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Technical Dashboard removal - heater matrix

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Technical Dashboard removal - heater matrix

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mikey72

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Oct 7, 2007
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Anyone took the heater matrix out of their van? Mines pouring on the floor, radweld won't fix this one!
Any hints on what needs doing, which bits of the dash need to come out, and where the fixings for the dashboard are? I also have to see it to order a new one, as I have a choice of three for a 97 van, so not a quick job.
 
Mikey
Set aside a day and start early. I have done this three times and it still takes me about 4 hours to complete. Mine is a 51 plate 2.8D LWB.

Open glovebox and remove two screws just inside the lid facing down
Open bonnet and remove two hoses to the heater, and three 10mm nuts, this will allow a triangular plastic retaining plate (10" x 8") to be removed. Remove two screws holding hazard warning panel and lift panel on to dash.

Starting on the nearside, remove screws holding lower dash, four in total.
Go to drivers side and remove screw from lower dash three in total, remove the radio and ashtray, remove two small phillips screws and remove ashtray holder.
Go to the gear lever, prise the bottom of the gaitor away (it has a large square sprung retaining clip) then remove the screw immediately behind the gaitor, once this screw is removed the plastic gear lever suround can be lifted off.

On the floor under the gearlever is a kick panel in front of an ECU, remove 4 x torq screws holding kick panel, and three 10mm nuts holding ecu, move ecu to under the clutch pedal (do not unplug it), under the glovebox is a little flat electrical box, remove small bolt and clip out of the way.

Remove 4 x 10mm nuts and lower the gear lever to the floor (leave the cables attached). Unclip the wiring loom and all the connections under the glovebox, and tuck it out of the way, remove 10mm bolt on nearside wheelarch, 10mm bolt set back in the centre and 10 mm bolt under the gear lever position,

Remove the two scres holding the heater panel to the dash, pull the now loose heater box forward and manouver it left and remove the two top screws holding the heater control panel to the heater box (top r/h is hiden and awkward) then the bottom two, drop the heater panel forward and manouver out the heater box, refitting is a reversal.

Drop the heater box out, just took you 25 minuites and a real struggle, refitting is just as bad, take photos as you strip it and make notes, otherwise you will forget something and have to remove parts again.

GOOD LUCK:bang::bang::bang::):) YOU JUST SAVED BETWEEN £400 AND £600
MYTHING.

P.S. Where are you based?
 
:)
Thanks T140086

Yes it does work laying out all the parts, but I still managed to get the sequence wrong each time.

I also forgot to add, the reason I had to do this three times was that I bought my van with a new head fitted then found the heater bypassed, I changed the heater matrix and it leaked after about a week?
so I changed it again it was great for about two weeks but having gone up a large hill fully loaded I boiled the van and blew (it went off like a gun, scared me and two of my kids, threw out loads of steam, and because it looked like smoke I then had to explain to three fire crews what had happened, luckily no one hurt or scalded) the maytrix again.

I eventually found the main radiator had lost 50% of its fins and the other 50% were so corroded that no air was passing through :bang::bang:, 1 x new main radiator later it been fine ever since:):):D, Mikey should also check his main radiator although the heater matrix is a week point anyway.
Regards

MYTHING
 
G'day
Is this reply from MYTHING enough to go to "Guides" section. Very helpful but not for the uncommitted.:worship:

PeterM
 
Thanks for the answer. I'm in the Midlands.
A weekend of fun coming up.
You're spot on with the radiator as well, I plan to change that at the same time. (been going up hills with the fan manually switched on for the last few warm periods)
 
Last edited:
:DHi Mikey

If you had been anywhere near Swindon I may have come and helped (stuck my nose in) unfortunately all I can do is wish you well.

Is it possible you could compare my notes and update/revise them and also take some photo's then it could go in the guides section.

I am now of the opinion that the cooling system on the Ducato must be just right, any reduction in it's efficiency leeds to problems, hence the ammount of heater matrix's being changed.

I would try Ebay for a replacement, Fiat wanted over £100 but I have seen a company on Ebay based in the West Mids selling at £50.

P.S. I am originally from Brownhills (via Cheshire and now in Swindon) does the accent come through in my typing?:D

Regards

MYTHING
 
It's out, not the easiest of jobs.
I snapped off the cowling at the top, for the fresh air inlet, so a bit of repair needed. It caught on the thick wiring loom under the dash, and just went.
Matrix looked ok, but leaks like a sieve when I put water in it. At least I know which one I need now.
I'm doing the radiator as well, and my van has the small version, now obsolete, so I need to shoehorn the bigger one in.
Much obliged to MYTHING for the guide, I would have sworn there were still screws in somewhere, it was so tight, and I would have missed others I couldn't see, or took the entire dash out to find them.
I have took some photos, and I will take some putting it back, so I'll post back up. Fortunately I don't need it together urgently, I'm letting the skin on my knuckles grow back for now.
 
Hi Mikey72,
I have same problem as yours on my 98 Ducato m-home and would love to know if you have any advice. Any tips you have will be appreciated. My E-mail addy:-
[email protected]
Kind regards,
Bob
 
Exactly as MYTHING said.
Getting the old heater out was the hardest bit.
Some bits were a bit tight, I broke a few corners of plastic bits here and there.
I replaced both radiator and heater matrix, in the end Halfords got the right ones for me. I couldn't get the bigger one to fit.
It runs a lot cooler now.
 
Just wanted to say thanks to mything for his excellent and informative post. I completed the job over two days on and off and couldnt have managed without it. Have to say it is not one for the faint hearted! Unfortunately in my efforts to remove the heater box I managed to break a piece of the air inlet cowl on the top, but managed to fix it up ok.

Thanks again!

RD
 
(tentative) BUMP.

Excellent instructions, MYTHING! Thanks.

Checked for the guide that was suggested earlier in this thread, but couldn't find it. Were pictures taken of the removal / installation process? If so, could someone either send them to me, or post them on-line somewhere - perhaps here as a guide.
 
MYTHING said:
Mikey
Set aside a day and start early. I have done this three times and it still takes me about 4 hours to complete. Mine is a 51 plate 2.8D LWB.

Open glovebox and remove two screws just inside the lid facing down
Open bonnet and remove two hoses to the heater, and three 10mm nuts, this will allow a triangular plastic retaining plate (10" x 8") to be removed. Remove two screws holding hazard warning panel and lift panel on to dash.

Starting on the nearside, remove screws holding lower dash, four in total.
Go to drivers side and remove screw from lower dash three in total, remove the radio and ashtray, remove two small phillips screws and remove ashtray holder.
Go to the gear lever, prise the bottom of the gaitor away (it has a large square sprung retaining clip) then remove the screw immediately behind the gaitor, once this screw is removed the plastic gear lever suround can be lifted off.

On the floor under the gearlever is a kick panel in front of an ECU, remove 4 x torq screws holding kick panel, and three 10mm nuts holding ecu, move ecu to under the clutch pedal (do not unplug it), under the glovebox is a little flat electrical box, remove small bolt and clip out of the way.

Remove 4 x 10mm nuts and lower the gear lever to the floor (leave the cables attached). Unclip the wiring loom and all the connections under the glovebox, and tuck it out of the way, remove 10mm bolt on nearside wheelarch, 10mm bolt set back in the centre and 10 mm bolt under the gear lever position,

Remove the two scres holding the heater panel to the dash, pull the now loose heater box forward and manouver it left and remove the two top screws holding the heater control panel to the heater box (top r/h is hiden and awkward) then the bottom two, drop the heater panel forward and manouver out the heater box, refitting is a reversal.

Drop the heater box out, just took you 25 minuites and a real struggle, refitting is just as bad, take photos as you strip it and make notes, otherwise you will forget something and have to remove parts again.

GOOD LUCK:bang::bang::bang::):) YOU JUST SAVED BETWEEN £400 AND £600
MYTHING.

P.S. Where are you based?
Click to expand...
Hi All
Just noticed water mixed with antifreeze on the floor in my Ducato camper van so will need to have a look. Does any off you know if the aircon fluid needs to be drained before removing the heater?
 
I have been following mything instructions on removing the dashboard but I have gotten stuck mine is an 03 plate ducato can anyone please tell me if I have to remove the whole dashboard to re-place the heating matrix
 
hi mything I have been following your instructions to remove my dashboard so I can change my heating matrix but have come up against a bit of a brick wall can you please tell me if there is a difference between an 03 plate and your 51 plate as I'm not sure but it looks like I have to remove the whole dashboard any help would be greatly appreciated
 
vincent73 said:
I have been following mything instructions on removing the dashboard but I have gotten stuck mine is an 03 plate ducato can anyone please tell me if I have to remove the whole dashboard to re-place the heating matrix
Click to expand...
Hi, I have also got a leaking matrix on my 2004 Autotrail ducato 2.8 TD and would ask if you managed to complete your job and did the whole of the dashboard need to come out. Any info you could pass onto me would be greatly appreciated.
 
vincent73 said:
I have been following mything instructions on removing the dashboard but I have gotten stuck mine is an 03 plate ducato can anyone please tell me if I have to remove the whole dashboard to re-place the heating matrix
Click to expand...
I have a 2004 Ducato motorhome with a leaking heater matrix, seeing that you have worked on yours would you part with some information for me, I can be contacted on email peter_ [email protected] hope we can get into a conversation.
 
mikey72 said:
Anyone took the heater matrix out of their van? Mines pouring on the floor, radweld won't fix this one!
Any hints on what needs doing, which bits of the dash need to come out, and where the fixings for the dashboard are? I also have to see it to order a new one, as I have a choice of three for a 97 van, so not a quick job.
Click to expand...
My 2004 motorhome ducato 2.8TD has a leaking heater matrix, I’m looking for advice, can you help, my email address is [email protected] hope I hear from you.
 
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