heater control valve location
 

I am trying to locate the heater control valve on my 1997 4 cylinder 2wd ford ranger. Any advice and/or pictures of it would be appreciated.

On the passenger side of the engine. Follow the heater hoses from the firewall and you'll come to it.

http://www.partsamerica.com/product_.../faa/74809.jpg

I followed it but don't see what the picture shows, could it look different? Mine is a 4 cylinder automatic with air?
Thanks,
Ken

That's what mine looked like on my '95 4-cyl, with are, but's a manual.

Now that I look, it could also look like these:
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...lvalve2way.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...lvalve3way.jpg

There is also a chance it could have been elminated by someone. I'm not completely sure about the HVAC system on the Rangers, but many cars don't use a heater control valve, they just let the coolant into the heater core all the time.

I have a 98 ranger with the four port valve. A vacuum line connects to the valve. What makes the valve open or close? Does it close off the coolant into the heater core when closed?

The vacuum makes it open/close (not sure which). Depending on the position of the temperature selector and climate control selector (the thing you turn to A/C, defrost,etc), vacuum will be applied.

It does block the coolant from the heater core when closed.

Why then is it hot either on a/c or heat? Only max a/c is it cool but not cold air. I did the fix on the blend door but don't think it worked. I guess I just want to know which control shuts the heater valve so no hot coolant enters the heater core.


Thanks for your answer.

The valve is open all the time except when MAX A/C is selected.

Mine doesn't open until you cut the heat on. In the OFF position, I'm sure it doesn't open.

You are correct. The valve is also shut (cutting off the hot coolant to the heater core) when OFF is selected. I should have been clearer on that.

Thank-you for the answers. I might try and cut the plenum under the door to see if I can remove door that must be broke.

I know this thread is kind of old, but I'm having the same problem. The heater control valve on my '98 Ranger isn't shutting off the heat. Just like 98Range and Rockledge's. Did you guys get this fixed? How?

Are you saying you can't get any cool air even when you turn the temp. control knob all the way to the blue (cold) area? If that's the case, then you have a blend door issue. The blend door is not the same thing as the heater control valve.

Yes I got mine fixed. I bought a new blend door from Rock Auto Parts for about $9.63. I cut a hole in the bottom of plenum to remove old door. I drilled a 3/4" hole with holesaw to lift out the door.(dimple in molded plenum that held old door)
I then used a 1/2" copper cap to a 3/4" long piece of copper pipe and soldered it to a 9" piece which I screwed to the bottom of the plenum.

The copper cap holds the bottom of the door in position as the piece of plastic I drilled out. If you want to talk by phone PM me with your # and I will explain in more detail.

Sounds like a cool fix. I'm in the process of trying the "Blend Door Fix" with the actuator. One problem, though...

What do I do if I drop my ratchet behind the actuator? Mine was held down with 3 screws, and when trying to get to the rear one (front of the pickup) it fell and I can't reach it...