Heater issues

[Jolly Skipper]

last Summer I was left a 1999 S type 4.0 litre when a friend passed away.

The heater has never worked, the air-con compressor never comes on and when I eventually get the windows demisted as soon as I pull up the interior of all the car windows fog up.

As a result the beast has been off the road now since early December and the soles of my shoes are getting thinner.

Can anyone suggest where I should start looking for problems? My local garage (not Jaguar) had a look at the heater and said it was full of air because I had a head gasket gone but I don't get that as I had driven around Northern France and from the Isle of Wight to Wales and back and she doesn't use any water!

Any clues would be gratefully appreciated.

[Leo]

Hi Jolly, and welcome to the Club!

I can't help with your problems, but hopefully those who can help will be along shortly.

[JOE-DOT-COM]

Hi

if its head gasket, it will use water, if its using no water, then its not head gasket

it could have a air lock in the heater system which could stopping it heating up, but if its been driven the air usually makes its way out, will have a look how you bleed your system of air

sounds like it might have a couple of issues

is the fan working

if the fan is working and not getting hot, not getting hot is usually the heater valve, quite a common problem

the  aircon might have a leak, thats why the compressor is not kicking in, there's a pressure switch that disables the aircon if the gas is low

most air con places with do a check usually for less than 20 pounds, to tell you if the system is gas tight, I can get my s-type R, regassed for 30 pounds

cheers

Joe

 

[JOE-DOT-COM]

Hi

there's no special procedure to bleed the system of air on a 1999 4.0

cheers

joe

[Jolly Skipper]

Hi Joe

Many thanks for the information and I will be outn there in the morning to give it a trial.

I never liked the "Head Gasket theory" as I have done quite a bit of mileage and never needed to put any water in the system.

I have 'searched' the valve you pointed out and will have a close look at that and also get the air-con system checked by a professional. I am always happy to have any other 'pointers'! This is the most complex car I have ever owned; usually I don't buy one that is more intelligent than me as I will have no chance of fixing it but I didn't 'buy' this one but the JOC forum has been a blessing.

Many thanks again!

[Old_Growler]

There's full details covering both your issues HTTP://jaguarclimatecontrol.com/diagnose

[Old_Growler]

8 minutes ago, Old_Growler said:

There's full details covering both your issues HTTP://jaguarclimatecontrol.com/diagnose

It's for LHD models so you might have reverse any interior photo shown locations. ie Driver to passenger side of the cabin

[Jolly Skipper]

Many thanks "Old Growler"

You seem to start a lot earlier than me. What a vast amount of great information (and not a 'quick fix'!) but will get on with it this week whilst ashore.

With regards the damp atmosphere in the interior would thios be a symptom of the problem or am I lookoing at a faulty heater maitrix do you know?

Thanks for the help

[Mr Lawrence]

 My money would be on the dccv which controls the heat/cold distribution in the cabin, they are prone to failing and changing isn't a hard job, just fiddly. 

Part should be around £100 or so. 

Aircon not working will most likely be the pipe that runs from the condenser, along the chassis rail in the left side/drivers side of the engine bay right next to the exhaust manifold, to the reviewer behind the dash. I had a 99 T reg car and it went there.

part is an eye watering £350+vat from jaguar, don't try a s/hand part as I found out they all go there.  

For the facelift cars they routed the pipes over the right hand side of the engine bay because of this failure. 

[Jolly Skipper]

Hi Andy

Sounds like something I could check quite easily - I'll try to have a look later on today - have to unseize the FNS brake caliper first! I didn't realise that being a Jaguar owner was quite so 'hands on'!

[Old_Growler]

20 hours ago, Jolly Skipper said:

Many thanks "Old Growler"

You seem to start a lot earlier than me. What a vast amount of great information (and not a 'quick fix'!) but will get on with it this week whilst ashore.

With regards the damp atmosphere in the interior would thios be a symptom of the problem or am I lookoing at a faulty heater maitrix do you know?

Thanks for the help

More likely the damp problem is just due to the interior never getting warm and lacking air circulation while your in the car. ie Your breath or damp clothes,shoes ect? Example: Raining or cold outside, I park up with the windows closed while the wife goes shopping and within 30mins the windows inside start to mist up. As soon as the cars restarted with heater blower & screen heaters on the mist dries and is gone. I think whats happening to yours is cold damp air from your heater is removing the misting but not drying it out so over night it condenses again and the cycle restarts. You can buy moisture damp absorber bags (I use some in my classic car) Which may help until you sort out the heater problem.

[Jolly Skipper]

I hadn't thought of that. I'll give it a go as I like to start with the cheapest and simplest possible solution first just in case it works!

Many thanks.