Heater pipes getting hot

[Holden94]

Hi, my ute (dials) and my old mans vq stato (climate control) both have the same problem. The heater pips above the left hand side in the drivers footwell are constantly getting hot warming up ur left foot when the heater isn't on. I don't think it is a vaccumm leak as when the car is off you can still turn the vent changer knob and it still makes the pssshhh sound, i have also removed the heater tap and when you suck on it the tap shuts fine. Any one else i seem to speak to with a vn-vs hasn't had this trouble, hears hopping it's something simple.

Cheers

[wamboin23]

you'll find it won't turn the heater tap off until its goes to full cold.

[Holden94]

even when climate control is turned off?

[hako]

You'll probably find that the heater control knob arm thingo is disconnected on your ute (not sure about stato). See attached pic. It's located near the (hot) pipes.

ps....middle pic shows rod connected with bodgy clip - pics 1 and 3 do not show rod connected to white plastic arm.

[aceventura]

With regard to the Stato, climate control will open the heater tap whenever the A/C is on. If you turn the A/C off, and select a temperature higher than the ambient temperature, then it was also open the tap.

The tap should be closed if you turn the unit off, or if you turn the A/C off and select a cold temperature.

This is at least the case in my experience.

[08sky_way]

This is problem I've come across speaking to 4 or 5 VR/VS Commodore owners over the years. In the cases I've seen it has been in the adjustment on the linkage that connects to the heater control knob. It can be seen by looking up from the driver's footwell. Turning the knob does 2 things. The first part of turning it on (just a fraction of a turn from the off position) activates the heater tap and about 15 seconds after activation hot coolant will circulate through the heater radiator (just reach down and touch the coolant pipe by the driver's left foot and you it should change from cold to hot if working properly). If it is not adjusted correctly and the heater knob is turned off, the pipe will feel hot. The only other reason the pipe will feel hot when the heater knob is in the off position is if the heater tap is faulty.
If the heater tap (in the engine bay) is not faulty, the initial action of turning the knob just a fraction, opens the heater tap fully. Further rotation of the heater knob merely mixes the amount of cold/warm air to control the heat in the cabin.
The following adjustment will prevent coolant circulating through the heater assuming the heater tap is not faulty:
To adjust the mechanism under the dash on the driver's side, gently open the plastic clip that sits over the threaded part of the spindle (the clip is hinged so I spring it open with a small screw driver - I can't remember whether it is hinged at the top or the bottom), pop the threaded part of the spindle out of doover to which it is connected, and move the plastic lever up the spindle by one thread or to the point that when the heater knob is turned fully anti-clockwise the tap is activated in the engine bay. You should be able to hear the vacuum system activate the heater tap or you can watch the tap turn on/off if you get someone to turn the knob for you. If the tap turns on/off and hot coolant still circulates through the heater, the heater tap will need to be replaced.

[SWE11L]

The heater tap will stay open to match what ever the temp said on the climate control when you turned it off. Before turning it off drop the temp down to coldest then turn it off. I think you'll find it is normal for warm air to continue to blow if the dial is on heat when your a/c or blower is off, on any car, as having the heat dial up will keep the heater tap open and keep the coolant circulating through the cabin.
And as said above heater tap could be faulty

[Holden94]

Ok thanks guys i'll have a play around with it and c wat happens

[Dainus]

I have a non-climate control VS Exec, and had the same problem. On full cold, the heater pipes were getting super-hot. Turned out to be the valve that shuts off the flow not closing completely when then dial was turned to full-cold. It was only a tiny amount - about 1mm, but enough to leave the valve slightly open. Trip to the wreckers for some bits and pieces and it is all good. I am not sure how it relates to a CC version, but it might be something worth checking out.