Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[GaryBC]

I've tried pretty much everything that I've read here but my heater will still only blow tepid air into the cabin.

All that's left seems to be the matrix itself - so I'm toying with the idea of soaking it in some kettle de-scaler.

All that is stopping me is the thought that I might turn the mild inconvenience of a cool cabin, into the real pain in the bum of a matrix change (by wrecking it and forcing me to change it)!!

So here are my questions. What materials is the matrix made up from (I've seen pics here which seem to show it being mainly metal, but with a plastic end)? Has anyone ever done anything quite this rash before? Does anyone have any tips they could offer me?

Gary

[dbug]

I've tried pretty much everything that I've read here but my heater will still only blow tepid air into the cabin.

All that's left seems to be the matrix itself - so I'm toying with the idea of soaking it in some kettle de-scaler.

All that is stopping me is the thought that I might turn the mild inconvenience of a cool cabin, into the real pain in the bum of a matrix change (by wrecking it and forcing me to change it)!!

So here are my questions. What materials is the matrix made up from (I've seen pics here which seem to show it being mainly metal, but with a plastic end)? Has anyone ever done anything quite this rash before? Does anyone have any tips they could offer me?

Gary

As you say above - the metal being aluminium.

[GaryBC]

Ta for that.

It's the plastic parts I'm concerned about (and whatever glue is used) - and whether they'll be able to withstand a chemical attack!

Currently it just doesn't work very well as a heat exchanger. I don't want to convert that into 'leaks like a sieve and needs replacing now'! ('Coz I believe that is a dashboard-out job and not much fun!)

[dbug]

No cut a hole in side of gearbox tunnel - 2 hours to replace mine.  There's pics etc on here showing how to do it.

[rustym95]

Ive seen this done before, empty out all water from systerm put 4 cheap bottle of white viniga and top up, leave the top of the tank run engine till the air pockets come out and starts to boil over, leve engine off for a cup of hours then take the loest pipe of the radator (DONT use the tap) should see all the muck come out like slugg make sure all heating is fully on when doing it, then flush out the systerm with hose pipe to get the rest out should be good then put pipe back on and top up water etc should be all cleand out with no damage to pipes or rubbers,

[GaryBC]

Sounds like a cunning plan to me! Thanks.

[Jimbob]

Have you flushed just the matrix?

pull the pipes off the go throught the bulkhead.

off cut of garden hose on one (to drain water under the car), real garden hose on the other, hose on for 5mins, then swap the hoses and reverse flush for another 5.

reattach the connectors 

worked wonders on mine 

[GaryBC]

Question for dbug.

Where are the pics showing how to change the heater matrix through a hole cut in the gearbox tunnel?

Sounds a bit brutal to me!

[GaryBC]

Yeah, I've flushed the matrix - both ways, a couple of times each way. I did it the other week while I was changing the HBV. The water that came out was brown-ish but not at all thick or sludgy. It ran perfectly clear after a second or two.

But having seen the pics here of a cut-open matrix http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1228657191
I can see that clear flowing water is no real indication of a completely clear matrix! Which is why I'll probably have a go at the vinegar trick.

[RobG]

Question for dbug.

Where are the pics showing how to change the heater matrix through a hole cut in the gearbox tunnel?

Sounds a bit brutal to me!

Have a read of this http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1219945946/0