456M - heater doesn't heat up unless A/C is on..? Please can anyone help

Great site - thanks to all who run and participate. Many hours spent cruising...but now I need your help :

I love my 2000 456GTM for its quirks - but driving at the moment means I have to wear gloves, hat and fur coat to keep warm (Its 2 degrees in the UK at the moment). I have discovered that if I turn on the Air Con I can get heat - any idea what may be wrong ?

People used to hear and then look at the car - now they look at me instead in my winter gear and think I am barking mad.

Any suggestions from the team before I get stitched up at the dealers - this is not one I have found on unsual defects list for 456 owners.

Thanks.

 

Nothing! - that's the way it is! - "A/C on" should probably be labelled as "A/C or heat on"......

Cheers,
Ian

 

Rob- I think what Ian was trying to say was there is no separate switch to turn off the air conditioning compressor on your 456M (my 575M does have one) like on most modern cars. Your switch shuts off the entire HVAC system, like most early HVAC panels.

Someone chime in if I got this wrong. Ricambi's excellent replacement panel for sticky problems.

Taz
Terry Phillips
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yes, this is my experience too, but I wonder why heat from the engine compartment doesnt come in...

 

It closes the ducts.




Darrell.

 

Thanks for the advice.
Unusually - this will not cost me.
Another quirk to be noted.
Rob