[DeTomaso] If it's broke, don't fix it...

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/23/07 3:44:29 PM, chrisvkimball at msn.com writes:

> I put a towel under there to catch the drips and turned off my heater 
> shut-off valves in the hopes that will prevent the leak since I believe that 
> should stop the flow of coolant to that part of the car.  I'm not too worried 
> about the heater, since I usually drive in warmer weather, but I have two 
> questions:
> 
> 1) Will my shut off valves prevent the cabin leak?
> 
Yes.
> 
> 2) Will the faulty heater affect my air conditioning, once I get it 
> recharged (I have a new compressor but haven't charged the system yet)?
> 
No- unless you allow hot water to flow through the heater core while 
simultaneously trying to get cold air. The heater core is in front of and physically 
attached to the A/C core, so both conduction and convection transfers heat to 
the A/C core if water is allowed into the heater. 

The next question- which you didn't ask- is, 'can the heater water valve be 
fixed?' and the answer is Yes. Inside the valve top is a tiny o-ring that seals 
off water pressure from the engine. As yours is liklely 36 years old and was 
cheap neoprene to start with, it is undoubtably cracked. You'll have to remove 
the valve from the heater core first. I recommend a flurocarbon rubber o-ring 
replacement. The lever that broke is replaceable but not repairable, being 
cast zinc (pot-metal). Finally, what you'll find when all is 'fixed', is the 
arcs of the dashboard lever end does not match the arc of the heater control valve
, so you can either adjust the heater lever to be 100% ON and not-quite OFF, 
or partly ON and 100% OFF. The first adjustment choice will dilute any 
coldness from the A/C.   Good luck- J DeRyke
> 
> 




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