Heater

Wink, the shut off valve (factory) should be on the "heater core" box on the drivers side, towards the rear of the car. It is actuated by one of the 3 sliding air control levers over the center console. Other than that who knows what could have been added or subtracted by previous owners. If other valves have been added they would be at the front of the engine block on the passenger side. The heater hoses run to two tubes that run up through the center console. And (just kidding here!!), I Remember you said you were looking for a Pantera that you did not have to work on. I think that we have all learned that there is always something that needs to be worked on and fixed, on these thirty year old machines. That's just part of the fun of ownership, making the car yours personally. Good Luck with it! Regards, Marlin.

I have a similar issue with my pantera, and believe me in the cold colo. winter a heater is a hot issue. The heater puts out some heat, but never gets past warm. I am suspecting low level of coolant or air pocket issues. Are there inhearant air bubble problems. Dose the cooling sustem need to be carefully purged.
Any help would be appreciated.

Did you check in the engine compartment. Sometimes people put a shut off valve on the heater hoses in the engine area. Also check and make sure that heater hoses were not bypassed.
I own a pushbutton and the membrane on the valve under the dash on the drivers side was swollen and would not let water by. So my shut off valves are in the negine compartment. Hope you dont have to pull the heater out because it is a pain.

Perhaps the heater core is clogged? I wonder if reverse flushing it or Blowing compressed air, backwrds through it, would help the flow? That is if it IS getting the flow of HOT water. Marlin.

You are right about the working on cars part Marlin.I think you know that I was talking minimal work, eh?
Anyway, It is going to be raining here this weekend and I will have lots of time to check it out closer.
I have used a garden hose adapted for back flushing and that works quite well.
Thanks for the tips guys, always appreciated.
Marlin, are you going to keep a tot-board on all my breakdowns now? lol ...Just kidding.
Wink

No! I'am not going to keep a running record of your work, I was just "poking" at you to see what you might do. I'am done now. I know you are having fun with your new machine and I really wish you well!! A fellow Panteramaniac. Marlin.

I see Marlin. So what you are saying is that I have to keep track of my own stuff now? What a pal you turned out to be! lol
Just poking a little fun at you here.
Take care buddy.
By the way, I think they are getting sick of hearing about those Panteras at work! Too bad...

Panteras are required by track sanctioning bodies to have manual shut-off valves somewhere in the heater hose lines. This may be whats causing the problem. Other owners, faced with a core leak, hook the hose ends together at the engine so no water flows thru the core uder the dash. Finally, the stock Pantera heater valve CANNOT be adjusted to both shut off all water flow in the summer, and also open fully in the winter. Strong-arm attempts to do both usually breaks the cable or the lever arm attached to the stock heater valve under the dash. Remove the gauge panel (3 thumbscrews) and watch the action of the heater cable at the valve. If it appears the valve lever is not moving, the assembly must be R&R-ed to fix the problem.

To add to what Jack just suggested: You can also get to the stock valve by removing the drivers' right foot kick panel(two screws), the plastic one that you hit your right hand against every time you go to put the ignition key in! Now that I remember, my valve was VERY sticky, when I first got the car. Would NOT even move with the cabled lever! A couple of "fizzing" shots of WD-40 right up into the VALVES LEVER OPENING freed it right up! Been working great ever since! I didn't even have to remove it. Marlin.

Jack,

You mentioned that track sanctioning bodies require that the heater lines have MANUAL shut off valves. What about electrically operated ones? I've been considering a pair of these for my Pantera, but wasn't sure if they were acceptable for the track or not. Could you help shed some light on this for me please? Thanks.

Michael