Heater Control Valves

[iriegnome]

My daughters 1992 Festiva does not get very good heat. As I have been reading about these cars, I have found that there isn't much to the heating system. Core, Control Valve, Thermostat and that's about it. I have flushed the core and cleaned it, so I have eliminated that. I will be changing the thermostat since that is super cheap, quick and easy, but I am not sure about the Heater Control Valve. I have found replacements on E-bay for $14, but they are aftermarket. I have heard they usually are not as good as genuine, but since my car is 22 years old, there isn't much to choose from in the way of genuine parts. Anyone with input?

[Flyin4stroke]

You do know it only blows heat from the floor and defrost settings.

[Spike]

When you replace the thermostat, make sure and get the dual-stage tstat from O'Reilly's, for a Mazda Protege. It's a 195 dual-stage, and the proper one for the Mazda B3 engine that is in a Festiva.

I don't have the part number, but hopefully someone will come up with it.

For me, all I've had to do is flush the radiator and install the PROPER T-STAT, and I have burn-your-fingers heat. I had a huge floorboard hole last winter and I still couldn't keep the heat over level 2 at 20F.

[iriegnome]

I am picking up the new dual stage t-stat from Autozone. It is the Mazda B6 F201-15-171A dual stage t-stat. I am also picking up a flust kit to install to really get through the system as well. Yes, I did read that heat only comes from defrost or floor, but currently I am not getting heat either way. It should do the trick. Since I did not find out about the dual t-stat until after I looked into the heater control valve, I am putting off replacing the valve until I replace the t-stat with a proper one and give it a try

[Spike]

Good luck, sir! Someone's who's really researched.

[MONSOON]

Be very careful when installing the new Tstat. Theyve been known to slip out of place without you knowing it until you crack the housing. Which is becoming very hard to find.

[iriegnome]

I have always used a dab of vaseline to hold them in place when I replace them. Have not had to replace a t-stat for years, but thanks for the warning.