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[terry paget]

2008 Vectra petrol manual 1.8 saloon

Changing the heater matrix on above car, Haynes says 'remove the footwell  trim panel on the driver's side, as described in Chapter 11.
I think Haynes then describes how to do this on the passenger side. Above pic shows the driver's side. There is a footrest in the way, and a clutch pedal.  How do I remove the footrest? Any more tips?

[Doctor Gollum]

In your pic, there's a silver looking pin. Pull that out with pliers.
Push the footrest forwards and down away from the centre console.
Slide towards the brake pedal and it should fall off.

It's held by the pin and located by a tab under the side panel.

[terry paget]

Thanks Doc. I could not have done it without your help.

[terry paget]

Heater matrix pipes to matrix clamps are removed, but pipes are firmly attached, and it will take more force to separate them than I can apply by hand. How do I separate them?

[Doctor Gollum]

Unclamp/disconnect the pipes from the engine side of the bulkhead. That should the allow them to move out of the way.

DO NOT force them as they are. Otherwise you will be pulling the dash to replace the pipes

[terry paget]

Unclamp/disconnect the pipes from the engine side of the bulkhead. That should the allow them to move out of the way.

DO NOT force them as they are. Otherwise you will be pulling the dash to replace the pipes

Already done, Haynes. The joint between pipes is still tight. Should I pull pipe while tapping the joint with a nylon hammer?

[terry paget]

That didn't work either. It appears to be a metal to metal compression joint which does not release when unclamped. Maybe I should lift the bonnet ends of the pipes, that would give a twisting force that might release the joints. Please advise.

[terry paget]

I suspect a tongue at the end of the pipe goes inside the matrix pipe. Maybe a hot air blower on the matrix pipe might release it. I don't think a flame would be a good idea.

[Doctor Gollum]

Judicious use of a butter knife worked around the joint to carefully pry the pipes apart.

Using any force will result in replacing the pipes.

[Marks DTM Calib]

You need to get something im the gap like a butter knife as suggested.

Also see if you can get any rotation  on the joint, even a small amount should help to break the stiction of the rubbers

[terry paget]

Thanks for advice. This morning I heated the matrix-pipe joint with a hot air gun, sprayed it with WD40, heaved the pipes about, then inserted a small screwdriver into the pipes join and twisted it, and a little coolant trickled out. Joy. Bigger screwdriver got both pipes off.

I pulled the matrix out some way, then it fouled on the trim panel beneath the clutch pedal. Bother.
Do I saw off that bit of panel, or remove the whole panel? Or should the matrix come out with the panel in place?

Grandson (5)  went back to school today, called in on the way, in his uniform and with bags of books, PE kit and welly boots.

[terry paget]

I realised I had removed that panel before, to change the clutch switch.
I did wonder how the clip and rubbber ring fitted to seal the pipes to the matrix, but looking at the old pipes I understand. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Getting there

[terry paget]

Having inserted the new matrix in its slot, and put the new washers on the pipes, I am struggling to get the clips over the connection. Obviously the clips and washers were designed to be easily assembled, but there must be a technique, which is so obvious that Haynes does not mention it.

I feel I should pull the joint together, then pull the clip together aound the flanges, then insert the screw and tighten it. It's not so easy! Any tipe will be appreciated.

[terry paget]

Have spent the day failing to attach the pipes to the new matrix. Any tipes very welcome.