and were off again, damn you heater matrix!!!

[blueninja66]

Spotted dirty water in the passenger footwell recently, thought some dirty chav had launced coffee through the roof. Its dripping on the passenger side only which isn't such a problem as I'm always the driver but, how difficult of a job is it? Are they repairable or should I be finding a replacement?

[MartG]

Are you sure it's coolant coming out of the matrix - though given the lack of rain recently I doubt that it will be anything else. If you need a spare I've got the complete heater unit I took out of my scrap SC

[blueninja66]

Afternoon mart, well I'm home now and I've removed bits of the dash and the glovebox to find the white plastic thing behind. Its mostly clean apart from where the hot and cold lever attaches to it. The lever has rusty water on it and so does the spring thing. I can't see anything else though.

[blueninja66]

right ive taken more bits off, ive neer seen a heater matrix before but im sure its what im looking at and im positive its shafted.
how difficult is this gonna be?
how much for your spare mart? pwetty pwease.

[MartG]

Here's a pic of the one I have - the heater matrix itelf is the brass coloured bit, and is held in the housing by a couple of brackets screwed to the housing.



Easy bit - to remove the matrix all you have to do is undo the brackets and take the rubber hoses off.

Hard bit No.1 - the rubber hoses are VERY difficult to get off without cutting them or damaging the pipes into the matrix.

Hard bit No.2 - that side of the housing faces the bulkhead, so once you've persuaded the hoses to come off you then need to remove the entire housing from the car to get at the matrix - this involves dismantling most of the dash and undoing various electrical plugs etc. from the housing.

However there is an alternative, which involves angle grinding an access hatch in the bulkhead to allow the matrix to be removed from the front boot side. Obviously you'll need to make a cover plate to put on once you've swapped the matrix.

[blueninja66]

Soddin ell, and there's me thinking its an hours worth of graft.
When can I come get this pain in the ass part then mart?

[MartG]

I'm in all evening

I suspect the housing on mine may be slightly different as the car had climate control, so I'll take the matrix out ready for you to collect

[blueninja66]

dude your a star! if i can remember where you live again, im on my way!

[MartG]

You have PM

[blueninja66]

I did the bypass thing tonight mart, tricky getting those pipes off though.
Thanks again for your generosity, your an absolute gent.

[MartG]

You're welcome

[Lauren]

Soddin ell, and there's me thinking its an hours worth of graft.
When can I come get this pain in the ass part then mart?

It is about an hours worth of work if you cut the bulkhead and do it that way. Surprisingly easy really.

[oukie]

Can I just say something

Cutting holes in bulkheads

To remove the hoses from the matrix undo them in the frunk thus not ruining the matrix pipes,also very easy tto get to and quick to remove then as your in the dash remove old unit by sliding it out toward rear of car (assuming you have dash out)
Threading the matix rubber pipework through a gromet in the bulkhead

Quick and easy job to remove but you will spend more time removeing the dash and putting it back in

I have done several now all within 3 hours start to finish (not inc coolant flush)

[blueninja66]

im with you oukie, im not a fan of cutting holes in my car, spent enough time and money getting rid of them!
ive bypassed the heater matrix until it goes to bed again in the autumn.
if i can be ar$ed to do it before then i will be doing it properly, as mart gave me all the bits i need!