1997 Nissan Primera heating gone

kavanaa1 · 08-02-2009 8:55pm #1

Recently the heating in my 97 Primera gave up for some reason. The dial is turned to the hottest setting but all that happens is cold air comes out the vents. This is pure miserable this weather, makes defrosting the windscreen next to impossible and is generally crap!

Would this be an element gone or fuse or what, and is there any way of fixing it!
Thanks!

crosstownk · 08-02-2009 9:00pm

Check your coolant level! Poor/no heating is usually caused by lack of coolant. Be sure you have sufficient coolant. If your coolant level is way down then you may have a leak somewhere and this will need to be addressed.

It is also possible that the cable that connects the control knob to the flap/valve is broken but either way be sure to check your coolant. Lack of coolant could cause serious engine problems.

mike65 · 08-02-2009 9:00pm

Any signs of coolant or the whiff of same? If you are lucky the valve that allows hot water from the cooling system to enter the cabins heater matrix has jammed shut (broken control arm/wire), if you are unlucky the heater matrix is leaking.

lazy-biker · 08-02-2009 9:01pm

do you have coolant

as my 98 one done the same a few weeks ago and there was very little coolant in the thing

try the fuses if not it could be the element ot the heater itself which is under the glove box as far as i remeber

kavanaa1 · 08-02-2009 9:04pm

thanks ill check the coolant tomorrow. never would have thought that would effect the heating of the car though!

crosstownk · 08-02-2009 9:04pm

lazy-biker wrote: »

try the fuses if not it could be the element ot the heater itself which is under the glove box as far as i remeber

Fuses aren't the culprit here if the fan is operating correctly. I think you're referring to the series resistance for the fan motor which controls the fan speed rather than the temperature. Engine coolant is used to heat the air drawn over the heater matrix - that would be the closest thing to an 'element' that there is for heating in a car.

pcardin · 08-02-2009 9:05pm

Well, first check coolant level. Maybe it is just to low. If coolant is ok than maybe thermostat is gone.

crosstownk · 08-02-2009 9:07pm

kavanaa1 wrote: »

never would have thought that would effect the heating of the car though!

The engine gets hot. The coolant draws away this heat and in turn it gets hot and is pumped through the main radiator to cool. It is also pumped through a smaller radiator (called a heater matrix) which heats air drawn into the cabin by the blower motor.

crosstownk · 08-02-2009 9:09pm

pcardin wrote: »

If coolant is ok than maybe thermostat is gone.

Excellent point missed by all so far.

1997 Nissan Primera heating gone

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