Had an accident at the beginning of october, smashed the front of my 55s up pretty bad. Had it all rebuilt (£800!), everything was cosmetic (bumper, bonnet etc) except for a new radiatior (which wasnt actually new it was from a scrappys)

Since then I have been experiencing really bad steaming up of the windows, and ice forming on the inside on really cold mornings.

Having read through some posts I am thinking maybe the heater matrix is damaged/leaking, could this be the case? Is there an easy way to check this?

I couldnt find any damp patches inside the car, although there is an odd smell inside the car (not so much fishy, does smell sorta damp but like I said cant find any dampness) Where should I be looking for dampness if it is a leaking heater matrix?

Ive never witnessed smoke/steam coming from the vents, I bought some stuff you put on the inside of the windows to stop the steaming up, it works (ie it stops it misting up) but now instead I just get water on the windows streaming down!

Also notice with oncoming traffic when the light comes through the windscreen it looks blurry/greasy? Tried cleaning inside and out and it doesnt improve

Can anyone help me out? Its a P-Reg 1997 1.1 55s

Thanks in advance

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try some rad weld or bars leak (sp) fitting new matrix is a bugger of a job

Where would I get that from m8? Ive just rememberd there was a damp batch on the boot carpet, I figured it was from the rear window washer as the hose became disconnected in the crash and it was spraying water inside the bonnet before I reconnected it, although thats like 2 months ago and its still damp now (as far as I know)

Is it likely to be the heater matrix thats gone in the accident? How close is it to the engine and would I be able to do any visual checks by looking under the bonnet?

Thanks

proubaly didnt go in accident, but when new rad was fitted new coolent would have been added, new coolent has a habbit of unbunging things and then leeks start.

ok m8 whats the stuff called to attempt to reseal it and where can I get it from? I'll try and get some this weekend

cheers

Heres a pic of it after the smash btw

you say you have water in the boot... have you checked the seals around the boot, lights etc... if the seal around the boot is cracked/split or ripped it could let water in. could be the washer jet on the back letting water in too.

rad weld or bars leak from any car accesory shop even some petrol stations

saw both for sale in halfords last nite... 3.50 for whatever poison you choose

I have a tipo that was misting up the windows badly it turned out that the bonded screen was leaking I only found this out thanks to a seized gearbox which had the car parked up for a week in the rain leaving me with a "foot spa" in the drivers footwell. The footwell had not shown signs of dampness before that. I can only assume the heat in the car was drying the matt. After your little tap the screen might have moved! Any water geting into the car anywhere (even the boot) can cause the windows to mist up.

Hi,
Had the same problem with my Winscreen not demisting. Basically it's your Matrix haveng a leak and blowing steam. I took Dave's advice and used Barrs Leak. Got it from a Motor Factors, about three quid. You can get it in powder form or liquid,(make sure you shake the bottle well) and put it in the expansion tank or better still, undo one of the Raditor hoses, place it in that, and re fit. So far, touch wood, it has worked.
Incidentally, your rear Windscreen washer hose has probably just become undone and is leaking from behind the rear hatch door plastic inside panel onto the boot's carpet. i'ts a bit fiddly, use a long nose pliers.