The heater in my KA does work ..... eventually but if i faff with it (ie try and change the temp) it then goes cold.
Driving to work this morning with numb fingers and toes was not fun and i refuse to pay the prices a garage will charge me to fix it if it is something i can do myself.

All ideas / replys greatfully received.

I Dont own a KA, but might find the cable in the back of the switch is not adjusting the heater flap and in turn is letting cold air from the outside.

Does the switch feel loose or tight, notchy?

[sup]no, it feels fine. Ive been seeing alot of posts on vairious websites about a dodgy valve ......[/sup]

try the following
under the glove box you will see a small screw holding in a little black box like thing
remove the screw & puul the black box away & it will look dirty or sort of burnt or rusty.
that is the temp for the heater to work so it will most prob need replacing (thats where its located on the fiesta of same age and the ka is based on the fiesta)
[url="http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/271114620579?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla&crdt=0"]http://compare.ebay....type=pla&crdt=0[/url]

Its most likely your heater control valve is sticking. They are just under £40 from Fords. If you look at the back of the engine, there should be two pipes going into the middle of the bulkhead. These attach to the HCV. There are two other pipes connected to the other side of the HCV that go into your heater matrix. Should take about half an hour to change.

[quote name='delboy' timestamp='1355417593' post='220954']
try the following
under the glove box you will see a small screw holding in a little black box like thing
remove the screw & puul the black box away & it will look dirty or sort of burnt or rusty.
that is the temp for the heater to work so it will most prob need replacing (thats where its located on the fiesta of same age and the ka is based on the fiesta)
[url="http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/271114620579?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla&crdt=0"]http://compare.ebay....type=pla&crdt=0[/url]
[/quote]

ive had a look and this looks fine (like the pic on your link) im going to try and replace the heather valve and see if that works.

many thanks for your help

here is a guide for the heater control valve and how to replace it m8

[url="http://poshcoffeeco.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-replace-the-heater-control-valve#"]http://poshcoffeeco....-control-valve#[/url]

i would phone fords then buypartsby to get a price from them to give you a guide pricing
i should have said in my last post that the part under the glove box may look fine but it maystill be faulty but it does sound like the godgy valve
keep us posted m8

while most pl spent boxing day in the pub i spent it replaceing the heater valve and im pleased to announce that i now have a warm toastie car.
many thanks to those of you that took the time to reply to my post

glad it's all been sorted what did you pay for the part m8 so we have a guide for future reference.
i was not at pub either been decorating new floors paper tiles etc hope to have all done by monday

all in with postage i think it came to about £11

nice one m8 glad she if all sorted now.
you know the weathers gonna get warm now you have fixed it & you wont need it on lol

although i do have heat and it is coming through quicker than it was its not what you would call tropical in my car, would replaceing the heater matrix help? or have i fitted the heater valve wrong??

i would be tempted to take out the heater matrix & flush it out with a hose pipe to clear all the sludge build up as that
maybe the problem or your replacement part if a faulty one. you can replace the engine thermostat as it maybe sticking & not fully opening to allow
the proper amount of hot water flow. it's a cheap & easy part to replace.