Heater control valve cross-reference/improved part?

[jawn101]

I'm curious - we've probably installed dozens, if not hundreds, of the NOS plastic units (Houston parts) without ever a problem (they are part of the overall cooling hose kit). I've only seen a couple of the originals "bad" on a car, and it is generally a pretty small drip, never a gross failure. Often kind of rusty looking, and maybe one that was stuck so as to be non-functional.

It is very odd to hear about multiple failures on one car.

I don't think any of our failed ones are DMC ones, Dave... If we were talking about you we wouldn't keep saying "unnamed vendor" because no one's ashamed to have bought things from you.

[stevedmc]

I don't think any of our failed ones are DMC ones, Dave... If we were talking about you we wouldn't keep saying "unnamed vendor" because no one's ashamed to have bought things from you.

Amen.

[Chris 16409]

When I was doing my water pump install and general VOD cleanup, I broke my heater control valve while attempting to lift it out of the way. This is the variety of valve I had in the car:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER
(similar to what Steve was talking about. I got it as part of a hose kit)

Anyway, I decided to try something else, and I found this part at AutoZone:

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par..._&newYmme=true

I looks more like the original NOS part. It's all plastic, but it seems to be more sturdy than the one that broke.


P.S.
Jon, mine broke at the same spot yours did.

[jawn101]

Bah. I don't like this part. I hope the new one lasts, I don't want to go through this mess again.

[DavidProehl]

Glad this is finally resolved. What a mess!

[jawn101]

Glad this is finally resolved. What a mess!

Not really resolved until I get this ignition stumbling figured out (wet plugs or something) but at least no serious damage was done.

[1batt4u]

Hows your heater contorl valve holding up so far??

This just came to my attention about the heater contorl valves.

I am putting my engine back together, gonna out my new heater control valve in any day. I bought mine form John Hervey, you recommend I by another one??

[Chris 16409]

Hey Billy, all I have to say, is that the one that I got from Hervey didn't last as long as it should have. I would check out the part from AutoZone that I posted. So far it's holding up.

[1batt4u]

Hey Billy, all I have to say, is that the one that I got from Hervey didn't last as long as it should have. I would check out the part from AutoZone that I posted. So far it's holding up.

Cool!! Thank you!!

[jawn101]

Hey Billy, all I have to say, is that the one that I got from Hervey didn't last as long as it should have. I would check out the part from AutoZone that I posted. So far it's holding up.

+1. The one I got from Hervey only lasted about 3 months. Thin plastic.