80 / 90 weak heat...heater valve?

[EBavely]

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Hello all...

The heat in my 1988 80 (2.0 liter) doesn't seem to be working as well as it=
 used to.  When the temp knob is on full heat, what comes out of the vents =
is at best "lukewarm" even though the engine is at operating temperature.  =
I have to drive about 20 minutes before the car cabin actually warms up to =
what I'd say is around 55-60 degrees.

When the same thing happened in my 4kq (weak heat), list members correctly =
advised me to change the heater control valve (which I later found out to b=
e the same part number as used on the VW Rabbit and others).  It seems that=
 this valve on those models fails to actuate or does not fully open when th=
ey get older. Could it be the same problem on my 80?

I looked in the family_album and the heater valve looks to be of a differen=
t type on the typ 89's...  Could anyone tell me where the heater control va=
lve is located on these cars?

I looked briefly in the back of the engine along the firewall where it woul=
d be on a 4kq / VW, but did not see anything that looked like it.  Do I hav=
e to pull part of the dash or console to get at the valve?  Is there anythi=
ng else to check to get more heat?  It's been below freezing for a while he=
re...

Any advice or ideas would greatly be appreciated.

E_Bavely

86 4ktq
81 Coupe ITB, 83 CGT
88 80 Fwd
83 GTI FSP, 83 GTI 16V
90 VW Cabriolet