Technical heater matrix leaking

[teulk]

how difficult is it to remove the dashboard ? i have a 1.1 55sx 1995 M reg. From what ive heard once the dash is removed then the rest is easy so to speak. Any tips on how to do the joB ?

 

[dave]

its an all day job, dawns husband lowers the steering colum as well to make it easier, once you have undone the dash you will need to cut all the cable ties holding in the loom so make sure you got new ones, once dash is out you need to remove the big black heater box by undoing bolts unber the bonnet, you will also need two new clips for the matrix pipes, if you have not got time to do job yet you can by passs the matrix un till winter
btw fill the coolent back properly it takes ages keep filling it squeezing the rad hoses loads untill the coolent dont go down no more, then do up the bleed valves run engine untill fan comes on, let engine cool completly ideal over night then top up collent to max,

 

[teulk]

Thanx, i had a trial run at removing the dash, got it off as far as cutting the cable ties. Ive just bypassed the heater and it running ok........my mechanics skills have never been put to so much use as they have these past two weeks, i mean a cmplete exhaust fitted, new cambelt tensioner and belt fitted and now the bloody heater matrix soon to be done. What else can go wrong.........no dont even go there.

 

[dave]

if you have bypassed the matrix did you completly drain the cooling system, then refill as explained above? if not you may get airlock that will blow headgasket.

 

[teulk]

yeah i drained it and refilled it, sure enough tho i did have an airlock but i cleared it. Jus need to get it sorted now before winter comes.

 

[gezzauk]

i had the same problem the matrix was leaking everywhere, was told about some stuff and it seeled the matrix , which was 2 years ago and never had a problem since. The stuff is called BARRS LEAK its in a tube its like tabboco,
connect the heater back up Crumble the barrs leak in to the water and leave the car running for a bout 30 min and should seel the matrix.

 

[teulk]

i know about barrs leak and rad weld although im gonna replace the matrix anyway, my girlfriend drives the car more than me and everything seems to go wrong when she's in it. Guess who was driving when the exhaust fell off and again when the cambelt came off and like wise when the matrix went. Believe me if i put that in the rad. and i told her it was fixed and it leaked again, well............... She has to go through the Tyne Tunnel at peak times and it always breaks down there for some reason if it broke down again there after id said it was fixed id be dead when she finally got home ! Anyway its worth seeing here freeze for a few weeks lol