Bypassing the Heater Matrix

Got coolant leaking into your passenger footwell? Then it's quite likely you've got a leaking matrix.

You could spend a day (or pay for 4 hours) to get the whole matrix replaced, or you could simply bypass it from the engine bay.

Of course you won't have any heating in the cab anymore, but then, real men don't need heaters!

The job is actually pretty simple, you just need to be brave about pulling pipes and not worrying they will break

This was done on a 2004 (15) Model - not sure if the others are the same, but anyway, it might give you some idea

dave · 29-05-2014

real men do need to see though, no matrix can mean no demister, this should be looked at as a get you out of trouble fix, not a permant one.
It is a whole lot better than adding the pour in crap to try and plug a hole though

ben · 29-05-2014

Originally Posted by dave

real men do need to see though, no matrix can mean no demister, this should be looked at as a get you out of trouble fix, not a permant one.
It is a whole lot better than adding the pour in crap to try and plug a hole though

For £400 - I'd rather just open the window if it's steaming up

dave · 29-05-2014

shop around, you should find cheaper.

i had a mk3 cortina with no demister, it took all the fun out of driving.

ben · 29-05-2014

Originally Posted by dave

shop around, you should find cheaper.

i had a mk3 cortina with no demister, it took all the fun out of driving.

Oh the matrix is just £55 - it's the 4.5 hours labour at £75 an hour which makes it uneconomical!

T14086 · 30-05-2014

Too long a cold icy winter up here.....even with a heater it takes ages heating up a old diesel

dave · 30-05-2014

Originally Posted by ben

Oh the matrix is just £55 - it's the 4.5 hours labour at £75 an hour which makes it uneconomical!

that's a main dealer hourly rate though, should be able to find a 1 man struggling business to do it for half that, there is a dude in traders section that seemed very cheap.

this dude https://www.fiatforum.com/alfa-f-fia...mid-bucks.html if you can get there for not much fuel

ben · 09-06-2014

Ok, for reference - there is no drainage plug, you do need to remove the bottom hose to clear it out

oldfiatguy · 03-07-2014

Just fit a bottle of Forte cooling system conditioner / sealer,I have known this last for several years & if leak re appears fit another bottle. This stuff is amodern chemical sealer,it stays active for other leaks in the system & does not block water ways up internaly like some old makes used too. Its trade only so just find a garage that uses it & buy a bottle. Usually about £10.

kenuk1 · 30-11-2016

Real men may not need heaters but a real considerate man would roll his sleeves up and get stuck in and do the job for his passengers and safety.Ken

dave · 30-11-2016

Originally Posted by kenuk1

Real men may not need heaters but a real considerate man would roll his sleeves up and get stuck in and do the job for his passengers and safety.Ken

real considerate men concider the date and don't post on threads that have been dead for over 2 years, the van is long gone

varesecrazy · 01-12-2016

This was a last attempt to keep the forums old van going.
Tinworm finished the job.

kenuk1 · 01-12-2016

Ooops this is just an old considerate man not looking at the date of the thread when browsing the forum. Dementia on an adventure next I suppose.Ken

kenuk1 · 01-12-2016

+ I have just bought my first and maybe last camper this year and the first unexpected job was to replace the by passed heater. I was told that the van overheated so they also by passed the cooling fan switch to have control. When I put another heater in I put everything back as it should be. On running the engine the fan kicks in and out as it should at 90deg just need to test now in the spring next year.Ken

29-05-2014	#1
dave Get Your Own Title Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Essex/Suffolk border Posts: 82,268 Thanks: 1455 Trader Rating: 10	Re: Bypassing the Heater Matrix real men do need to see though, no matrix can mean no demister, this should be looked at as a get you out of trouble fix, not a permant one. It is a whole lot better than adding the pour in crap to try and plug a hole though __________________ www.organdonation.nhs.uk “What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.” Albert Einstein.
	Quote

29-05-2014	#2
ben The Boss Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Taipei Posts: 13,075 Thanks: 362 Blog Entries: 185 Trader Rating: 0	Re: Bypassing the Heater Matrix Originally Posted by dave real men do need to see though, no matrix can mean no demister, this should be looked at as a get you out of trouble fix, not a permant one. It is a whole lot better than adding the pour in crap to try and plug a hole though For £400 - I'd rather just open the window if it's steaming up __________________ my name is ben, i live in the east, i'm always working on the forum, i like pancakes. MAKE MITTENS FAMOUS - https://www.instagram.com/heymittens/
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29-05-2014	#3
dave Get Your Own Title Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Essex/Suffolk border Posts: 82,268 Thanks: 1455 Trader Rating: 10	Re: Bypassing the Heater Matrix shop around, you should find cheaper. i had a mk3 cortina with no demister, it took all the fun out of driving. __________________ www.organdonation.nhs.uk “What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.” Albert Einstein.
	Quote

29-05-2014	#4
ben The Boss Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Taipei Posts: 13,075 Thanks: 362 Blog Entries: 185 Trader Rating: 0	Re: Bypassing the Heater Matrix Originally Posted by dave shop around, you should find cheaper. i had a mk3 cortina with no demister, it took all the fun out of driving. Oh the matrix is just £55 - it's the 4.5 hours labour at £75 an hour which makes it uneconomical! varesecrazy liked this post __________________ my name is ben, i live in the east, i'm always working on the forum, i like pancakes. MAKE MITTENS FAMOUS - https://www.instagram.com/heymittens/
	Quote

30-05-2014	#5
T14086 Forum Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Preston Posts: 29,985 Thanks: 1060 Trader Rating: 0	Re: Bypassing the Heater Matrix Too long a cold icy winter up here.....even with a heater it takes ages heating up a old diesel __________________ *http://www.chryslerforum.co.uk//*
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09-06-2014	#7
ben The Boss Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Taipei Posts: 13,075 Thanks: 362 Blog Entries: 185 Trader Rating: 0	Re: Bypassing the Heater Matrix Ok, for reference - there is no drainage plug, you do need to remove the bottom hose to clear it out __________________ my name is ben, i live in the east, i'm always working on the forum, i like pancakes. MAKE MITTENS FAMOUS - https://www.instagram.com/heymittens/
	Quote

30-11-2016	#10
dave Get Your Own Title Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Essex/Suffolk border Posts: 82,268 Thanks: 1455 Trader Rating: 10	Re: Bypassing the Heater Matrix Originally Posted by kenuk1 Real men may not need heaters but a real considerate man would roll his sleeves up and get stuck in and do the job for his passengers and safety.Ken real considerate men concider the date and don't post on threads that have been dead for over 2 years, the van is long gone varesecrazy liked this post __________________ www.organdonation.nhs.uk “What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.” Albert Einstein. Last edited by dave; 30-11-2016 at 23:47.
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