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[simeywimey]

Hi,

First off, this is a great forum. I never thought so many people would be into the Omega!

I've found some posts about water in the cabin where the culprit is most likely the heater matrix or connecting pipes. People have said that replacing the heater matrix is a "massive" or "very big" job, but does anyone know what is involved and how long it's likely to take?

Also can anyone suggest how to clean antifreeze out of the carpets and sound insulation without taking them out?

Here's the back story. I went to fill up this evening at the local Sainsbury's and there was a bit of a queue. Just as I pull up to the pump I hear a soft pop followed by a hissing sound. The next thing I know there's steam coming out of the vents and from under the dash, and the driver's footwell is filling with water. I retire to the car park and switch her off, which is not as easy as it sounds because by now the windscreen is well and truly misted up.

I pop the bonnet but it's dry as a bone in there, even round the pipes that go through the bulkhead. Meanwhile the steam is playing havoc with the electronics and the air con controls are lighting up like a Christmas tree (with the ignition off!). Then the air con fan starts up and runs off and on for about fifteen minutes, blowing more steam out of the vents. The plastic window over the speedo / tacho is misted up on the inside too.

Fortunately I'm only a few miles from home so I call my better half to come and pick me up. I left it a few hours to cool down then went back, filled up the header tank, and managed to get her home before the engine warmed up.

The motor itself is a pre-facelift (1999 model) 2.5 V6 CDX auto estate (cloth trim) registered in Jan 2000 with 150k on the clock. Parkers puts the value at around £1500, maybe less because of some surface rust around the seams on most doors. It's not my main motor but it's a handy workhorse. To complicate matters, the tax is due at the end of the month (£185) and I'm wondering if it's worth the effort to repair.

Over the years I've had some expensive bills (oil leaks, perforated oil cooler, perished plug leads, poisoned cat, 2 cooling hose failures, split radiator, cam belt changes at 40k intervals), and I'm wondering what will break next.

I had a heater matrix fail on a Sierra and that was bad enough to fix. If the Omega is going to be much worse then I think I'll drive it to the local breakers yard.

Cheers,
SW

[MutantCav]

Very...12 hours or so, whole dashboard off...where do you live??

[markey mark]

proper nitemate mate as chris says dash off which is a challenge in it self !!!! but dont scrap it fella send me a pm about it cheers mark

[Olympia5776]

I remember reading a post where it was said that by removing (as in breaking) a section of the dash moulding it became a significantly easier job.
Maybe someone can elaborate on this.......

Don

[markey mark]

I remember reading a post where it was said that by removing (as in breaking) a section of the dash moulding it became a significantly easier job.
Maybe someone can elaborate on this.......

Don

yes don you are correct you have to cut a section in drivers side to give access and the glue it back on !!

[humbucker]

mine was a 13 / 14 hour job in total, dash off and everything that entails. and that 13 / 14 hours was at a dealer too (thankfully they only charged me half what they should have).

you can hack part of the interior off down by the drivers footwell but it depends on whether you mind having a hole in the side or not. that can cut a few hours off (apparently)  

[JonArgraig]

Did mine in 20 mins...


I did the cutting trick, ok, with your head in the foot well you can see what has been done, but from been sat in the car you can't.

When I get the car back this week (Tomorrow ?) I'll take some pics so you can see where to cut

[Dazzler]

Did mine in 20 mins...


I did the cutting trick, ok, with your head in the foot well you can see what has been done, but from been sat in the car you can't.

When I get the car back this week (Tomorrow ?) I'll take some pics so you can see where to cut

Sounds like a good plan. Then put in the Maintenance Guides to help others in the future

[Big_Roger]

Hi,
I bought my Omega knowing the heater matrix was leaking, and expecting it to be a big job to fix, much like the Senator. (before I knew about OOF)

When I went to Vx to get the matrix, parts man told me about cutting away part under dash to do the job.
Not the easiest of things to get at, but it still only took about an hour.

I made some plates out of old video cassette to put behind what I cut out and fixed it back with small c/s self tapping screws.

If I had to do it again, I would probably take out the drivers seat so enable to get head and shoulders in bit easier.

Roger

[Dazzler]

Hi,
I bought my Omega knowing the heater matrix was leaking, and expecting it to be a big job to fix, much like the Senator. (before I knew about OOF)

When I went to Vx to get the matrix, parts man told me about cutting away part under dash to do the job.
Not the easiest of things to get at, but it still only took about an hour.

I made some plates out of old video cassette to put behind what I cut out and fixed it back with small c/s self tapping screws.

If I had to do it again, I would probably take out the drivers seat so enable to get head and shoulders in bit easier.

Roger

Any pics, or can you do a How To???

[cem_devecioglu]

Cutting is really a good idea as its place is not in a visible area..

I did this in service ..One plastic pipe behind the steering wheel hide a screw and related plastic part was broken..So did a second job for the noise..

Really the design for replacement of heater matrix sucks..

[simeywimey]

Thanks for all the feedback. Sorry it's taken a couple of days to get back on here - such are the joys of working in the IT industry.

I'll take a look at cutting away the dash to make the job easier. I'm thinking that doing the job properly would take more time than I can spare just now.

I had one other thought. The heater matrix isn't fundamental to the cooling system so why not disconnect the feed and return pipe in the engine bay and then connect them together with a suitable U tube. Obviously I'd have no heater, but I could live with that in a car that's only used to shift big stuff. Does this sound reasonable or a recipie for disaster?

Cheers,
SW

[Big_Roger]

Hi,
Yes, you could do as you say, cut and connect together.

If you do, I suggest you cut the tubes in a place so that you could reconnect them with joining piece, so if you do ever change your mind it won't cost a fortune for replacement tubes, as no doubt the tubes integral with the heater connections would be quite expensive.

Roger

[Derek_in_Penzance]

To dry out carpets and soundproofing, scatter oil absorbent granules under carpet/insulation. Leave for a day. Then hoover out. May need several applications and it won't get it bone dry, but short of taking out the carpets etc, it's the only way. Antifreeze doesn't take easily to drying either, but the granules will soak up 90% of the dampness.

Oil absorbent granules can be bought from motor factors in large 20 litre sacks, and elsewhere too I expect, maybe in smaller quanities.

Don't use cat litter or anything similar, it goes too soggy and/or clumpy. The stuff we use leaves a bit of dust but it soaks up oil and water like magic, and is easily hoovered up.

[FRE07962128]

Hi,

First off, this is a great forum. I never thought so many people would be into the Omega!

I've found some posts about water in the cabin where the culprit is most likely the heater matrix or connecting pipes. People have said that replacing the heater matrix is a "massive" or "very big" job, but does anyone know what is involved and how long it's likely to take?

Also can anyone suggest how to clean antifreeze out of the carpets and sound insulation without taking them out?

Here's the back story. I went to fill up this evening at the local Sainsbury's and there was a bit of a queue. Just as I pull up to the pump I hear a soft pop followed by a hissing sound. The next thing I know there's steam coming out of the vents and from under the dash, and the driver's footwell is filling with water. I retire to the car park and switch her off, which is not as easy as it sounds because by now the windscreen is well and truly misted up.

I pop the bonnet but it's dry as a bone in there, even round the pipes that go through the bulkhead. Meanwhile the steam is playing havoc with the electronics and the air con controls are lighting up like a Christmas tree (with the ignition off!). Then the air con fan starts up and runs off and on for about fifteen minutes, blowing more steam out of the vents. The plastic window over the speedo / tacho is misted up on the inside too.

Fortunately I'm only a few miles from home so I call my better half to come and pick me up. I left it a few hours to cool down then went back, filled up the header tank, and managed to get her home before the engine warmed up.

The motor itself is a pre-facelift (1999 model) 2.5 V6 CDX auto estate (cloth trim) registered in Jan 2000 with 150k on the clock. Parkers puts the value at around £1500, maybe less because of some surface rust around the seams on most doors. It's not my main motor but it's a handy workhorse. To complicate matters, the tax is due at the end of the month (£185) and I'm wondering if it's worth the effort to repair.

Over the years I've had some expensive bills (oil leaks, perforated oil cooler, perished plug leads, poisoned cat, 2 cooling hose failures, split radiator, cam belt changes at 40k intervals), and I'm wondering what will break next.

I had a heater matrix fail on a Sierra and that was bad enough to fix. If the Omega is going to be much worse then I think I'll drive it to the local breakers yard.

Cheers,
SW

Never done it on a miggy, but on a Carlton (well it is a similar car!) I had to completely strip off the whole dashboard right back to the bulkhead to reach the matrix.  A  day's job, but very rewarding.