Just last night my multipoint EA sprung a leak in the heater hose on the inlet side of the heater core. I was around at a mate's place when it happened and he also owns an EA so we checked out his car and found that he was missing a few bits and pieces. His car was missing the water valve and the second hose that connects to the inlet side of the heater core. All he had was a straight hose running out of the thermostat housing straight into the heater core. The inline water valve was missing and the vaccume line that normally connects to the water valve was just sitting there loose.
We ended up fixing my car the same way as his (just ran a straight pipe with no water valve). Everything seems to be ok, the heater still works fine. But I can't help wondering why the water valve was there if it serves no specific purpose. What is it for exactly and do I really need it?
The only thing I can think of is that it keeps the coolant out of the heater core until the heater is switched on????
We ended up fixing my car the same way as his (just ran a straight pipe with no water valve). Everything seems to be ok, the heater still works fine. But I can't help wondering why the water valve was there if it serves no specific purpose. What is it for exactly and do I really need it?
The only thing I can think of is that it keeps the coolant out of the heater core until the heater is switched on????