gavin.starr Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I'm getting a funny smell of coolant coming in through the heaters when the car has been running for a sufficent amount of time to let the coolant get up to temp. the windows fog when the windows are up and the windscreen wont de-mist on full fan, so i have to drive with the windows down to clear them. its as though there is steam coming into the car through the heaters. my temprature guage doesnt seem to be affected by it. Is it something to do with my heater matrix or could it be due to something else? cheers in advance gav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Is there any coolant in the passenger footwell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broomie Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 sounds like the matrix but i do hope not as it aint a cheap fix! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 22, 2008 Author Share Posted January 22, 2008 they were the words ive been dreading "not cheap". ive not checked the foot well yet as ive driven my mums car today im going home in about 30 mins so ill have a look then. if it is my matrix is there any tell tale signs that i should be looking for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 The footwell may be damp, condensation in the car, your coolant level would drop and your heater might not be producing as much warm air as it normally does. The heatrer matrix is very similar to a radiator in the house, the engine supplies the hot water and a fan blows air through the heater matrix which warms up before it enters the car. The heater matrix is located behind the dashboard on the passenger side, it's expensive to get replaced because it's a long job when you have to remove the dash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Yep, sounds like the heater matrix - That's how mine started. Do you have a standard radiator cap or an aftermarket 'uprated' one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 A thick fog, which you soon realize is actually inside the car and not outside while driving down a pitch black road. Soon to be followed by the hissing sound as it starts filling up the footwell... Or was that just me In response to your observations, yup, that was exactly the same things I had, no demisting and a lot of condensation (just before the above) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daston Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Is there a way of ensuring the matrix dosnt fail or to prolong its life a fair few of them seem to be dieing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Is there a way of ensuring the matrix dosnt fail or to prolong its life a fair few of them seem to be dieing. There currently seems to be a link between aftermarket rad caps and problems. Guess the extra 0.2 bar is popping them. Remember they are almost 15yr old in some cases and the years of fluid flowing through them probably just takes its toll. Remember not everyone is as careful with rad flushes and correct antifreeze as some people are on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 well ive checked my footwell last night and there was no dampness at all so i guess ill just have to grit my teeth and wait for it to happen unless there is any way of stopping it. is there any way of bypassing it so i can drive round with no heater as i cant use my mums car for ever and without it i cant get to work to make the money needed to fix the problem if you can see where im going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 if it is my matrix how much am i looking at for the unit and would i be able to fit it my self to cut labour costs as im pretty good at that sort of stuff i try and do all the work on my car myself apart from major stuff like clutches etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Ive been looking in to this too as mines gone and it doesnt seem to bad £100 - £250 for the matrix and then just strip the dash off, if you search someones done a good guide on how to get to it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Ive been looking in to this too as mines gone and it doesnt seem to bad £100 - £250 for the matrix and then just strip the dash off, if you search someones done a good guide on how to get to it all. As with most cars, it is a big job getting the dash out, it is not difficult, it just takes a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 do you know where the guide is on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 ive got all weekend this week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=127044&highlight=heater+matrix There you go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 cheers fella, that looks destructive but im up for any thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Yeah doesn't sound too bad to me, a nice weekend job and save yourself a fair bit Does anyone know if its normally always the actual matrix that fails, is it never just the pipes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 whats the main aspect of the matrix that fails is it just a seal that gets worn or is it the casing or something else like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 is there any way of bypassing it so i can drive round with no heater Yes. The two pipes that disappear into the passenger side bulkhead, well that's where the hot water goes throught to the matrix and the slightly cooler water comes back out. Disconnect the pipes and use your plumbing skills to connect them together so the water flows through these pipes and bypasses the matrix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 so a bit of 10mm copperpipe ant two jubilee clips should do the trick for a bit until i can source a new matrix. does any one know the best place to get a new one from. il get some new pipes too then ive got the peace of mind then that it has all been done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Steve Manley should be your best bet I would think, he's used regularly by members on here. 01865 291300 his email is [email protected] He's the parts bloke from a Toyota dealer in Oxford, he sends parts in the post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 cheers fella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 make sure you secure your bypass (my car running like that too) as the last thing you want it a coolant pipe popping off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavin.starr Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 cheers for the heads up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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