heater matrix leaking?

maxgreenwood · Post by **maxgreenwood** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:42 pm

i'm getting a small amount of coolant dribbling out the bottom air flow duct into the passanger footwell overnight after having run the car. Needing to top up the coolant every so often. My immediate thought is the heater matrix. Has anyone else had this?
I'm concerned it may have been overheating and possibly cracked as my fan blower doesnot work (another job to get round to, among many) , but i've been using it relying on the fair amount of airflowthro (esp with a back window open) in the car while moving.

toddao · Post by **toddao** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:29 am

It does sound like the heater matrix. I had similar issues this time last year. I bought a new unit for €45 and it was straighforward to fit - but my car is left hand drive so maybe that's different.
Another thing to watch is that the coolant that has been dripping will have accumulated in the insulation under the front carpets and this stuff never seems to dry out - especially with whatever crap is in coolant. I hung the stuff in the sun for days and I could never get it dry and this is not good for the floorpan as I've found out. Has to be replaced really if it's absorbed too much coolant to prevent rust issues down the line unless by then you've 'made it' Max and you're 'rollin in a 500 Benz Sedan with the system peaked out rockin pusherman'

maxgreenwood · Post by **maxgreenwood** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:44 am

it would have to be a C6 if i'm going modern, otherwise a really nice CX would be the dream.

As for making it

All young aspiring musicians look to the apparent glamour of the industry and it looks so easy, the way it is presented to us. True, with luck and a good manager and with some money behind you can go far, but only if the material is good and has an edge in the 1st place. But theres alot of groundwork and persistence needed in the lead up. Finding a good manager is tough. Step by step.

Right thats my pep talk to self over and done with for the day.

Yeah the carpet got wet down there before and took an age to dry out.

From what i've heard the matrix is not an easy job on a RHD. I could do with a bit of advice to save me time hopefully from a RHDer as to what dash bits to take out.

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:04 pm

I believe it's not that bad if you take the steering coupling out, you then operate from within the driverside footwell.

Easy, I should imagine in comparison to some others, for eg. 306 *shudders*...

BX Bandit · Post by **BX Bandit** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:31 pm

You need to be good at swearing Max so practice until you think you're ready and then practice a bit more!

If the coolant needs replacing, then drain the whole lot (put heater tap on hot to help drain the matrix) else, put it on cold and be prepared for drips and spillage when you split the joint.

Remove the steering column shrouding, remove the upper union joint bolt (remove the whole bolt otherwise it wont split).

Undo the four nuts holding the steering column and split the u/j.

There are four bolts that join the heater matrix to the the tap. Undo those and pray they're not rusty. There is also a screw securing the matrix into the heater box - so undo that.

There is also an earth block which I find gets in the way so I unbolt that too.

Now, 'simply' slide the matrix from the heater box! In the event the matrix does not slide out simply, follow these steps:

-Begin contortionist training which should be practised with the swearing training previously undertaken..
-Once contorted, dislocate your back, arms and knuckles! The heater tap and matrix faces are angled so that removing them gets more difficult the more you try and remove it - this is where the swearing comes in!

You may find things easier by:
There are two nuts in the scuttle either side the windscreen wiper motor. Undo them to let the heater box lower in the car.

I'll bet my whole house you can't get the new one in without bending a single fin!

maxgreenwood · Post by **maxgreenwood** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:42 pm

F|**k it . C**t. Boll**ks. C***************nt.

That was just lifting the carpets today so they could get some air to dry them out - but i was trying to watch after our 3 year old at the same time - doesn't really mix. Trying to explain to him not to remove paint from the door with whatever he's found to hand. The carpets were pretty wet - compounded by the fact the recent ice has pulverised the permanent seal someone got put round the aftermarket sunroof before i got the car so thats been leaking down there too.

So limbering up for fULL bLOWN tUR**************ETTS

Thanks for these invaluable instructions, just the ticket. And now i know what i'm letting myself in for. Haynes gives no such anger management precautions.

maxgreenwood · Post by **maxgreenwood** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:54 pm

I'll bet my whole house you can't get the new one in without bending a single fin!

mmm in this instance it might actually be worth taking the whole car around the matrix apart first.

i see your whole house and raise it our combined car collections. We just have mine and my partner's Golf mk4 so i'll throw in our neighbours' saab too.

Can i do the rubber steering coupling while i'm down there or is that from underneath?

BX Bandit · Post by **BX Bandit** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:27 pm

Er.....both! From underneath and 'down there'! If you get one from GSF for example, they have nyloc nuts and an M8 cap head bolt (=6mm allen key) so you need to be Mr Tickle from the Mr Men to hold the allen key and turn the spanner/socket! Either use an assistant/pair of molegrips or better still try and buy one with the captive studs. Besides, the GSF one I got is utterly fubar in about 5 yrs (even with the heat shield). It may be one of things worth paying the extra for via original stealer.

Forgot to mention, when you tighten the bolts up between the matrix and the tap, if you get them too tight the heater valve gets too stiff to operate - but you obviously need them tight enough to prevent leakage. on that note, inspect the seals between the tap and matrix!

maxgreenwood · Post by **maxgreenwood** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:36 pm

the one i got from GSF is just a rubber disc, no bolts..

N43070 STEERING COUPLING DISC BX UNIVERSAL STEERING COUPLING (+/- PAS)

i heard its best to have the whole thing. excuse my ignorance, i'm only 1.5 yrs deep into BX land or cars for that matter but its been a nice learning curve thanks to the forum.

thanks for all the matrix advice.

i'll get the part number from citroen and follow your advice.

maxgreenwood · Post by **maxgreenwood** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:31 am

er.. sorry wrong there, i have 4 nuts and bolts included with the GSF spare.