The heater on my zafira has stopped working, the blower still works but when i turn from cold to hot all i get is a clicking noise and no hot air just cold if i turn it back to cold the noise stops any ideas please.
vauxhall zafira heater
- Thread starter lomofore
- Start date
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You probably have a control cable adrift,so the first thing to do is remove the glovebox. This is only held by four screws.You should then be able to see if anything is off.Front end of the centre console only has a couple of screws for a bit more access.
lomofore said:
my zafira had exactly the same problem. the clicking noise comes from the matrix cut off valve located at the back of the heater by the drivers left foot you need to remove the lower dash covers via a few screws and two square black clips (compress them to remove).you can now confirm the clicking by turning the heater to hot and the noise will resonate through your fingers if you touch the valve.obviouslly the valve is stuck and to replace it is a bit of a nightmare involving degassing the air con (specialist job)and removing the passenger side airbag (scarey) .So to save yourself a weekend of grief or a bucket load of cash you can pull off the wires unscrew the valve cover to reveal the motor worm drive and linkage cogs i simply removed the linkage and turned the black cog clockwise to open the valve manually.i have not replaced the worn linkage as the valve internals are not serviceable items. the heater now works great and allthough hot water is now circulating the matrix constantly as per non air conditioned versions you still get cold air when required. note i didnt even need to drain the coolant for this job the hardest part was finding something to undo the three cover screws on the valve i ended up putting a ph2 bit thru a 1/4 ring spanner you will need a torch and a little mirror as well
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Kabisfab, you are a star. The fix works a treat. 
Those screws are nothing short of a nightgmare. Once I had managed to get them off it was plain sailing. I strongly recommend anyone with the same problem gives it a go.
Those screws are nothing short of a nightgmare
. Once I had managed to get them off it was plain sailing. I strongly recommend anyone with the same problem gives it a go.What a brilliant solution. I too had the clicking symptoms and then the clicking stopped, but so had the heater! But, thanks to this fix I was warm again in no time. I used a PH2 bit and a pair of pliers to get those screws out, not easy but well worth the effort. Many thanks!!
Hi guys I too have the same problem with my zaifra heating clicking valve I have removed the drivers lower dashboard covers and I can feel the valve clicking. Do I now undo the plastic cover around the valve to expose cogs and linkages this is where your info is a bit vague if someone can please help me with a bit more info before I start I would be truly greatfull although I am pretty good at car diy the more the info the easier it is
THANKS GUYS
THANKS GUYS
Yes - your next task is to disconnect the wires to the valve and undo the 3 screws (no mean feat!). Once you have got the cover off (they didn't intend you to undo it in situ, as you will find out, but it is possible), then you can rotate the valve by hand as per the original instructions. I have retained everything just in case I want to try and reinstate the valve, but I figure if I notice any difference in very hot weather, which so far I haven't, I can manually close the valve again.
CHEERS!
Hi there, not sure if I have done this right as it is the first time I have entered anything here. I too have the same problem with my Zafira and have just been quoted a labour cost of £193.00 to replace the valve plus the parts. I have found that if you slowly move the heat control from hot to cold there is a point in which the clicking stops. I am going to try the method to stop it, one question that I have, do you leave the valve cover off completely? and leave the wires just dangling?
Just did it this afternoon. Been without the heater on the Zafira for three years plus. Great news is that it is now working thanks to the advice from the post. Everyone is right that it is the three screws that are the problem, due to the lack of room to operate. We managed with the socket set and a small screwdriver I got with my computer, it was a pain in the nether region. The fact is: its a pain of a job, but well worth the endeavour. Treat your mate, because its worth it. Will try to post pics, but I think the website will decline them because of bandwidth. The Zaf is now nice and cosy and a pleasure again to drive.
Hi Lambchop.
I have the same problem and was quoted £300 plus parts.
Can you advise how to get to the valve?
I have stripped out the centre consul, removed the side covers.
I can put my hand on the clicking component, but it is behind a plastic heater box cover which I can't see how to move.
Do I have to remove the heater matrix?
I have chased this problem all over the internet, but no one gives any details as to getting to the valve to see inside it to work on. I had thought of buying a new valve to try and swap the internals.
Please advise it's driving me mad with the clicking.
Thanks
HAVE NOW FIXED IT.
Remove the drivers side footwell cover. There are two screws to the consul a couple of plastic clips which can be levered out. There are some white locating brackets at the back, ensure you slide the cover back into these when replaced.
You will need to lay on the floor and reach in, It helps if you push the drivers seat right back. You will see the end of a black plastic box. This has a rounded portion, behind this is the valve.
If you turn the ignition on and turn the heat control up you should feel it clicking.
I used an old wing mirror glass on the car floor to see the valve, a torch helps as it is quite dark.
You will see black cover with 3 Phillips head screws, the valve also has an electrical connection. I left this in place.
Screwfix sell an angled screwdriver for £9.99 (Pt No. 13391-96)which will save no end of hassle and makes removing the screws a fairly easy job.
Ensure the ignition is off and remove the screws. The cover will come off easily. Inside you will see a small white gear which drives a cog on a plastic shaft which in turn drives a larger cog which opens the valve.
I turned up the heater control and the turned the ignition 1 click to on for 1 second, this turned the valve on and I could see the small white cog rotate. This was not engadging with the cog on the plastic spindle. I used a flat blade screwdriver to gently push the white cog back up it's spindle.This re-engadged it with the spindle cog. This is where the clicking noise was coming from, the two cogs slipping.
I then reassembled the cover and tested. All Ok, no clicking, just lovely heat from the heater, and a saving of over £300.
If the internals were damaged it looks like you could lever the cogs out and replace with new from a new valve £18.00.
If my white cog slips again I will probably push it back down and put a small collar on the spindle so that it can't move down.
I hope this helps with a more definitive set of instructions than given above. I recon you could do this job in less than 1 hour.
Thank you guys for all this info. My wifes zafira has the same problem with hers. I have taken it all apart today to try and find the problem now found this site with possibly the same issues. I will try this but i am after some photo's please because i am slightly confused where these screws are located. Thank you in advance. Wife will be happy if i can fix this for her. I will not charge her £300+ for doing it either.
You can only see the screws if you lie on the floor of the car and use a mirror and torch to look up under the heater matrix box. Hence no pictures as the gap is about 3inches between the floor and the valve. The valve is about 5 to 6 inches from where your foot would be on the clutch pedal.
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