MX5 Heater Maintenance

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:31 pm

Hi guys,

Coming into the middle of winter, i'm after any information about the maintenance and ways to improve the efficiency of my cars heater.

Currently, it takes 8-10 minutes to get up to a nice operating temperature, maintaining temperature isn't an issue just yet.

Basically, can i clean my heater core to improve the induct side? ( I took a good look today, it was clear of all debris and leafs )

Does re-gasing the air-con improve the heater at all?

Any info is appreciated.

Postby **NitroDann** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:42 pm

Assuming your thermostat is working correctly, theres nothing. Air con has nothing to do with heater.

The heater heats up with the radiator, so short of covering some of the rad, no.

Dann

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:09 am

Change your thermostat for one that works :wink:

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:17 am

Okay Thermostat, thanks, i'm in the process of upgrading my browned Radiator also.

Bauer · Postby **Bauer** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:20 am

The basics of an engine thermostat is not to open to allow water flow to cool the engine. It is to close so that the engine can get to an appropriate temperature. It opens so the engine doesnt overheat.

So if your thermostat is stuck open (or not there at all) then your engine is not being allowed to heat up and thereby delaying your heater. That would be where I would start.

Entice · Postby **Entice** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 1:21 am

My na6 and a mate's na6 are exactly the same. Takes forever by today's standard to reach temp but holds well.

I thought it may be the thermostat but given he has had his since new and reports it since new, I think it just an "undocumented feature"!

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 1:31 am

I thought it may be the thermostat but given he has had his since new and reports it since new, I think it just an "undocumented feature"!

True, but how often do things change gradually over the years, but go unnoticed because it's such a small change over a long period.

I'll still change it and try and see if it improves, if my feet are cold, i'm cold

so i need to try my best to fix it, that is if it's broken.

Postby **Okibi** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 2:06 am

There's flaps that move inside your aircon/heater box to adjust the flow of air, sometimes the cables can stretch of move on their mounting point, some of the airflow may be "leaking" out and reducing the efficiency of the heater slightly.

But I think it's just the colder winter air and you're enthusiasm for the engine to heat up, even in Summer my car takes a good 5-10 mins of driving before the thermostat is open and even longer for the oil to be up to temp.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:30 am

Hjt wrote:
I'll still change it and try and see if it improves, if my feet are cold, i'm cold so i need to try my best to fix it, that is if it's broken.

Get some woollen booties! :lol:

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:30 am

Thought id chime in regarding time to get the coolant temp up. Now I dont have a heater so it doesnt affect me this way, but with just a stock radiator, with no fan, but well ducted, if I take it nice and easy and dont let it warm up in the shed, it can sit at 1/4 or less on the guage almost indefinately. And my thermostat is in perfect working condition.

Fix? Flog it !

:P

Dann