old and still cleans/dries up anything I point it at from building rubble to 1/2gallon of engine coolant extracted from 240's carpets.

[alsner]

I had to remove one of these from a 7 series (not sure if same) but you will get leakage inside the car so I would have a container ready. Remove outside hose first.. If it is the same you will need to twist anti-clockwise to remove as the one on the 7 series had lugs that held it firmly!!!! in place. I can only comment on 7 series though so if I'm wrong I apologise.

Ali

[Alec Dawe]

If you take the glovebox out, you can then get the air trunking out of the way too, it just pulls off the vents and the heater outlets, which does free up quite a bit more space if you haven't already done this.
Don't have a fit at the amount of spagetti wiring in there tho!!!

[146ken]

Ive been looking all round the radiator and can't see any drain hole. haynes tells me to disconnect the lower hose connection to the rad, being careful to collect fluid and don't splash it around. From what I can see this hose is easy enough to disconnect but I'm blowed if I can see how to get a container in there to collect run off.
It seems to me that with the car facing down a slope the heater is well above most of the engine and rad and therefore I could just drain this rather than the whole system. Does anyone know how much coolant is in the system in total and how much of that is in the heater unit. I don't want to be searching for a larger container half way through.
Basic problems I know, but any help appreciated.

[Alec Dawe]

To get a container under the rad you have to take the bottom shield off underneath, can't remember how many bolts, but one thing to remember is the plastic shield tends to age harden, and a few big 'penny' washers are a good stand-by in case any of the bolt holes crack too much.
I think there should be a drain **** on the right hand side of the block, towards the back, but how turnable this is I wouldn't like to guess, and you still need to get a container under.
You can use 'G' clamps on the hoses either side of the heater matrix, so you would only have to contend with the water in the matrix itself. I don't know how much that would be, but I would think not more than a pint and a half.

[Mike_Brace]

It makes life a lot easier if you take out the passenger seat as a minimum and possibly the driver's seat as well. if you are large like me a makes a lot of difference and only takes a few minutes. Slide seat back and undo the two 13mm nuts in the runners. Slide back remove plastic cover and undo the back od the seat. Tip the back as far forward as possible and it will exit via the door. Refitting is the reverse procedure.

Mike

[jacksonb123]

I'm about to do my heater valve also so this is a useful thread for me.

On the radiator draining front though I managed to drain mine by cutting a large orange squash bottle in half & jamming that under the bottom pipe connection.

If I remember correctly it sat on the plastic guard thing that protects the underside of the engine.

When I spoke to CP Motors in Tamworth about fitting the heater valve their guy Colin told me it isn't a hard job, just a bit tricky. Mind you In my case I can guaruntee it will be a half day nightmare of messy carpet and swearing.

Regards

Ben

[Clifford Pope]

It's easiest just to disconnect a heater hose on the engine side of the bulkhead and direct it over a bowl under the car. Open the heater valve, and the pressure cap.
Take the opportunity to check all the hoses carefully, and the state of the metal double connector. Make sure the hose doesn't rub on the dipstick tube.

[146ken]

Thanks for the advice. I'm just waiting for the latest downpour to pass over then its on with the show.
We can compare notes later Ben.

[Steam hammer]

I know nothing about the heater valve But willing to join the
Aqua Master Club

Nothing sucks like an aqua master sucks

Steam Hammer