Anyone changed their HEATER MATRIX???

Jay

Admin
Take your time, don't lose your temper and don't break anything.

It is an epic task and you will be a wiser man the other side of it. :)

All pics of the carnage will be gratefully received. I have a matrix for Derek here and will take pics of how to remove it from the heaterbox on Wednesday.
 

Big_Daddy

Member +
Made a start 2day,

Before

Image044.jpg


After

Image048.jpg


Its pissing outside and my feet are frozen, so leaving the next stage till 2morow. If the weather clears up.
 

Big_Daddy

Member +
This gonna really piss me off, when i get back to start on this!!!
Oh well gotta be done.

Its very complicated, just have to remmber what bolts are needed to remove the dash, mines is very loose. FYI disconnect the battery;) I cant as my alarm keeps going off :mad:
 

Jay

Admin
Jimmer and I replaced his matrix mid-January 2006. My fingers still haven't warmed up since!

BTW for any record-beaters out there I got this job down to under 7 hours from start to finish. Less on an EP91. You will possibly have a handful of extra bolts at the end of it all but don't fret - consider it a weight-reducing exercise! ;)
 

chinaone

Member +
Jimmer and I replaced his matrix mid-January 2006. My fingers still haven't warmed up since!

BTW for any record-beaters out there I got this job down to under 7 hours from start to finish. Less on an EP91. You will possibly have a handful of extra bolts at the end of it all but don't fret - consider it a weight-reducing exercise! ;)

Haha, Jay you are a funny guy!!!:p
 

Big_Daddy

Member +
Jimmer and I replaced his matrix mid-January 2006. My fingers still haven't warmed up since!

BTW for any record-beaters out there I got this job down to under 7 hours from start to finish. Less on an EP91. You will possibly have a handful of extra bolts at the end of it all but don't fret - consider it a weight-reducing exercise! ;)

Ive managed to get the speedo out, :) Took 15mins fingerin the dam speedo cable. So far ive spent 2-3hours, till dam rain came pourin down. Think it would be quicker reasembling it than removing it.
Got a feeling im still guna have a full hand full of bolts after i refitted it :p
 

Jay

Admin
Finding where everything goes is the hard part. ;)

Right, once you boys have the heater box out and on the floor in front of you.


It should look like this:

heatermatrix017cx2.jpg


From the top you can see the matrix and it's pipes to the bulkhead:

heatermatrix018yw1.jpg


To remove the matrix core without damaging it (remember it is easily damaged copper) you need to split the heaterbox in two.

Remove the securing bracket:

heatermatrix019mw9.jpg


Remove the front vent:

heatermatrix025sh7.jpg


There's a few screws holding the top half to the bottom half:

heatermatrix021rv8.jpg


And some clips:

heatermatrix022an7.jpg


Then you can gently prise the top and bottom halves apart:

heatermatrix023fv1.jpg


This will then look a bit of a mess:

heatermatrix024jj0.jpg


You now just take the matrix from the top half of the box and replace it with a non-leaking or non-clogged unit:

heatermatrix027qx3.jpg


heatermatrix028ck9.jpg


heatermatrix029ga1.jpg


heatermatrix030ul8.jpg


Hope that offers a heads up chaps..
 

Jay

Admin
send it to a radiator specialist to get repaired, or buy a new one lol

Yup.

I flushed out Derek's replacement one this morning before sending just to be sure it wasn't clogged up. Fill with hot water and make sure the whole core gets hot. You will probably see brown corrosion in the pipes, this is what clogs the core up.

It's worth taking to a radiator shop for a recore whilst it is out if you can't get a decent condition secondhand one.
 

Big_Daddy

Member +
Ive stuck it under the shower hose pipe, got some black stuff come out of it Mixed with coolant.
How many litres does the heater matrix take? How much is a 2nd hand worth and price on a new one?
 

Big_Daddy

Member +
Im goin halfords on the way to the movies. Guna pick up a holts rad flush (250ml).
Is that strong enought? thinking of leaving it over night? shall i mix with with boil water or just pour the whole thing in alone?
 

chinaone

Member +
Jay is such a STAR, should put this together on the The Awesomely Helpful Info Section.
Will you guys know how i get on with mine.
any helpful PCD on this??? just in case i get stuck.
like where should i start on taking the dash out? where are the bolts etc...
 

Big_Daddy

Member +
Jay is such a STAR, should put this together on the The Awesomely Helpful Info Section.
Will you guys know how i get on with mine.
any helpful PCD on this??? just in case i get stuck.
like where should i start on taking the dash out? where are the bolts etc...

If you could wait a few days, when i re assemble i do a guide:(
 

Big_Daddy

Member +
Rough Guide

Hey china, here some suggestions on how to strp the dash. (when i ressable i do a photo guide).

This is complicating, so you may want to make notes or add some tip-ex of places where bolts crew come off

Disconnect battery

*Remove the headunit and the disconnect heater console
*Remove the speedo cluster
*Remove pass glove box and small crashbar
*Remove the gearbox and the handbrake console(needed to gain access the bolts) You shoudl see 1 bolt on each corner

Disconnect the fog light switch and any alarm leds

*Remove the steering wheel (jsut the steering wheel)

Under the steering wheel, remove the panel followed by the bolts on each corner, disconnect the speaker, Disconnect the bonnect release handle from the dash.


The LOOM
The loom is attached to the dash, you would need to separate, you could eiather remove it by removing the tape(easier) or the bracket (gud luck- u need smurf hands for that. The loom goes from bottom pasenger side, up the side, across the dash, past the centre vents, one end of the loom is earthed to the dash, (remove bolt). Under the driver side dash, remove and connectors and relays that are resting on the dash.

*Remove the clock in the dash by pulling it out, to reveal a bolt

*Under the passger side glove box, therea small brracked that is connected between the dash and crash bar strut, remove the bolt

Make sure remove the connectors on the passenger side fot well.

Abit of thug the dash should unclip from the window side.

Take care that nothing is catching espically the loom/ relays or plus ;)

Gud luck:p
 

Jay

Admin
Make sure you have disconnected the two pipes that lead from the cabin through the bulkhead and into the engine bay. Otherwise you might damage the matrix pipes.
 
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