Heater problem with the Defender

Phate · 2 Dec 2010 at 20:50

Hi guys,

Sister has an 06 plate Defender 110, pickup edition.

Basically, when you use the heather, its completely hit and miss if it works or not?

Now we know the thing takes forever to warm up, and normally leave it running for a bit in the morning and it ends up nice and toasty

Anyway, got in it today, expecting it to be warm, it was still as cold inside as it was outside...and with it being -5 today, not amused! - Put my hands over the vents and the air coming out wasn't even remotely warm.

So we turned the heating off/on a few times and on about the 3rd time, warmish air started coming out, we had to get going by then so left it, and later on on the way home it was hot again, we stopped, put some diesel in, started it back up, and now it was cold again.

Any ideas chaps?

Cheers,
Jake

Hedge · 2 Dec 2010 at 21:01

My pug is doing the same. Blowing cold

InvaderGIR · 2 Dec 2010 at 21:06

Hedge said:
My pug is doing the same. Blowing cold

Could be the crappy cable system behind the dial is past it, could be the heater blower unit, could be that the cooling system is low and there is air in the cabin side of it.

As for the Defender, sounds like the cable on the lever is catching or something, or heater blower unit flap that the cable connects to is sticky/broken.

Slime101 · 2 Dec 2010 at 21:09

Common problem, defender heaters suck!

Mine used to smell of stagnant water due to deep wading in yukky muddy water. Check the cables, pipes and connections as suggested, it wont be easy though as they are tucked well away.

G550 · 2 Dec 2010 at 22:25

Not that I know the first thing about this, but is the coolant anti-freeze concentration high enough for the current temperatures and still able to flow around the circuit properly?

-westy- · 2 Dec 2010 at 22:30

G550 said:
Not that I know the first thing about this, but is the coolant anti-freeze concentration high enough for the current temperatures and still able to flow around the circuit properly?

I think they may have encountered other issues if this was the case

The Judge · 3 Dec 2010 at 13:17

Sounds like the valve to control the heat/cold air is blocked. Or possibly the matrix may need flushing. Ever worked at the cooling system in the jeep?

Luke · 3 Dec 2010 at 13:42

With my old 90 the only way to be warmer was to layer up clothes!

Vampire · 3 Dec 2010 at 14:44

Luke said:
With my old 90 the only way to be warmer was to layer up clothes!

With my old ex-Army 110 I bungeed a gas stove onto the metal plate between the front seats, and would drive around with that blazing away.

Ok probably not the best idea in the world, but it did work pretty well, just had to remember not to wear flammable clothes and keep the left elbow tucked well in.

Phate · 3 Dec 2010 at 14:49

Vampire said:
With my old ex-Army 110 I bungeed a gas stove onto the metal plate between the front seats, and would drive around with that blazing away.

Ok probably not the best idea in the world, but it did work pretty well, just had to remember not to wear flammable clothes and keep the left elbow tucked well in.

haha

- Thats brilliant!

Although don't think my sister or the dog will like that!

Makhaira · 3 Dec 2010 at 19:10

If you have any sense of cold, buying a Defender or Series Landy is a huge mistake

. Sarcastic comments aside though, the heaters are fairly easy to access , so you could just dig in and check the cabling as a first port of call. You can get at the heater box from under the bonnet - no need to open it up unless you suspect an internal component has failed, you can check the wiring from the exterior of the unit.