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[Andiman]

Hi all,

Well, at long last, I fainally got the Omega on the road. That's the good news. The other good news is that the LPG works!

Bad news - there is a very bad smell of water/anti-freeze inside the cabbin and the windows steam up. The carpets are bone dry so can't really see the matrix being at fault. Not a major amount of pressure in the water system either. Car seems to run fine, but EML came on (after I had fixed the bloody thing) - confident a knock sensor fault - will be resetting system and then re-checking it shortly.

Please, if anyone can come up with an idea, I would be really grateful. Finally thought I had got a decent car - then this. BTW the temperature stays around 93 when driving through town, but fluctuates between 92 and 96 otherwise. Not tried motorway or traffic yet, so will keep an eye on it. Just about to go and fluch the system - that is going to be interesting on the side of a busy road!

Cheers for you help

Andi

[old cruiser]

I would double check that heater matrix could be just weeping so wouldn't necessarily show wet on carpets etc , have a feel inside the lower air ducts and see if there is any trace of coolant  in them and try and get a closer look at that matrix itself or at least have a good feel up around there (ooh err missus!!).
Cheers Pete

[TheBoy]

double check scuttle drain - stagnant water there can smell potent...

Are you losing coolant?

[Chopsdad]

Matrix could be leaking a fine mist from a tiny hole - that could account for the extra steam in the cabin.  Just a thought  

[Markjay]

HBV leaking, and the coolant entering the cabin through a perished grommet in the bulkhead?

Also, the carpets may be dry, but the coolant could go under the car’s bottom carpets – have you tried lifting it to expose the metal?

[B52]

id still suspect matrix or near it with the smell and circulating within the cabin

[Marks DTM Calib]

Well, my approach would be to sort the fault code and drive it a bit, monitor the coolant level for loss.

If it was the heater matrix then you would get a fine greasy film on the screen which would smear when wiped.

Note: Matrix failure is VERY unusual.

[Andiman]

Hi all,

many thanks for all the tips and ideas - yesterday I backwashed the system with a hosepipe, but didn't get a chance to test it, so will be going to Nottingham shortly. Will try it then. Will let you know how I get on. Just a quicky, what is a HBV? and where is it?

will keep everyone posted.

Cheers

Andi

[TheBoy]

Hi all,

many thanks for all the tips and ideas - yesterday I backwashed the system with a hosepipe, but didn't get a chance to test it, so will be going to Nottingham shortly. Will try it then. Will let you know how I get on. Just a quicky, what is a HBV? and where is it?

will keep everyone posted.

Cheers

Andi

HBV = Heater Bypass Valve, and sits behind drivers side bank of cylinders....

[Andiman]

Guys,

am I right in saying that if my moter is not one of those lucky enough to have aircon then I won't be able to find the HBV? Just a thought as have spent ages pouring over the bonnet trying to locate said device....

[Markjay]

Guys,

am I right in saying that if my moter is not one of those lucky enough to have aircon then I won't be able to find the HBV? Just a thought as have spent ages pouring over the bonnet trying to locate said device....

Yep, no aircon = no HBV, but there are plemty other coolant hoses at the back of the engine that could leak....

[Markjay]

As said above, most important question is: are you actually loosing coolant?

[Andiman]

Ok, have checked but can't tell if I am loosing coolant - if I am then it is not vanishing quickly.
The front windscreen keeps misting up and so does the rear windscreen - there is also very little pressure in the expansion tank. I am thinking a slight leak in the heater matrix - think I might try some bars-leaks to see if it solves it. If I put the heater on and point it to the windscreen, there definately seems to be water on the screen - steam? The smell is really bad - just like when the water leaks if you split a pipe or the rad.

Does anyone know if bars-leaks will solve matrix problems? There is NO leakage in the footwells.

Now here is another question - the car seems to skip across the road on the front and possible the back too. I went to kwik-fit to get the wheels balanced, but they said it was main dealer only as they had to fit 140KG weights in the two footwells to balance them - is this right? A new one on me....

Think the gas leaks and it can take up to 20 miles before I can put the gas on - maybe incorrect heating setting on the gas and also gas filter failure.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Bernard]

Not advisable to use Bars Leak or anything else like Radweld in a modern Engine!
Engines like ours have got dirt traps or filters fitted and the above will start Blockages and lead to Cooling problems!

[B52]

id also be inclined to trace a leak if there is one before using sealants or anything

and i dont get that one about the wheel balancing - last time I had mine done, the wheels were off the car. i dont get that stuff about 'putting weights in the footwells' what wheels/tyres have u got on this car?