My 63 continental has had this problem since the day i bought it. No matter what setting its at the heater will not turn off. The only time it doesnt work is when i first start the car and it hasnt warmed up yet(obviously). We were jacking around and we turned some lever in the engine bay that looked like it was the control to the shutters to the airvents but it didnt do anything. Anyone have any idea what it could be and for the time being how to turn it off by disconnecting something. I dont really need the heater at the moment considering i live in Houston. Thanks in advance.

..turned some lever in the engine bay that looked like it was the control to the shutters to the airvents...

...any idea what it could be...


I believe in the 60's Ford and just about everyone else, used levers, cables and valves to control cabin temperature.

Look for two heater hoses coming from the engine through the firewall. One of those two hoses has a metalic Valve spliced inline of the heater hose, closer to the firewall. This Valve is operated by a cable that connects to the 'hot/cold" lever in the car. The valve may be stuck or broken.

Have someone move the lever while you watch the valve. Its a gate valve so even if it looks like it's operating from the outside, the "gate" may be wasted inside the valve.

Check here (http://www24.brinkster.com/sdhartney/linc/1996TownCarHeaterCore.htm) for the section called "Heater hoses, bypass suggestion" for a sample of how to temporarily bypass the heater.

Good Luck.