Heater temperature switch.

[Ron]

Hoping somebody can help with a stiff heater temperature switch.

It's on a '99 T reg SWB 2.5 diesel.

It's the red/blue turn type switch that is VERY stiff. I take it this is because it had little use before I got it. Is it possible to free up the switch? I have tried just tirning and turning, but it goes easier to the blue and then almost impossible back to the red. I can get it about half wasy. If not, and the switch is no good, are they easy to replace and can I just replace that one switch?

Thanks for any help.

[Nighthawk]

Does the vehicle have A/C?

if not, it's probably a fault/kink in the cable.

disconnect the cable at the temperature adjusting flap on the lower half of the heater box......does it turn free now?

remove the radio and have a look inside, i've seen a few where the stifness has been the toothed quadrant on the back of the heater control eating it's way through the wiring loom.

[Ron]

Thanks Nighthawk.

There is no A/C. I'll do some checking where you've suggested tomorrow and report back with my findings.

[sparkyjf]

Hi Ron,

Got the same problem but haven't got to the bottom of it yet - my van is a 95N Mk5. If I find anything out I'll post it in this thread.

Cheers,

sparkyjf

[Ron]

Ok, thanks to Nighthawk for the info.

Turns out to be nothing really. I removed the radio, oddments compartment and ashtray. Everything looked fine. Squirted some WD40 onto the 'toothed' part of the temperature switch, and it immediately freed! I kept turning a few times to work in the WD40, and now evertyhing is fine.

Thank for the help, and maybe sparkyjf, this might help you too...

[MrMPuk]

WD40 might not be the best thing to use, if I remember correctly the gears are nylon and nylon will soak up the WD40 and expand causing it to jam up again.

[Ron]

WD40 might not be the best thing to use, if I remember correctly the gears are nylon and nylon will soak up the WD40 and expand causing it to jam up again.

DOH!

Damn. Oh well. Looks like time will tell. I'll keep you posted.

[stivh]

Go to your local wickes (DIY) and get hold of a small bottle of the silicon used when connecting drainage pipes (plastic) drip a few drops over the area and this will also do the same job but not damage the plastic teeth.

[sparkyjf]

Only just got round to this job, but looks like my van had the same problem. Thankfully I read the thread again after MrMPuk said about the WD40 because that was going to be my solution

Anyway, 1 spray can of silicon lubricant from Halford later, and a lot of working the heater control back and forth, and it's finally easy to adjust. I found I had to lubricate both ends of the cable to get the mechansim freed - doing the end by the toothed gear helped, but it was still pretty stiff. Luckily the other end it easy to get to from under the driver's footwell, and after that it was working well.

Thanks everyone for your tips - worked for me too!

sparkyjf