Mystery Add-on part

I have what appears to be an after market add on part which I can't identify. It is inserted between the engine and heater core in the water line. It appears to be vacume controlled. If it is designed to shut off the flow of water to the heater core, it must not work, cause I get heat all the time. What is it and can I remove it and join the in line with the heater out line to stop the hot air from the heater?

Darrel, that what it sounds like. Could you posta pic so I/we can be more sure? If this is what it seems to be, you could replace it with a manula shutoff valve that you turn by hand. This will guarentee that the water isn't going into the core, unless you want it to.
Chris

Years ago I had a heater core blow in my '69 Cougar. Didn't have the $$$ to fix it right away so I just looped the heater input hose right back to the block and looped the heater output hose back to the heater core (just to keep it out of the way). Fortunately it was in the summer so didn't need the heat.

The only time the heater is useful in the summer is when you get stuck in traffic and the coolant temp gets too high. Then turn the off the A/C (if you have it and it was on), roll down the windows, set the heater temp to max, and put the fan on high speed. You'll be sweating like a stuck hog in a few minutes, but you should see the coolant temp come down some. If it doesn't come down some, then it is time to pull off to the shoulder of the road and shut 'er down for awhile.

|QUOTE|Darrell said: I have what appears to be an after market add on part which I can't identify. It is inserted between the engine and heater core in the water line. It appears to be vacume controlled. If it is designed to shut off the flow of water to the heater core, it must not work, cause I get heat all the time. What is it and can I remove it and join the in line with the heater out line to stop the hot air from the heater? |/QUOTE|



Darrell,

That is the heater shut off valve. It comes from the factory that way. If it isn't working right, the cabin heat will run you out. That is exactly where my heater hose blew up the other day. I looped it back to the block, and completely bypassed the heater. It has made a lot of difference of the temp inside the car. I need to take time to replace the heater hoses, just too lazy.