I have a 1986 Berlinetta that has no heater valve in the engine area. Is it the same one as a non Berlinetta Camaro?
Frank

 

If I'm understanding what you're asking, you're talking about a vacuum-operated valve on the intake manifold. Its only use is to shut off the coolant flow when the AC is in "max" mode. In other words, the majority of the time it isn't doing anything.

 

Older models didn't have them. Not sure when they were added but my 86 didn't have them. My 91 does. Not strictly needed.

GD

 

Thanks for the information on the heater control but I still have a problem with my hoses. I still have nothing for my heater hoses, that are just looped, to go to. How do I have control of my heat when I don’t have any way to turn off or turn on the water flow to my heater? How does the digital Berlinetta heater control, in the car, control the heater? Maybe I’m looking at this completely wrong.
Thanks again, Frank

 

The heat inside the car is controlled entirely by the air blend doors. The valve only shuts the flow off whenever heat is totally not needed. I.e. when the temp control is all the way to Cold. It doesn't "control the heater" at all, in the sense of managing the car temp; it's strictly yes/no.

Most older cars didn't have a HCV. They started adding it around 87 or 88. Berlinetta w/ digital dash and all that, could potentially be different in this particular matter, but I don't think so.

 

The AC/Heater diverter valve was first introduced in 87,... the Berlinettas never had it because they were only made till mid-year 86.

If the heater core hose(s) is just looped on the heater core and the coolant ports on the engine ( intake and water pump ) are looped (or capped ) than the heater core is never getting any heated coolant thru it. The flap doors inside the heater core / HVAC box are going to still open/close as directed by the HVAC Vacuum Solenoid ( by way of the HVAC/Wiper Pod ) but they can only "control" the ambient air temp of the HVAC box. If you adjust the rheostat control on the HVAC / Wiper Pod all the way down (full heat) the temp 'blend' flap in the HVAC box should open to the heater core,... but your just gonna get ambient air temp thru it.

 

Thanks for all your information on this for me. Can I just buy a regular Camaro heater valve for my heater hoses in the engine area?

 

No. They are vacuum controlled. You have no way to control it. Maybe it would be best if you post pictures of what you are working with.

GD

 

Sure you can buy one.

Not quite so sure however how you'd install it however. Specifically, it needs vacuum from the control head to operate it. Without that, which your car likely doesn't have, it wouldn't do anything.

Look in the wiring harness that comes through the firewall right by the heater hoses. It will have about 5 or 6 wires including a light green, yellow, light blue, and tan, if memory serves; and either 1 or 2 vacuum lines of the hard plastic variety. If there's only 1, your car isn't equipped for it.

 

You could grab that harness out of a vehicle that has the bypass and put it in your car, but you would also need that manual vacuum heater control head too. The harness is "stand alone" and only has one connection to the main under dash harness in those cars.

But you have a Berlinetta I don't think you would be able to change the controls out

 

As suspected,..... the Berlinetta HVAC system ( including the harness ) is specific to the Berlinetta. The "regular" 87+ Thirdgen heater controller has the 2 vacuum lines (as described) and the one that feeds the diverter valve is only active when the AC is a turned on. The Berlinetta HVAC system has no way to turn on vacuum on AC demand, (the AC ON signal is 12 volts.) In short; even if you connected all the coolant hoses and diverter valve properly under the hood, there's no way to activate the diverter valve only when AC is ON.