Do the heaters work in 308's? | FerrariChat

Do the heaters work in 308's?

Discussion in '308/328' started by johnhunt, Sep 21, 2013.

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  1. johnhunt

    johnhunt Formula Junior

    Aug 9, 2013
    343
    Washington
    Full Name:
    John Hunt
    I am trying to get some heat out of my '78 308 and frankly my results have been anemic. How well do these heaters work? What should I be shooting for as I work over my system?

    Anything to check? I already took a long look at the main heater valve and it seams fine.

    Do these need to be bled? Any ideas at all?

    Thanks,

    John
    '78 308 GTS
     
  2. Jonny Law

    Jonny Law F1 Rookie
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    May 6, 2008
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    Usually you can't get them to shut off. You should verify the lines are still connected.
     
  3. ME308

    ME308 Formula 3

    Nov 5, 2003
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    if there is one thing that works...it`s the heaters :D
     
  4. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Nov 29, 2001
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    Because the AC sure $ucks.
     
  5. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Jun 8, 2007
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    Yep.

    All 8 of them little furnaces firing makes PLENTY of heat.

    Keeps the kidney area nice and toasty.


    :D
     
  6. glenv6

    glenv6 Formula 3

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  7. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 Steve Magnusson, Sep 22, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This implies that you've already checked that the heater hoses are still connected (and not just bypassed in the engine bay ;)). If the problem is coolant-based (rather than airflow-based), you could have a kink/fold in one of the hoses (where they snake around the fuel tank or come in/out of the center tunnel). And, although corrosion is usually more trouble on the outside of this fitting than on the inside, you might check if this fitting is blocked with corrosion or maybe a silicone gasket sealer "worm" (and there might be a similar "splice" fitting in that hose above the LR wheel well if someone did a quicky repair and just replaced a short section of that hose near the cylinder head) -- just a thought...
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  8. Steve King

    Steve King F1 Rookie

    Feb 15, 2001
    4,367
    NY
    I don't have a problem with the system. As long as the heater valve is functioning and the fan works it should be OK. I don't need the fan while doing my fall drives . Then again with the heater off it get cold in the car . Make sure that the heater duct hoses are attached and not leaking.
     
  9. rkljr

    rkljr Formula Junior

    May 16, 2011
    723
    South of Boston, MA
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    Richard
    If I have the heat on without socks my ankles get uncomfortable hot. You probably have but you may wan to check the valve. As others have noted, the heater is sometimes by passed although I am not sure why.
     
  10. PT 328

    PT 328 F1 Rookie
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    May 1, 2005
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    What is your coolant temp reading while it is running? A large air lock might cause this problem. I would try bleeding the system first then proceed with the suggestions noted above.
     
  11. Jonny Law

    Jonny Law F1 Rookie
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    :D Has anyone ever held a geiger counter near a 308? i'm just curious....maybe were using the wrong material to insulate the cockpit.
     
  12. SoCal308GTSiQV

    SoCal308GTSiQV Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2008
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    Ojai, Ca.
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    +1
     
  13. 308 GTSi

    308 GTSi Rookie

    Jul 12, 2013
    29
    Rochester,Mn
    My controls were disconnected in the console when I bought the car. Get plenty of heat though.
     
  14. montegoblue

    montegoblue Formula Junior
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    Aug 7, 2009
    592
    East TN
    Agree -- it will get so hot with heaters on high that it's unbearable !
     
  15. johnhunt

    johnhunt Formula Junior

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    #15 johnhunt, Sep 22, 2013
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2013
    Okay thanks for all the responses. I really appreciate it.

    So the heaters should work very well and mine kinda don't do anything.

    The fans blow and I get reasonable amount of air from the vents. The valve opens and closes and all the hoses look reasonably correct under the hood. The hose looks connected just fine and heads via the drivers side towards the front.

    So how do I trouble shoot the system? My instinct is to start disconnecting hoses and looking for corrosion (there wasn't any on the front valve). And if that fails, to connect the front hose to a bucket and start the motor to see if there is any flow. Any other ideas?

    Thanks
     
  16. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 11, 2001
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    The hot coolant exits the engine at the fitting in the 1-4 cylinder head marked with the yellow arrow in the photo in post #7.

    Over the LR wheel well, behind the LH fuel tank, up the door sill in the chassis -- see the figure on page 45-46 of your 150/78 OM. The return line from the heater cores "T"s back into the large radiator tube at the front.
     
  17. johnhunt

    johnhunt Formula Junior

    Aug 9, 2013
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    John Hunt
    Thanks Steve. I edited my last comment after reviewing your post a second time (that last picture didn't initially render).

    So the system appears to be intact... just no heat. There is air flow.
     
  18. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    Here in SoCal, most of the time I wish my heater didn't work.
     
  19. SoCal308GTSiQV

    SoCal308GTSiQV Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2008
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    +1
     
  20. Dr Kananga

    Dr Kananga Formula 3

    Apr 20, 2011
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    Buonapart I. Gallia
    If you are getting air from the vents, you are probably not getting heat to the cores which is a symptom of air in the system.

    I just refilled my car with coolant.
    One of the steps in bleeding the system is turn on the heaters blah blah...
    I did not get heat coming out of the vents until the air was out of the cooling system.

    If its a perpetual problem, pressure test the cooling system and look for leaks that would allow air into the system.

    Good luck.
     
  21. Pantera1523

    Pantera1523 Formula Junior

    Mar 17, 2004
    432
    Virginia
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    Scott Carpenter
    Before you tear things apart, are you checking for heat from the heater vents?

    When I first bought my 308 I had a similar issue. I was expecting the heat to come out of the same vents that the anemic a/c uses. That was wrong... At least on my QV the heat comes out of round vents hidden under the dash. Similar to the round ones visible on top of the dash, they can be completely closed off...

    You may have already checked this, but I didn't see it in the above posts.
     
  22. Glassman

    Glassman F1 World Champ
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    The line thru the cores is very hard to bleed. I disconected where the return to the radiater is until coolant flowed.
     
  23. bentrm

    bentrm Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    596
    Pittsburgh, PA
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    Rob
    Mine do not work. Well, sometimes, barely. I bled and bled and bled. I can get some heat when I bleed when the car is cold. Then run it up to temp and bleed with engine running. Next day after cool, not much heat if any. I certainly suspect air. Gonna purchase a pressure tester and see what I can find. Checked the hoses at the heater cores and there's definitely fluid in there. I have a feeling this is gonna be a pain. Also the car runs nice and cool which is a good thing.
     
  24. david bentley

    david bentley Karting

    Jan 2, 2004
    182
    Saint Louis Mo US
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    David bentley
    If you are not getting air from the fans through the heater matrex, check if the filter just in front of the heater matrex is blocked
     
  25. Dr Kananga

    Dr Kananga Formula 3

    Apr 20, 2011
    1,222
    Los Angeles, CA
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    Buonapart I. Gallia
    In theory (I think) if there's so much air trapped in the system that it's preventing you from getting heat, it should affect circulation as well, preventing the car from running cool.

    At least, that was my experience.

    Def pressure test it.
    But, that's something to think about too..

    Maybe a super-pro can weigh in...


    Sent from my iPhone
    (Which means I am probably sitting by the car, confused.)
     

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