Nissan Navara in cab heater

tshiggins

Just got a 2004 Navara second hand, running fine, but just noticed the in cab fans are always blowing cold air regardless of what I set it to. Have read that it could be a coolant level problem?

mikeecho

Have you checked the coolant level?

tshiggins

Haven't yet - have just got it, so haven't really familiarised myself with it yet - it was only last night i realised there was no heat - had a scan through the manual online, will have a proper look under the bonnet today.

biko

Yeah, check coolant and let us know if it is low.
It's cold now so use proper coolant and not just water.
Check manual for what to use.

tshiggins

Thanks, will do!

tshiggins

Checked coolant and levels seem OK, just below the max line

biko

Did you take it for a spin for a while?
Is the coolant a bright colour?
Does the temp gauge on the dash go up to the middle?
Does fans blow on all speeds?

It could be airlocked, try opening the lid on the expansion tank or the radiator and revving the car a bit to see if you get bubbles.

tshiggins

Had it out for a spin on Saturday morning, which was when I really noticed it wouldn't heat up.

Coolant is an orange/brown colour, gauge moves towards the middle of the dial and fans blow at various speeds.

Will check for an airlock later - if that is the case, how do I go about clearing that?

Thanks - appreciate all the advice here!

biko

tshiggins wrote: »

Will check for an airlock later - if that is the case, how do I go about clearing that?!

biko wrote: »

.. airlocked, try opening the lid on the expansion tank or the radiator and revving the car a bit to see if you get bubbles.

^^^
if you do get bubbles, keep revving up and down (gently) until no bubbles.

tshiggins

thanks again, will give that a go after work this evening. I'll let you know what happens

tshiggins

Had a proper poke around yesterday evening.
Coolant is more a green colour (had a proper headlamp last night)
No bubbles, but what I did notice was the temp gauge on the dash actually doesn't move above/below halfway - constantly stuck there.
Faulty thermostat?

corglass

Check the chassis for rot

tshiggins

a little rust but nothing major

tshiggins

tshiggins wrote: »

Had a proper poke around yesterday evening.
Coolant is more a green colour (had a proper headlamp last night)
No bubbles, but what I did notice was the temp gauge on the dash actually doesn't move above/below halfway - constantly stuck there.
Faulty thermostat?

its supposed to be at halfway.

tshiggins

ok, but doesn't move at all?

biko

Normal behaviour:
The temp gauge on the dash will go from zero to halfway after 5/10 mins or so.
You should see it starting to move from zero after a few mins.
It will remain halfway for the duration of the drive, and not move.

If you have enough coolant in car, and fans are working but there is still no heat then it is possible there is a problem with the heater core.
Maybe it is blocked or something, it does happen.
Bring car to a mechanic

kennethsmyth

Theres a good chance its just a cable disconnected from the heater controls to the valve in the coolant line that sends hot water to internal heater matrix.

If you put the heat on fast then turned the knob down cool quickly a few times the cable could of dropped off. (happened to me on a honda crv)

To check go to engine bay and look for the heater valve on the coolent line, it should be close to where the coolent line enters the cabin, if you find it push it manually to the opposite to where it is now - if you get heat in cabin then the cable inside the heater controls has just slipped off. This is an easy fix if its that but your knuckles will be bloody after rooting around under the dash to connect the cable!

tshiggins

will try that later - thanks!

tshiggins

Ok-checked the heater core piping- coolant inlet pipe heats up, outlet pipe doesn't. Flush the heater core?

kennethsmyth

Just before you do ensure the valve on the heater inlet is not after the piping you checked as the valve cable could still be disconnected, if you found the valve before the inlet goes into the core then yes flush and hope it clears

CianRyan

Could also be airlocked.
The YD25 can be an absolute bitch to bleed, flush the whole system. If it's looking browning it needs to be done anyway.

tshiggins

Flushed out the heater core, getting heat into the cab. I wouldn't say it's tropical or anything, but preferable to the Baltic wind that was blowing in!
Thanks everyone for all the advice here!