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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Heater Valve

Discovered a small pool of coolant on my garage floor about mid way under the engine bay. I checked the coolant level in the rad and found it was low. I filled the rad to its proper level, started the car and let her run for 15 minutes to get her to operating temp.

When I turned the car off, I heard the fluid dripping onto the floor again and realized it was coming from the heater valve. I adjused the heater cable to ensure the valve was in the closed position. This did reduced the flow to a few drips.

I would like to order a replacement valve, and know they are available through the usual dealers, Moss, VB, etc. I was wondering if there is a source for a better quality valve.

Fran
F Valenzano

Fran I got mine from Scarborough Faire which is where I try to buy all my parts. In fact I bought them for all my MGs to keep as spares in the trunk. I find them knowledgeable and their parts are normally good quality. I don't know if their heater valve is any better but I know that Cecelia tries hard to find the best stuff. Their prices are always competetive as well. No affliation with SC.

Andy
60 Coupe
Andrew Preston

Thanks Andy, I will give SF a try.
F Valenzano

I have given up on heaters altogether! Not very effective, I have found, and more trouble than they are worth!. Heaters were not standard on Autralian-built MGA's, probably for the same reasons! I am in the throes of isolating the one on my 1600 roadster, blanking off the heater valve on the head, etc.
Barry Bahnisch

Silly question perhaps, but how would one go about blanking off the heater valve?
F Valenzano

You'd need to find a heater valve blanking plate, Fran. Perhaps some of the Oz fellows could help you locate one. We don't use them much up here in Vermont.
Ken Korey

Fran?, I have made one up out of light gauge brass (I think that Ken was having a go at us "dunderheads" from "down under"!). As a matter of interest, I had "blanked off" my roadster heater probably at the time that I restored the car (having had some experience with heaters with my 1600 coupe!). Anyway, after that we took our roadster to the UK and the rather cool weather prompted me to connect it up again! Neither heater is very effective but the coupe demister is useful.
Barry Bahnisch

The real problem is getting the heater valve off the engine block depending on the MG. My 57 1600 has the oil from engine to filter right over the top of the two bolts that hold the heater valve in place. I had to remove the oil line before I could even get a wrench on the bolts. Once the oil line is off, depending on if you have monkey fingers you can get in to actually get the bolts off. I used a dozen of my old Navy words getting the thing off!
MWH Huffman

I just installed a new heater valve that I bought from Moss in Goleta and it was perfect. All functions A-OK and it looks to be a perfect replacement. No worries for the Moss product.
David Holmes

The problem I found with the heater valve was that the diaphragm wasn't moved through the full range. The lever on the side had to move about half way round its slot before there was any movement in the diaphragm.

This meant that the control had to be moved a long way before any change was noticeable and also the heater wasn't very effective at maximum.

I put some small plastic washers in to increase the range of movement and responsiveness and it got a lot better.
Dan Smithers

Hi Yall,

Just joined the sight and really enjoy all of the feedback. Give me inspiration seing how its starting to get real nice outside in sunny Califronia.
I love the fact that most of the MGA's I've run across has a melted knob for the heater control on the dash.
I can remember crusin one night with the heater on and picking up the scent of burning plastic. When I looked around the dash I noticed the the plastic was smoking so I reached over to shut it off and, well, pain is a great teacher isnt it?
Anyway, I could replace the knob but I kinda like the way it looks.
CNN Charlie

CNN Charlie, California, USA
What knob melted? The only knob I can imagine melting is the small round one you pull for the fan switch. If that knob melted there is way too much resistance in the switch and if used again could cause more damage.
The heat from the heater gets nowhere near the control knobs. Replace that switch!

Randy
R J Brown

I was wondering about that Randy. Another possibility would be if the the engine was earthing through the control cables because the earth strap was missing or high resistance.
Lindsay Sampford

I thought about grounds also Lindsay. That is why I ask what knob melted. Poor ground would affect all cables. Bad switch just the little knob.
R J Brown

This thread was discussed between 27/03/2011 and 04/04/2011

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