Heaters - water leak in car

1. user_32279 Established Member Joined: Mar 2009 Southampton - Dibden Posts: 1820 Silver MK2 VTR 2000(W)reg.

   #1 10th March 2010, 07:34

   The other day my heaters aren't really working to well atall. Yesterday my engine temp was very high so I topped it up with water now it's empty again with a puddle in the drivers side fotwell. After filling up the radiator I pug the heaters on and there was a lot of condensation coming from them. Is a pipe broken withinvthe dashboard or something ?
   
   Any help needed please. Thanks
2. user_25927 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2008 East Devon Posts: 7472 Clio RS200 Cup, Twingo RS133, Triumph Street Tripl

   #2 10th March 2010, 08:59

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Lloydie The other day my heaters aren't really working to well atall. Yesterday my engine temp was very high so I topped it up with water now it's empty again with a puddle in the drivers side fotwell. After filling up the radiator I pug the heaters on and there was a lot of condensation coming from them. Is a pipe broken withinvthe dashboard or something ? Any help needed please. Thanks

   Heater matrix has gone, need to get it changed.
3. user_32279 Established Member Joined: Mar 2009 Southampton - Dibden Posts: 1820 Silver MK2 VTR 2000(W)reg.

   #3 10th March 2010, 10:27

   How much for that ish?
4. adam19 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2008 Harlow, essex Posts: 2731 Clio 182

   #4 10th March 2010, 12:09

   got mine the other week and cost me £55-
   but still havent fitted it yet lol, i put rad weld in tempory to get me from the place i was to home and that has stopped the leak for the minute and has lasted 5weeks, but been told rad-weld is not good for the engine. so id change the heater matrix soon as you can without using radweld lol,, not that expensive mate, and tbh been told its not hard to change either, but does involve re-moving the dash out which is a bummer
5. user_32279 Established Member Joined: Mar 2009 Southampton - Dibden Posts: 1820 Silver MK2 VTR 2000(W)reg.

   #5 10th March 2010, 12:28

   Ok mate thanks. Fuck sake this is all I need tbh... :@
6. adam19 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2008 Harlow, essex Posts: 2731 Clio 182

   #6 10th March 2010, 12:43

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Lloydie Ok mate thanks. Fuck sake this is all I need tbh... :@

   i know pain in the arse tbh, as i work alot i can never find the time to do this, i got today off but just cant be asked as want to make the most of my time off lol,, will eventually get fitted,
   hope you get it sorted
7. Lawz Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2008 Newcastle Posts: 212 1.1 Mk1

   #7 10th March 2010, 19:23

   a quick fix is take off the pipes from the heater matrix and plumb them together, will stop the leak but youll obviously have no hot air untill you replace the matrix
8. addyjj Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2009 Cirencester, Glos Posts: 108 MK2 Saxo VTS

   #8 11th March 2010, 11:59

   I had the same problem just be careful, as to get to the matrix you will have to strip the entire dash board out and remove the heater assembly. The assembly can be tricky to remove. Good luck. P.s don't drop the air bag when taking it out.
9. user_32279 Established Member Joined: Mar 2009 Southampton - Dibden Posts: 1820 Silver MK2 VTR 2000(W)reg.

   #9 11th March 2010, 16:48

   I put some rad weld in there and it seems to be ok at the mo *touch wood*
   
   I was going to cap off the pipes going into the heater matrix so the leak stops. its summer now who needs hot air... lol this is a fuckin joke
10. TU-Tuning Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: May 2006 Bristol Posts: 16575 JP4urio, 306 DTurbo SportShed

    #10 11th March 2010, 17:03

    Youll need it when you get a cold day and the windscreen wont heat up though unfortunately.
    
    Not one of my favourite jobs, will take a good few hours to do. As said, dash comes out completely, and you need to take the inlet mani off on most models to get sufficient access to the pipes in the bay.