Hey guys,

In this warm weather we've been having, the wifes 343 (1981) has developed an uncomfortable issue - the heating is stuck on! Initial thought's were that the cable had broken or popped off, but no joy, it looks as though the control valve has packed up. Does anybody know where these can be found to buy? Or if not if anyone has a known good one...

Here's a pic of the part:



Thanks!

3297723 (1980 - 1985) CH -089537 supercedes previous number 3275263

Someone somewhere must have one stashed.

Does anyone know the precise difference between this valve and the later 3211645 (3209861)? (or have pics?)

Thanks macplaxton! I'll start having a scour around for that part number - see if I have any luck. But, if anyone does have one stashed that they would be willing to part with I'd happily buy it from them!

I don't think the part number will be that useful, but the year range might be. Good luck.

its not common for these to fail; is the hot-cold slider in the dashboard stuck? it looks to me like the outer cable has moved and thats why the valve can't move
you could try taking the black clip off and then see if you can move the slide by hand

That's what I had hoped would be the issue but unfortunately the cable actuates the arm perfectly fine when the slider is moved to either position.

I have a problem. My 360 '86 heater control cable/wire is stuck and its end is broken so have to adjust temperature with my hand under the hood. I was trying everything. My local official Volvo store, internet stores and there was no help. part no. 3210052
Because winter is coming I have found one guy who is making custom wires/cables. My question is how long that cable should be, because I don't know how much of it is broken and how the end of it should look like. I guess is should look like that one which is posted on the first post of this thread.

Hi mate.
Is it the blue one? If so, i have one.
Cheers Mark.

Hi, I'm sorry, I didn't understand about what "blue one" are you talking about
I am talking about that 3rd number part no.3210052. If you are asking about its colour so I think it is black

If you have the same thing, so please PM me with maybe a photo of it and your price with shipping to Lithuania.

I'm pretty sure the dealer has given you the wrong part number. Your heater valve is in the interior, whereas on later cars it was in the engine bay. The cable will be of a different type, as the location of the valve is different, as are the controls on the dashboard.

macplaxton wrote: Does anyone know the precise difference between this valve and the later 3211645 (3209861)? (or have pics?)

Yes, the later engine bay type is a "straight through" valve, whereas earlier types (interior) come out at an angle at one end. They're interchangeable though, IIRC, there's a MkIII valve doing a good job in my MkII DLS.

Some more info on the types of water valve fitted here:
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... 3&start=19

volvodspec wrote:its not common for these to fail;

I can't confirm that. I've had all types fail on me, the heater valves on both my MkIII GLT and the DLS were leaky (ie heater permanently on) when I bought them, various used replacement valves I sourced were dud (ie not shutting off properly) before I found ones which were working. My 1980 vario still had the thermostatic valve in blue:



which was jammed tight AND leaky.

Cheers

Tom

On a similar track

Does anyone have a heater control panel (ie the bit that's on the dash) for a phase 3 86 car? My distribution cable has snapped and the slider knobs on the face plate seem to be split/knackered. I've got to take the plate off to fix the cable but I'm worried the knobs are just going to disintegrate. Anyone out there got any of these bits for sale?

Maybe Matt, but at this time of year I'm rather lethargic and to remove the one I have in the spares car requires some effort. I'll keep you in mind, but don't hold your breath until spring at least...

Hi matt.
I have one removed from a car. This could bail out macplaxton
as are a bitch to get out
Cheers Mark.

LOL I know exactly what you mean about being lethargic. I wasn't invisiging that I'd still have the Volvo, both this and our Allegro were up for sale with the plan to buy something different, but I hadn't bargained for how difficult selling a Vario could be, even one as well cared for as ours.

Discovering that the belts are like new, the pulleys are shiny and fault free, all the Vario mods have been done and the absence of any rot made me change heart and I'm fixing all the annoying little issues. The heater distribution cable is one, the speedo mileometer (not turning) is the second and the other odds and sods that I want to address. If I can replace the missing Vario bumper vent grills too that would be lovely.

Any advice on getting the heater control out would be great too. Can you send me a pic of the control panel you have so that I can check its the same as what I have on the car?

Cheers

Matt
matt_concannon@yahoo.co.uk

Hi Matt.
I will get a picture for you before the end of the week.
Cheers Mark.