Hi Guys -

 

Recently the aircon seems to have been doing some strange things. It had been working perfectly up to this point.

 

It started early yesterday morning when it would only seem to pump out cold air (even though I was trying to warm the car) then there was a sudden gush of condensation/steam over the windscreen and the engine temp gauge shot right up so I pulled over straight away. I let the car rest for two minutes and started up again and everything seemed to be working normally. But since then I have noticed it is taking ages to get cold and there seems to be a slightly musty/damp odour in the car all the time. Also I have seen that the passenger footwell seems to be getting very damp from the air vent there.

 

Any ideas where this is going guys??

Heater matrix ! beware of overheat caused by loss of water, not good for the engine.

 

Check see if the carpet is wet close to the floor heater outlets, and check the engine water level, if low and the carpets are wet will be the matrix, replacement is the only answer. However in the short term the matrix can be linked out ( under the bonnet ) to prevent further water loss, but of course you will not have any warm mode on your heater.

 

Jeff TT

Hi bud.

 

i have recently just had this happen to me..........your heater matrix has failed and when you are turning it on its dumping the engine coolant inside the car through your aircon. You really need to get it in to be replaced or do the engine bypass, which i opted for. Then i lifted my carpet up and cleaned under-neath to ensure the coolant wont cause any rust(pet hate of mines now) so it got scrubbed for about 2 days to ensure no problems what-so-ever. The smell will be the engine coolant on your mats/carpet, so you really need to get that cleaned. I scrubbed mines and put the mats in the washing machine. Still get the odd smell now and then tho.

I also removed my aircon set up and cleaned inside it as much as i possibly could to get rid of the coolant.

It will not only have leaked onto the footwell but also if you feel the carpet behind the stereo you may feel it damp there also.

 

HTH

 

Craig

caribzx just had same thing! must be something in the air!!:biggrin: did a heater matrix bypass as jeff said, so another peep looking out for a heater matrix!!:gunsmilie:

 

dan.:cool3:

Just to let you know also.............a 19mm heater matrix hose is what you need! If you can get a U shaped piece all the better, if not like me i found i had to get about 4ft of hose and chop it, insert a metal pipe at 2 points to stop it from kinking.

Can get a heater matrix hose from any car shop, or you should be able to.

yeah 19mm ID hose, i went along to the scrap yard and got a perfect piece with the bend in it for £1

 

dan.:biggrin: