Not sure what the Zed thinks its playing at now but the climate control seems to have gone weird. All windows now mist up and this is followed by a damp / chemical smell from the vents. have done a search but nothing seems to match the problem. the footwells are dry and the heater and fans all still work it just seems as though the air coming onto the screen is damp. Any ideas guy's as its bad enough when its foggy outside let alone inside.

Sean

Have you checked you havent got damp leaves and crap trapped down the air intake at the bottom of the screen?

Had something similiar happen in a Renault once - the heater matrix had sprung a leak... I hope yours is just leaves but it sounds awfully the same :mad:

Check your radiator level and the overflow reservoir. If you're losing water it smells like the matrix!

Heater matrix, the smell is probably anti freeze. Try a good rad sealer, thay can work for years sometimes....and nothing bad will happen if it doesnt work, just cost you less than a fiver.

Not sure what you other people think but from my experience with rad sealers(stuff like rad weld), they cause more problems in the long run than anything. When you have to start back flushing and your heater matrix starts to lose its efficientcy, you will wish you had just sorted the problem properly.

 

No offence intended Mark.

If it smells a bit like curry then it's probably anti-freeze from the heater matrix - this is bad !

 

Double check whether you have the Recirc button pressed on not (and you just farted in the car) ! ;)

Just found that the carpet is no wet so bugger its the matrix:cry: ( if only it had been a fart):D. I've heard its a pain to change so any quick tips before i hit the search button. Going to pub first to ease the pain

Cos, non taken.

 

I have used it many times and dont have a problem with it.

 

If it was a case of using it and putting off changing the matrix because i had no time/money/will etc to change it, and it worked I would be happy.

 

I have used it in my Xantia TD, it had a very small leak in the rad and this has been OK for 18 months or more.

Hey Cos, just read your thread again, "if the matrix looses its efficency"?? as in it leaks, LOL

Originally posted by markstevens

Hey Cos, just read your thread again, "if the matrix looses its efficency"?? as in it leaks, LOL

 

Mark

 

What I meant by that is that the rad weld can get in to the matrix and if there is enough of it, it can prevent the water from getting in and providing heat inside the car. Not sure if it is the same for the Z but I have seen this happen on both an old Micra and a cavalier.

Yes no probs, my thoughts are that if the matrix is leaking then it is worth trying the rad weld route. Nothing to loose....

Originally posted by markstevens

Yes no probs, my thoughts are that if the matrix is leaking then it is worth trying the rad weld route. Nothing to loose....

 

except the matrix, your radiator and the pipes feeding the radiator and matrix?

 

JeffTT posted up a pretty nasty picture of what radweld can do i believe.

As a quick workaround you can bypass the heater matrix, of course winter is not a great choice of time to do that.

 

You'll end up wearing a wooly hat and gloves - looking like a classic MG owner ( LOL - sorry Mike !)

OK, I give up, I dont want to fall out over it.

Originally posted by AndyP

As a quick workaround you can bypass the heater matrix, of course winter is not a great choice of time to do that.

 

You'll end up wearing a wooly hat and gloves - looking like a classic MG owner ( LOL - sorry Mike !)

 

 

LOL none taken, I have a duffle coat and some big gloves for winter driving in the MG, even with the roof on it still snows inside when its snowing outside. ;)