Having waited patiently for best part of 3 months whilst my car was having replacement engine and turbos, you can imagine my frustration to find out that whilst they were road testing my car it pissed all the coolant out and overheated the engine! Theyve now put another new engine in and have diagnosed the problem. One of the two copper pipes that go out of the engine into the heater matrix and back to the engine has perished and is the culprit. They are apparently having a go at soldering it (a viable idea?) which we will have to wait and see if it sorts it. Otherwise Ive gotta have a whole new heater matrix (along with the labour charge) or of course it can be disconnected. With the outlay that ive got for the engine and turbos I cant afford the extra expense at the moment so will, unless they can fix it, probably have it disconnected. One question I have is I know its all controlled by the one unit inside the car but is the air con dependant on the matrix to work or will I be able to still use that. It would be a temporary thing anyway but would be nice to know that ill still have air con. Im thinking of taking the heater matrix job on myself at a later date - a good or bad idea?

The aircon should still work with the heater matrix by-passed. I had my matrix by-passed for a while and it is OK until you hit winter. So, as long as you get it sorted before thw winter you should be OK.

 

I swapped my matrix myself and used the "dash in method". Took me a few hours (approx. 4 if I remember correct) to change and you can buy the matrix from the US at a much better price then you will get in the UK / Europe. The matrix is the same, just swap the two short pies that are connected to the matrix from your old one and you will have "a complete one" that fit a RHD.

 

/ Hans

The pipes are held on to the matrix with four screws on each , if you buy a new matrix the pipes don,t come with it , you,d have to order these as well .

The pipes look like their made of brass , are you sure it,s these that are your problem and not the plastic valve on the side of the matrix , again this would need ordering as well , just a bit confused , got a piccy here to give you an idea .HTH

I havent seen anything for myself Im just going on what they saying. They have told me that these pipes are part of the matrix but, as your picture shows, they are indeed seperate parts. The question is are they accessible to change over any easier (and with less labour) than by getting to them in the same way you do the heater matrix? At the moment the car is with the company that supplied the engine to the garage thats been fitting it and they have replaced the engine under warranty and now they have realised that it was one of 'my parts of the car' that is at fault I suppose that now theyve put another engine in they want to get some money out of me in whatever way they can to compensate themselves. Basically, whatever they do its at my expense so I think best bet is get them to disconnect it, as this shouldnt cost me anything, and then talk to someone like Jeff at Zedworld about the best course of action. That way its back in my hands.

As far as Im aware matrix is fine its just one of those pipes so thats some good news if they are seperate parts because I can just get them but its still gonna be as much labour (or work for me if im brave) unless they can be swapped over from the engine bay (from underneath?) without removing too much?

As far as Im aware matrix is fine its just one of those pipes so thats some good news if they are seperate parts because I can just get them but its still gonna be as much labour (or work for me if im brave) unless they can be swapped over from the engine bay (from underneath?) without removing too much?

Would still mean removing matrix mate, or as good as!

Quoted by Boldy " if you buy a new matrix the pipes don,t come with it "

 

Yes they do.

 

Daveman

I'd just disconnect them seeing as they are trying to get money back! They'll probably charge a stack as its 'officially' a dash out job so they'll do it that way and make money back. Although they do sound ok, seeing as they've already replaced the engine . Mine are disconnected and its fine, freezing in winter though.