Ice station Scotland

[colinwoodburn]

230/250 or 280,? manual or auto,? silver or white,? left hand or right hand drive,? these questions pale into insignificance when you realise that you've spent 3 years trying to get a Pagoda then to find out the interior heating system is totally inadequate .The interior light gives    off more heat!I bet there's few owners in Alasca/Antartica . Is there a solution apart from moveing to the south of France or California .No suggestions of setting fire to my new toy please.takeing a hot water bottle a rug and a flask of soup on every trip could be the answer. Mabey just leave it in the garage untill summer 08 [July 10]

[Douglas]

You really should consider putting up the soft top in the winter.   :-)

Seriously though, I never found the heating system inadequate in the Northeast of the US. Perhaps your heating system isn't functioning properly? Is there sufficient coolant in the radiator? Just a thought.



Douglas Kim
New York
USA

[seattle_Jerry]

My SL isn't running yet so I can't comment on that...but my '70 220D had the hottest heater of any car I've ever owned. Full heat was unbearable.

I would think that the amount of heat available is a function of the volume of radiator fluid being passed through the heater core. Maybe you have a bad valve or clogged up heater core?

Add a heated seat pad.

or get something like this

http://skingcompany.com/convenience/other/2heater.asp

until you get it fixed.

1967 230SL Havana Brown Auto with A/C

[J. Huber]

I've always been one to poke fun at my heater fan: deeming the settings -- slow and slower. But the heat output itself has always seemed ok. Now, if you compare it to a modern-day car heater, you're going to be most likely disappointed.

I also carry a pair of warm gloves in the car, mainly for chilly top-down drives (but also because they are the only thing that fits in my "glove" compartment)!

James
63 230SL

[jeffc280sl]

I think the heaters work fine in the SLs I've owned.  The first place to check would to open the hood and remove the 1 3/4 inch gromett in the top of the firewall.  Under the gromett is a valve which when open allows hot engine water to flow inside the cabin through the heater core.  The lower left hand control lever (left hand drive car)when slid to the left opens this valve.  With a flash light look in the opening to see if the valve moves while sliding the lever back and forth.  If not you can open the valve manually until you get the lever fixed.  Let us know how you make out.

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

[mdsalemi]

Colin,

I would investigate further if I were you.  In general, far too much heat is more of the rule than inadequate heat.  Between the heat at the transmission tunnel; exhaust heat penetrating the floor, and the heat through the heater core, I've got way too much heat...want some?

No seriously, it sounds like you've got an issue.  I've driven my car in the bitter cold before and heat was never an issue.  However, a few weeks ago on what was supposed to be our "fall color tour" I ran into a more common situation--over 90 degrees F outside (yes in October yes in Michigan!) and a construction slow down.  I watched the needle climb out of safe (180) into the "watch it" area, and approach the danger zone when I quickly pulled a U-turn across the grassy median in order to get air flow once again.  I'd rather risk a ticket for such illegal behavior than to deal with the troubles caused by overheating.

You have a coolant flow and or blower problem in all likelyhood, causing inadequate heat into your heater core or passenger cabin.  Might be the valve, might be the core, might be the blower.

I don't beleive there's a 113 on any continent that can't make enough heat!

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
President, International Stars Section
Mercedes-Benz Club of America

[Kemal]

Hi Colin
I guess you've moved all the bits & pieces to let in the hot air [ off course you have ! ]
I drove mine yesterday & found the heat almost unbearable, from the dash as well as the foot area ! lucky for the window!
I will be checking the manual for cooling it down.(' ')

I've just seen the weather, it's getting colder in Scotland.('[:0]')
Good Luck!

Kemal
280 SL Manual 69

[Douglas]

quote:Originally posted by colinwoodburn

Is there a solution apart from moveing to the south of France or California .

So far, this is still the best solution I've heard in this thread.  

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

[hands_aus]

Colin,
Is the temperature gauge coming up to normal operating temperature?

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[Paddy_Crow]

Whenever I have a problem with water cooled engine not powering the heater, I check the thermostat. It may be stuck open.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

[Shvegel]

If you have a hardtop a little known problem is that the vent at the upper rear of the top does not allow the air to escape the cabin fast enough. If air can't escape new warm air can't get in. Try opening the driver's window slightly.

I have done this and it works.

[graphic66]

Might be your heater core is plugged, or as discussed earlier your heater core valve is not working. Try removing the two heater core hoses, turn on the heat lever, the red one on the left side of the heat controls, move it to the left. Take your garden hose and squirt water into one of the heater core hoses and check to see if you have flow through the core. If not it could be plugged or the valve stuck or both. Does your car have option 493, heavy duty heat exchanger? If so you will get enough heat to drive in very cold weather with the top down, windows up and your after market rear windscreen up, no problem. Your plenum could be plugged also, maybe a mouse nest in the ducts?

[RBYCC]

Check the air filter in the cowl.
It could be dirty/clogged and could substantially reduce the intake of fresh air which would cause little or no air flow from the heater.

ED A.
1971 280SL
1988 300CE TWIN TURBO
1990 C43 AMG
2003 G55 AMG

[al_lieffring]

The first thing I would check would be for water circulation through the heater.

With the engine warmed and the red heat levers open (to the outside position) check to see if the return hose from the heater core, the one on the right side, is hot to the touch.

Next remove the rubber plug from the fire wall and check to see if the controll arm is moving along with the left red dash lever.

It is possible that the valve has been removed and reinstalled improperly, there are 31 wrong ways to assemble the valve and only one correct way.

Other possibilities are the rubbers on the air mixing flaps are not sealing and allowing cold air to bypass the heater core, or the flaps are broken and not moving at all, also there is foam between the heater box and the core that can deteriorate and allow cold air to bypass the core.

I have driven my pagoda in sub-zero (f) conditions and always got pletny of heat out of it.

Al Lieffring
66 230Sl
a-cheesin with a new 85 l. tank

[rwmastel]

Colin,

The coldest weather I've driven in is about 20F (-7C) and it was plenty hot in the car.  How long have you owned your car?  I would say you have plenty of good advice here.

I would say to replace the radiator coolant and thremostat, then check the heater core valve.
- Check the coolant.  Any idea how old it is?  There was a recent post in the last day or so about flushing the coolant.  Read all that info, it should be done every few years.
- Check the thermostat.  Might be stuck.  Easy DIY, something a beginner can do.  I know, I've done it!
- Check the heater core through the access plug in the firewall.  If this is the problem, I strongly suggest you search the forum for instructions and suggestions on the proper and effecient way to fix this.

If these three typical issues are not the cause, then come back for advanced class and we'll get your car fixed!  These heaters do work very well.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL: arabian gray, natural leather, euro, auto, both tops
1994 E420: pearl black, black leather, auto
2006 C230: alabaster white, 6-speed manual, no options

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by colinwoodburn

I have just purchased a very presentable 113 280 SL .Ex South African car with little or no chassis decay (RUST).

Colin,

I bet those South Africans removed the linkage from the heater core, so it wouldn't work.  Who in South Africa wants heat into the cabin?  A more complex thing would be to make sure the heater core is always open (helps cool the engine), but make sure the vents to the cabin are closed off.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL: arabian gray, natural leather, euro, auto, both tops
1994 E420: pearl black, black leather, auto
2006 C230: alabaster white, 6-speed manual, no options

[colinwoodburn]

Enough, Enough all ready. I'm completely snowed under with E mails on this subject . Seriously though you've all been of great help to me with this topic .the amount of information freely given by 'The SL Group'is amazing .I'm glad I did'nt ask you all about a major gearbox overhaul. IT probably would have filled a few shelves of the National Library . Kind regards to all once again .Colin @ Edinburgh

[Kemal]

So what's wrong with your gearbox ?
Keep warm! (' ')
Kemal
280 SL Manual 69