Heater matrix replacement

[Chunk]

I'm going to guess this is a pig of a job.

Is the dash a pain to remove on these? The heaters are warm but I'd like them to be hot, especially during the winter months!

 

[Stainless]

Have you tried backflushing first?

 

[Neal R19]

It's tricky, but not that hard, you can release the dashboard from the bulkhead and pull it away enough to manoeuvre the heater box out through the passenger footwell.

 

[Chunk]

I haven't tried flushing it, no, but thought it would probably benefit from a new one to get the best from the heater during the winter months.

I'll give the system a good flush and see if it improves

 

[backflipper]

Off the subject, ur in mountsorre? Im across th a6 in sileby! Are u on the road?

 

[Chunk]

Yeah I'm in Mountsorrel.

Cabby will be on the road tomorrow once i've got tax!

What do you drive?

 

[Chris H]

have you tried actually bleeding it properly?

 

[Chunk]

Yeah the system has been bled

 

[Chris H]

I never asked if it had been bled I asked if it has been done properly.

I have solved hundreds, yes hundreds of cold heaters by bleeding them properly.

Only ones that don't get heat are totally blocked ones, what does the cooling system look like?

 

[Chunk]

Yes, the system has been bled, as I said.

I never said the heaters were cold, far from it. They're nice and warm, but not HOT. By hot I mean, so hot you can't hold your hand over the vents, thats how they should be on full whack.

The matrix is probably as old as the car so more than likely gunked up inside, which is why I wanted to change it to improve flow.

 

[Chris H]

is the stat the right one? most have the 82 degree one which means they never heat up unless sitting in traffic in the summer.

 

[Chunk]

Temp sits just above the first quarter on motorway driving, so probably a low temp stat. However when sat still, the temp reaches the 3rd quarter and radiator fan kicks in just above that as it should.

Thats when the heaters should be burning hot, but they're not quite there. New matrix would 100% get them toasty again.

 

[Larry]

both my clio and 19 seem to be hovering just below the third quarter even in open driving after about 15 minutes of it but my first two 1.4 19s and the 16v cabby hung out as chunk said a little below first quarter

 

[Chunk]

If they're hanging around the first quarter then your thermostat is either:

- Not sealed correctly
- Stuck open
- Or a low temp stat

Best thing to do is get a standard stat, fit it and seal it properly, then the temperature should always float around the 3/4 mark.

 

[Larry]

yeah both the current cars are living in the 3/4 area, which shocked me at first cos the cabby and first 2 r19s were all living in the 1/4 area but still provided correct heat through the blowers

 

[Chunk]

How is the heater box removed? Is it secured under the scuttle panel like the clios?

I'm in the middle of changing it now!

 

[Chris H]

remove heater fan (2 10mm bolts) then there is another 10mm bolt under there.

of course assuming you have unscrewed it from the dash itself

 

[Chunk]

Thanks Chris,

Managed to figure it out by reading the guide to change one on a Clio.

All you have to do is pull the dash forwards and remove the two 10mm bolts securing the fan in the scuttle. These 10mm bolts are what also holds the heater box in place.

Once they were removed the I was able to pull the box back and.. eventually.. after a lot of swearing, got the old matrix out.

Was the original Valeo unit in there which had evidence of leakages, so was glad to be replacing it.

New unit was fitted and put everything back together again (what a nightmare..)

I have a problem now though. Since i've re-fitted the dash none of the cable operated controls are working, ie, heater temperature and fan position thing. If I turn the knobs you can feel them get tight and it doesn't seem to be moving the flaps on the heater box.

Any ideas on that? I wonder if the cables are just trapped in an awkward position. I guess i'll have to remove the heater controls and have a look behind.

 

[backflipper]

yeh i had the same problem with my fan position control when i removed my heater panel, i had jus clipped the cable outer a little differently from how it was originally, removed panel and put clip back where it was originally,simple fix, you can see the marks on the outer where it should be clipped.

 

[Chunk]

I'll have a look when i get a minute then

thanks