Irish Mini Owners Club

Took the mini out for a spin this morning and noticed some steam coming in through the vents,
so pulled over to have a look. Opened the bonnet and it was like a turkish bath. Seems to be a lot
of steam escaping from (what i can only assume is) the heater valve. On further inspection the
valve is a little 'cruddy' and doesnt move too freely. Am I right to assume this is just
for the heater and isnt anything to worry about?

Sorry for the dumb question

Edit: after more inspection, its bit better now (once the engine gets warm) less steam but still
quite stiff to move the lever on the valve. Also theres no 'blowing' coming from the heater
inside the car although the heater itself is roasting and so is the pipe coming from the valve.

Would a good flush (the answer to everything when you get a bit older) be the first thing to try?

I'll post up a pic of the 'valve' in a sec.
maxi

the steam maker >>

Handys thigy to do is just get a new one something like a tenner for that

Yeah Joey thats what I'll do.

Ive got an NCT booked in a few weeks, this will hardly cause a fail will it?

Sure youll have the new part by then.
Id said theyd fail it if there was steam no bother
They fail ya over anything

A steamy windscreen would suggest a leaking heater core to me.

You seem to have an electrical problem with the blower unit in the heater . Fuse ? motor? switch? You can replace that valve with a short alloy pipe and get rid of that leaky valve problem for good , but you will then only have hot air from the unit .If you want cold air put the window down

Thanks guys. I'll check the switch, then fuse later.

I can actually live without a heater, but the steaming windows are a pain in the hoop.

CLUBMANGT wrote:You seem to have an electrical problem with the blower unit in the heater . Fuse ? motor? switch? You can replace that valve with a short alloy pipe and get rid of that leaky valve problem for good , but you will then only have hot air from the unit .If you want cold air put the window down

Cant put the window down on any of them hot days we get
I think we had one there four years ago

Steam inside or outside window?
Steam inside would have sujested leaking heater core but steam under bonnet means some steam may have got in through holes in the bulkhead or it was on the outside.

Woody, defo inside, the steam was actually rising (visibly) through the vents inside the car.

My advice

go for a drive on your own... if you bring the little lady of course it will be steamed up on the way home ....


b

I get some steam rising from the MKII vents when it has been laid up for a while.Turn on the fan and it clears after a couple of minutes or as Brian said leave Gill at home