Heater control valve broke

[gw33gp]

I discovered a little coolant leak from my Ranger a couple days ago. Yesterday, I looked into it more and found it was near the heater control valve. I took stuff apart to get a closer look and in the process one of the nipples, the heater hose slips onto, totally broke off. It was on the verge of total failure. I sure am glad it happened in my driveaway.

The good news is that part is readily available. I was in a hurry to get it repaired and every place to get one was closed or had to order one. I ended up buying a heater hose and bypassed it. The only time it is used, that I know of, is when A/C Max is activated. I intend to buy a replacement unit and may eventually install it.

Once I got the heater control valve out, I realized there is a mounting bracket on it, and I did not remove a bolt to get it off. It looks like the bolt fell off a while ago. That missing bolt may have contributed to the breaking of that nipple. Now, I need to figure out what bolt I need to replace it. The hole in the bracket is just a little over 12mm. So, I am guessing it is a 12mm bolt. I just don't know what the pitch or length is.

Does anyone by chance know what size and pitch that bolt would be? If not, I will just have to try a few and see what I come up with.

 

[JoshT]

I can't help you on that, I don't have the same engine. My OHV has the 4 port valve up by the AC plenum. Your guess of 12mm seems to be well founded, and I would assume a standard (course) metric 1.75 pitch. Could be 1.5 find thread, but most metric fasteners I'vefound on a vehicle used the standard pitch.

Since yours is (or will be) apart, maybe you can help another member.

https://www.therangerstation.com/forums/index.php?threads/valve-covers-and-heater-hoses.206713/#post-2013006

I don't know if you have the same valve setup as this guy, but if so maybe some pictures of your setup could help him. I was going to look at dad's truck and try to help, but it was dark by the time I was able to today and everything he was asking about is burried enough that I can't really see or photograph it anyway.

 

[gw33gp]

I tried a 12mm -1.75 bolt. It was hard to get to and see what I was doing from the top without taking all the stuff apart I did to get the broken valve out and install the bypass hose. I ended up reaching up from under the engine. It was still tough to get to, but at least I could see what I was doing. I could get the bolt in the hole for a way, but I could not get it in the threads. I will try a couple sizes smaller to see if they will thread in. It almost seems like the bolt is a shoulder bolt style.