Vp Air Con/heater Wont Work

[robbie11]

Im new to this site and not sure if this has been answered yet but i need help please.
The air conditioner on my VP Exec series 2 works great on the cold setting but will not work on hot, it only comes out as cold irregardless of the setting on the dash. (I had the A/C converted to the new gas and re gassed in january 2006 and its all good)

The guy that re gassed it said to fix it the whole dash needs to be pulled out and something inside there needs to be either re connected as it may have been disconnected in the past or that part needs replacing...I dont know what that part is. I want to give this a go myself as I have been quoted approx $2000 to have this fixed (which is more than the bloody car is probably worth!)
Does anyone know of where i can find instructions/diagrams on how to remove and refit the dash and also whats involved in the heating function, like what parts are needed and how they should be connected etc....Im not payin some dude 2k just to take a look at this no matter how much it shits me when the car fogs up like it did yesterday!
Thanks for any input. Rob

[HoZy]

I dont have a heater..... My car was -3 celcius a couple of days ago........

Cheers
MaT

[maginoodle]

try checking the cold/hot selector rod. it runs from the switch to a plastic lever just near where you put your left foot. it usually comes off.

[Nikkojoe]

Yeah i was about to say that. The wire rod usually has some teeth on it to keep it held into place by the plastic leaver. I wrapped some tape around the wire rod and clipped it back in and hasn't come off since. Ill try and take a pic when i can

[robbie11]

thanks for your replies and pics, i appreciate your help. I checked and that wire rod is connected, but while i was looking at my car i had a look under the bonnet and saw that a hose has been disconnected at the back of the motor, its been cable tied to another hose....i dont know where it is supposed to go. i think that was what the mechanic was referring to when he quoted me to fix it.......this bloody car is givin me the shits!

[Nikkojoe]

I think your heater was disconnected because the core was probably leaking and needed replacing (which requires the dash to come out off memory). The previous owner must of just disconnected the hoses that connected to the firewall and bridged them up. Take some pics of those cable tied hoses....

[robbie11]

Nikkojoe Thanks for the comments mate, I took some pics, you can see the hose I was talking about next to the automatic dip stick, i took another pic showing the metal rod thing you referred to. My car is up for pink slip tomorrow, do you reckon if i asked the mechanic to re connect the hose that my heater will work??
Rob

[HoZy]

My heater box is actually ****ed on the inside only way i'll replace is full calais climate control........

Cheers
MaT

P.S- Goodluck with yours. Although I noticed your heater pipe is cut/snapped on your heater box.

[Shortstuff]

I haven't got any heating either! Everything is connected up though. Is it a common VN/VP problem?
Am I right in thinking that the hoses which come out of the heater core run forwards to some kind of valve thing which is below the coolant bottle?

[robbie11]

is that what that pipe is???? bloody hell this thing is becoming more of a nightmare the more i look at it!

My heater box is actually ****ed on the inside only way i'll replace is full calais climate control........

Cheers
MaT

P.S- Goodluck with yours. Although I noticed your heater pipe is cut/snapped on your heater box.

[maginoodle]

I haven't got any heating either! Everything is connected up though. Is it a common VN/VP problem?
Am I right in thinking that the hoses which come out of the heater core run forwards to some kind of valve thing which is below the coolant bottle?

i had a problem with mine recently. everything looked fine. the problem was the heater flap wasnt moving. first check if you have hot water coming in by feeling the heater pipe inside the cab. if you have hot water check the flap is moving, mine was disconnected from the acctuater that the rod works. if no hot water your heater switch in the water lines is probably stuffed, it is in the engine bay on the drivers side.

[robbie11]

hey guys, thanks for all your replies. After looking at your responses and a little investigative work myself I have narrowed the prob down to this and please tell me if I have missed anything.
1) hose from the motor that feeds hot water thorugh the fire wall into the cabin has been disconnected.
2) There is a copper pipe (i think it is, see pic i posted) under the dach that has been hacked off by someone.
3) The evaporator? (I think its called that) in the dash was probably leaking or something else was wrong with it for all the above work to have been carried out.
Simple answer to all this is that i dont think this is going to be a cheap thing to fix. Can I ask any of you if you know any reputable places in the Sydney area that I could take my car to to have the heater in my car fixed or even any people working from their backyards that think they can take this job on interested in earning some cash?? let me know
Thanks heaps
Rob

[Fu Manchu]

to fix it you remove the dash. Not all that complex surprisingly
Get a replacement heater core from Holden. I got an after market one from not Holden and it didn't fit right
Get the AC degased first. There are also two bolts on the firewall in the engine bay you need to undo and one in where the wiper arms are. That bolt is an allen key bolt that is in between where the AC pipes go in. then undo the plastic cover in under the wiper arm trim and unplug the fan switch reostat.
you then remove the HVAC box and get a bunch of pics how it goes together or make notes. Clean the bastard out. there will be an inch of crap ontop of the AC evaporator and when it all goes back in and the AC is regased it will be like new. Instant heat and instant cool.
Expensive to get someone else to do. there would be about 10hrs labour at $50 hr at a minimum. plus the regas $100 or so give or take plus a radiator flush etc.

[VP Wagon]

Looking at your picture there isn't even a heater core fitted to the car

[fazz1977]

No heater core there mate. There's your answer.

[vnnickvn]

hey guys.. i recently disconnected the black hoses on the back of the air con unit, but when i re attatched them my heating has seemed to stop working? does anyone know how im supposed to reattatch these? i dont know which hose goes over which hole?? thanks heaps! if any one could provide a diagram that would be great.. thanks