removing dash (matrix hose now off)

15th November 2010, 16:28

right basically ive finally got round to replacing my heater matrix after a good year of it slowly leaking and being blocked as heat aint as good any more- ive stripped the whole dash- pretty sure ive covererd all bolts to remove it left a few in so i can undo heater matrix hose first. only problem is looking in the engine bay where the hoses clip onto the heater matrix they look pretty awkward - are they just awkward to get to and struggly to do- or is there some easier way by removing anything to get to them ? thanks adam

15th November 2010, 17:22

no easy way,sorry

15th November 2010, 18:32

ahhhh ok then thanks for letting me know- got something to look forward to do tomorow now lol

16th November 2010, 16:35

really stuck

well i attempted to do my heater matrix today and guess what am stuck already- it just seems impossible to get to the hoses- one hose i couldnt evan see the clip that holds it on- i manage to snapped the heater matrix plastic engine side- but i cant snap the other one- let along get a pair of pliers to to get that shitty horrible clip that holds the hose on- its such a stupid clip dont evan know why they invented that type - cant evan get to it- does anyone know if theres any other way to get it off? what a complete crap job to do lol

16th November 2010, 16:41

this not my car btw, be much easier with out and engine though ha its just this hose i cant get off

what do you do to get the metal clip off ? its a pain to get to and its quiete stiff to squeeze to loosen it up

16th November 2010, 23:42

Anyone ?

17th November 2010, 00:21

One pictured? Only way is to get a pair of grips and squeeze the two bits ontop together, opening it up. There may be a special tool that makes this easyer....but yeh thats all you do

17th November 2010, 08:28

Get grips squeeze it then wobble it of pipe.. I had to get 2 off.. Snapped my plastic pipe bit too..

pain in arse if im honest.

17th November 2010, 16:30

right after 4long hours getting that shitty heater matrix clip off- it finally budged and managed to get the hose off- just abit baffled with a few bits to do with the dash.....

so far ive taken

centre console out
steering wheel is off
dials are out
window wiper motor also out
ive taken the 3bolts in the scuttle panel and 1more in there looking like it goes into the dash, also taken the 2bolts out just under the carpet either side passenger and drivers side- also the one bolt that bolts at the bottom of the centre of the dash with a big grey pipe thing.
the problem is the dash is lose on the passenger side but drivers side it still feels like somethings attacht? it does move abit but wont come out. is there any other bolts i should know to undo to take dash out ??

also how do i go about taking the indicator arms off they dont look like they wanna come off- if they need to be.

1 last question just wondered is the heater matrix or heater blower bolted to the dash to stop removal of dash ?? thanks adam
~
p.s sorry its an essay just first time at doing this and aint easy lol

17th November 2010, 16:46

no, the matrix and blower are bolted striaght up to the shell,not the dash

17th November 2010, 16:53

Ok just the info I needed thanks

do you know of any more bolts that ive missed off?

19th November 2010, 17:59

finally removed the dash- theres two bolts that has to come out 13mm that bolts just under the steering lock where you put the key in.... but must say what a shitter it is to get heaters out and to put matrix in- plastic little clips aint that strong..... now not looking forward to putting it all back tomorow just hoping i know where everything goes lol

19th November 2010, 20:21

Did my matrix last year and afterwards looking back i am sure it must be possible to do without taking the dash completely off by sliding the matrix out of the heater sideways???

19th November 2010, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by obeone

Did my matrix last year and afterwards looking back i am sure it must be possible to do without taking the dash completely off by sliding the matrix out of the heater sideways???

i did think that now but does look like the pedals would get in the way when sliding the matrix out

7th December 2010, 16:01

Im having the same problem as you did! Cant get in to take the clips on the hoses off. Did u remove any other parts to make more room? How did u get them off, did u use needle nose pliers? This is such a headache!

7th December 2010, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkvtr

Im having the same problem as you did! Cant get in to take the clips on the hoses off. Did u remove any other parts to make more room? How did u get them off, did u use needle nose pliers? This is such a headache!

on a serious note im never doing another heater matrix again lol.... i used a small pair of mole grips- managed to clamp the on the clip and slide clip off to pull of hose- but it was still very awkward to get them clamped on as you cant evan see the clips :O , but they worked for me in the end, you can achually get a special tool for those clips but i didnt know till after i struggled , but i wouldnt know what there called or how much- mole grips should do it mate, nah didnt take anything else of, part from my airfilter and thats about it mate- horrible job but hope this helps

7th December 2010, 18:55

Haynes manuel is fairly good with this, i need to replace mine but really dont have the time....... there is away to do it without removing the dash but its awkward.

9th December 2010, 19:48

Thanks for the info! Gonna have another go at these hoses

9th December 2010, 20:46

Should've done what i have done, bought an electric plug in one with instant heat and blanked off the matrix

9th December 2010, 23:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krys_23

Should've done what i have done, bought an electric plug in one with instant heat and blanked off the matrix

Yeah i really should have done this. This has made me hate my saxo! :-(

10th December 2010, 19:50

i had my saxo 3months before the heaters went and only took me 2years to get round to it