replaced blower, now only getting heat for 15mins then back to cold air!!

[P8HJN]

Hi Guys...
Just returned to the dub world after years of boring company cars, forgot how hands on these Dubs are...

Just picked up a 5 door 91 8 valver for £650..only has 94K with full service history!!

I have 3 point i need help with...

First of all: the blower wasnt working, the RAC man kindly replaced it in 5 mins!...
now from cold i get instant heat until the the car starts to warm up, then the air goes cold again...has anyone come across this problem??...please dont say its the matrix...
Secondly...the drivers side centrel locking doesnt work..any idea what it could be??...is it a relay in the door?
and finally, the battery went flat on Monday, The AA man cleaned up the earth points and sorted it...but now rev counter doesnt work?...
any help with these points would be a massive help...  

[Gambit]

heat issue will be the bypass valves, either cut them out & replace with piece of piping or buy new ones. just look the the two pipes going into the bulk head, you'll see 2 valves connected to them.

central locking, the plastic lever has probably just fell its wee acuator. take the door card off and follow the metal rod up to where the door mechanism is. it just slots back over it.

not sure on rev-counter on 8v, for 16v it runs of the coil, green wire i think!??!

[DarnPB]

It may well be the matrix. Disconnect both matrix pipes from under the bonnet and flush it through both ways. This may clear a blockage. It would also be a good idea to flush the cooling system while you are at it.

The door lock may just be a disconnected push rod. You will need to remove the door trim to find out what is going on. The central locking is pneumatic, not electric on these cars. Make sure to repair the plastic membrane properly if you have damaged it, or you will end up with wet carpets.

Rev counter may just be a connector at the back of the clocks not located properly. Remove the footwell covers and get you hand up there and have a poke around before you start going in too deep.

[Mr Blue]

Thats an air lock in the system by the sound of it.

Have a hose pipe ready...

Disconnect one matrix pipe while the engine is running (use gloves as it gets real hot). When you see a nice flow of water coming out. reconnect it and then do the radiator in the same way.

Now wait until the rad fan kicks in and check if your getting heat.

Just did this today as i replaced the metal water pipe so had no collant at all. Worked

[Conker]

Good advice given already.

Cos' its easy, I would try to burp the system first. Just run the engine till its hot with the coolant cap off, revving the engine every now and again, and occasionally squeezing both rad pipes simultaneusly. Then allow it to cool with the cap off.  Repeat if necessary.

Just giving you another [much lazy-er] option!



Its prob the bypass valves though in reality.

[P8HJN]

well done guys...i`ll give it a bash over this weekend...
thanks for the advice & replies...