98 1.25 fiesta zetec lx heater only blowing cold

[baldyblade]

i have a fiesta 1.25 zetec lx (R reg) and have noticed the heater is only blowing cold air through, even with the dial in the car on full heat!
The 4 blow settings all work but as i say i only get cold air coming through.
It used to blow luke warm at 1st but now its just cold from the start.
i've also noticed that the temp guage is settling at a different position than it used to. (this is since its M.O.T in sept but the wife reckoned it was always at that position)
It used to be always in the center but now moving to the 3/4 mark.
the coolant hasn't moved at all and is between the min and max mark.
Does anyone have any ideas on what could the problem be??
I'm hopeless wiv cars and any advice would be appreciated!
Thanx
baldybalde

[chas2008]

the chances are its the heater control valve, very common problem on these vehicles

http://www.fordpartsuk.com/shop/fiesta_heater_ control_valve_531.htm

[Whickerman]

happened in my mother's car this week. As chas says, that valve is a known weak point. Your local mechanic will change it in minutes.

[dicky08]

only just done the heater valve on my sisters 125ztec the valve is 35 quid new and take ten mins to change under bonet you will see a long rubber seal that can be removed at the back end of engine bay near windscreen remove it in the centre you will see 2 pipes coming out of a plastic fiting at the back you will see 2 more pipes and a little siver motor that is the heater valve remove the wireing plug all 4 pipes and replace the same as removal its quite simple and easy to do yourself

[saintjohnny]

Same thing happened to me last summer on my 98 1.25 Zetec. My local mechanic sorted it for �50 inc. parts and labour and it's fine now. He said it was a very common fault with the Mark IV Fiesta.