Just a thought - you mentioned that the temp guage changed when you turned the heater off. If this happened immediately, I'd suspect something electrical, as it should take the thermostat a short while to open/close in relation to the water temp.
If there is a voltage regulator for your model, I'd change it - in case the electrical load of the heater is affecting the voltage in the dash.
In my experience (200tdi and 2.5NA), the air is warmed, but never hot - so it sounds like it's been working properly for a while after you cleared the airlock in the matrix.
 
Well, few days on and heating seems to work nicely after a few miles. Needle never lifts up to the middle, except for today when I was stuck in traffic for an hour. 15-20 minutes in, it did go up to half way and stay there for the rest of the journey with the heating on full whack!
 
There isn't one on a 300 AFAIK.

Earth points for you are main on rear of gearbox to chassis and g/b to batt (main),
one either to the chassis or G/B under drivers seatbox (rear loom)
one on the bulkhead under the bonnet to the right of the servo (dash etc).
 
Hi All,

I know this has been covered several times and I have indeed read most of the similar thread I can find, but they normally result in a similar answer of Thermostat. I've now tried 2 without much change.

Basically the 300tdi never seems to get warmed up properly and my heaters never get chance to chuck any warm air out which is a pain in this weather ... Would certainly be nice to have some warm air!

I go 26 miles to work and the temp gauge is only 4mm or so above the cold blob. So only just out of cold.

It gets to this point reasonably quickly, within say 3-4 miles, but then wont move from there. Every now and again it'll go up to the proper mid way point and normally in my excitement, I then turn the heaters on, hoping for some nice warm air, for it to then decide to drop right back down again.

Having been a bike only guy for the past 7 years I'm also a stipler for making sure an engine is warm, but I just cant get the Defender to warm up and it does worry me as I like to be sure it's getting warmed up.

I've changed the stat twice with no change. I re-built the head 3000 miles ago or so and it got a new water pump at that point to (cant remember, but it may of been a britpart), obviously fresh coolant.

Radiator is solid and was nicely flushed.

Pretty sure it's fully bled up etc ...

Just cant get it to get warm!

Also, I dont run a fan. Have an electric Mondeo fan on it which isn't wired up yet, so it's not a stuck viscous etc.

Any body have any suggestions???

Kind regards to all.

I have been going through the same thing in my 200 tdi. Buggered if I can sort it out. I have now covered the front of the rad with plastic hoping that might help. All its done is stop the gauge from going down again, still takes 20 KLM for the gauge to move. I have solved the problem by buying myself a new warm coat for the winter.
 

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