Hey everyone!

Got a bit of a head scratcher.

I've got a facelift 2005 Rover 45 with a heater (not the digital one) that's always lukewarm when on the cold setting.

On the hot setting, the heater is red hot. Just when turned to the cold, it's not quite cold, I can feel a bit of heat coming through. I'm sure it's related, but when turning the knob all the way to hot or cold, it reaches 100% of the travel, then springs back to about 90%.

I can see the mechanism in the driver footwell turning, it almost feels like the metal cable for it has shrunk?

Any pointers or hints would be most appreciated!

Thanks!!

A good start would be to locate the heater control valve, and check that its operating
lever travels reasonably freely over its complete sweep.

Thanks! I'll try take find the valve this evening and report back

moosemansjukebox wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 8:45 am Thanks! I'll try take find the valve this evening and report back

You will find it on the bulkhead behind the engine (not inside the car).

Have you changed the antifreeze recently?

Mr Teddy Bear wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 5:04 pm Have you changed the antifreeze recently?

The last time it was done was a year and a half ago with the thermostat. This problem has only developed recently though.

220 GSi turbo wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 6:13 pm

moosemansjukebox wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 8:45 am Thanks! I'll try take find the valve this evening and report back

You will find it on the bulkhead behind the engine (not inside the car).

Interesting, i've tried to find it in the engine bay, but there's just two pipes that pass through the bulkhead, no valve. In my Streetwise, there's a valve and the actuator on the engine-side, but not the 45. Maybe at some point they moved it?

crepello wrote: ↑Sun Jun 15, 2025 10:39 pm A good start would be to locate the heater control valve, and check that its operating
lever travels reasonably freely over its complete sweep.

I've had a look for this, as far as I can tell the plastic actuator travels smoothly end-to-end. I've disconnected the cable from the knob and just operated it by hand, but still feels warm at the cold-side.



General question around the 45's cabin heating/cooling, when actuating the temperature dial, is that actuating the valve and also flaps to divert the airflow?

Thanks for the responses so far everyone, I feel i'm making some progress!