Technical Can I fix heater matrix problems cheaply ?

[Mike St Helens]

Hi all... My first post on this forum... Please be kind to me.

I have a 98'S Punto. I had an issue a couple of weeks ago where the windows were constantly steamed up, the temp was through the roof.. and needless to say it worried me.

I called the AA out and the chap said it was the heater matrix and now not to drive it under any circumstances. I called many a garage and the quotes were in exess of £300 for a new heater matrix. Now through peeping on here, I put in some rad weld style of stuf.. now the windows dont staem, the heaters work but the temp does always seem a little high.. on the 3/4 mark if you know what I mean, and I have to put about a litre of water in each week.

Now, Have I fixed the problem, and It is always gonna be a 'hot' car, or do I need to do something else.. Im really worried about it.. I was hoping this car was gonna last ages, Ive had may fiats befpre you see and this punto.. apart from this issue.. is in really really good condition.

Please help ! :worship:

Thanks Mike

 

[dave]

welcome to here
we advise against rad weld type stuff now, because one of our members ended up with badly burn legs when heater matrix built up pressure and rad weld gave way
its a fairly easy job just time consuming as the whole dash has to come out, part is only £70
but there is a chance that the head gasket went when it over heated before

 

[Mike St Helens]

welcome to here
we advise against rad weld type stuff now, because one of our members ended up with badly burn legs when heater matrix built up pressure and rad weld gave way
its a fairly easy job just time consuming as the whole dash has to come out, part is only £70
but there is a chance that the head gasket went when it over heated before

Thanks for this... Hope the person who burned the legs was not too bad !!

Are you sure, from what Ive said, that it is the heater matrix. Ive looked all through the forums and there are loads of thinks like thermostat, water pump etc etc... all sorts of things ot could be... Th esteamy windows and stuff seems to have stopped now, It was very cold.,.. any window would steam and if there is no hot air, then thats why they may have stayed steamy ....

Not steamy for any other particular reason.. that I do know...

How do I know if the head gasket has gone... Im sorry I am truly a newbie to this ! (With a handy bro to do the work mind...)

 

[Mike St Helens]

Also.. For now is it safe to drive seeing as the temp is only between 1/2 and 3/4 ?

 

[dave]

the steaming up windows is a give away that its the matrix, personaly i wouldnt drive it, because if the headgasked hasnt already gone it may go,
that water must be going some where, and if your carpets are dry then chances are its going into a cylinder and out the exhaust

 

[sammiboo]

welcome to the forum

 

[Mike St Helens]

welcome to the forum

My .. Have we met before ?

 

[Mike St Helens]

the steaming up windows is a give away that its the matrix, personaly i wouldnt drive it, because if the headgasked hasnt already gone it may go,
that water must be going some where, and if your carpets are dry then chances are its going into a cylinder and out the exhaust

Just had my bro round. he is going to see what they have in the scrao yard tomorrow and is going to do it on sunday.... Oil change and the likes all on the cards.. I hope this works. I only need it to get me to work 2 days... Please....

 

[dave]

could be false economy, i got 1 from scrappy took ages to get it out, had it pressure tested and loads of holes appeared

 

[tendoshingan]

Having had the same problem I would say that it is more likely your heater matrix has gone. The rad weld may fix the problem for the time being (which it did for me) but it can cause greater problems, which it also did for me.

It is very important you check underneath the dashboard between the footwells as the ecu rests there and when the heater matrix goes it pours the wet stuff all over it.

To change the matrix first get a new one, these cost around £90. If you are doing it yourself you need to pencil in a good few hours (days in my case) and work methodically. You will have to dismantle the whole of the dashboard removing almost everything, the loom can be a problem just take your time.

The sight of your car minus the dashboard with all the loom everywhere is a daunting one to say the least. Refitting is the reverse of stripping.
I had one problem which had me stumped for about 3 hours. When disconnecting the steering column bracket I accidently put the wheel lock on so it would not go back into the position properly. Obviously didn't see this one straight away as the wheel itself was also off.

In all honesty if I were faced with the same problem now I would not bother fixing it. Just bypass the pipes connecting the matrix to the engine/rad and by an incar heater.

 

[Mike St Helens]

Thanks for this.. I appriciate your time.

I was kind of thinking of doing this. Wont it be really hard to get rid of though when I come to sell ? Also over the last couple of days.. there is an odd whistling sound thats appeared .. Doesnt sound like ifs from the heater matrix... any ideas ?

Thanks again...

 

[tendoshingan]

Hi
whistling sound is most probably escaping steam, think steam engine whistle.
Again considering your other problems probably the matrix. You can only tell if you take it completely apart and test it. Good luck in what you do

 

[Megan06]

hI I HAD THE SAME PROBS, I USED A STUFF CALLED BARRS LEAK. THERES TOO TYPE, LUQIUD, OR THE OTHERS LINK TABOCCO IN A TUBE. SEALED MINE, 2 YRS AGO NEVER A PROB SINCE ....