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Heater matrix: can't get the heater box out


Jake

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It's a nice sunny day so I thought I'd have a look at my heater matrix to see where the leak is.

I'm following Jez's How To thread

 

I've got all the dash out OK but I can't seem to get the heater box out. In his thread Jez says in post #3 : "Now, unbolt the heater box, 4 12mm bolts on top edge, and 3 10mm bolts in footwells..." but I can only find 3x 12mm bolts across the top.

The ones I can see are the two in this pic and another one on the driver's side.

 

Anyone know where the last one is?

 

 

Thanks

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A bit further down from the picture of R2D2 air-con draining machine it says this:

 

"Now, onto the aircon pipes. DO NOT do this if you still have aircon gas in the system. Undo the 2 10mm bolts holding in the aircon pipes, quite fiddly if you have abs, the charcoal can can just be moved via undoing its 2 10mm bolts. Once these are undone pop the pipes out of thier sockets, and move onto the 2 10mm bolts holding the surround plate in. Once out the way, go back into the cabin and give the heater box a wiggle. Bobs you're uncle, fannys your aunt, theres the little blighter!!! Undo the 4 x screws holding the long air vent in place on top of the heater box, then undo the clamps on the water pipes and the matrix will just pull out...."

 

To me all that has to be done to get the box out. Well that's my interpretation of it. :)

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Ah, I bet it's the aircon pipes that are stopping it coming out then.

I've undo the two heater pipes under the bonnet and removed that plate but it's still stuck on the passenger side somewhere. I'll go check those AC pipes next.

It was the mention of 4x 12mm bolt on the top of the heater box that was confusing me cos there's only 3 and I was convinced it was the one I couldn't find that was the problem.

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Almost there now. AC pipes undone and the heater box is really loose. There's two electrical multiplugs from the fan under the bottom left hand corner of the heater box. I managed to get one unplugged but the other one just won't shift. I've been trying to get it out for 20mins so far but it will not shift.

My hands are as sore as hell.

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Almost there now. AC pipes undone and the heater box is really loose. There's two electrical multiplugs from the fan under the bottom left hand corner of the heater box. I managed to get one unplugged but the other one just won't shift. I've been trying to get it out for 20mins so far but it will not shift.

My hands are as sore as hell.

 

How did you drain the air-con gas incidentally?

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How did you drain the air-con gas incidentally?
I just undid the pipes and let it piss out into the atmosphere. I know it's a bit naughty but in the scheme of things one more car leaking its AC gas isn't going to hurt. Loads of Supras have already leaked their gas out through old age.

 

Is it a big phat orange plug Jake?

Mine got stuck on that too if so. your almost there...good to see.

Nah, it was a white one.

Anyway I'm there now. The matrix is out and I've found the leak. It's a tiny pinhole, too small to see by eye but pressurising the matrix while submerged in a sinkful of water showed its location easy enough.

 

I called the local Serck's and they can fit a brand new core to it for £68 if I take it down there tomorrow.

 

I'm not looking forward to putting it all back together though!

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No mate, it's great - I couldn't have done it without your write-up.

 

I found two things different on mine compared to yours, dunno if it's because mine is a newer model.

  • 3 not 4 12mm bolts holding the top of the heater box.
  • 1 not 2 bolts holding the AC pipes in.

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No mate, it's great - I couldn't have done it without your write-up.

 

I found two things different on mine compared to yours, dunno if it's because mine is a newer model.

  • 3 not 4 12mm bolts holding the top of the heater box.
  • 1 not 2 bolts holding the AC pipes in.

 

Good stuff, glad it came in usefull. I'm sure there is one bolt on each pipe going into the aircon side of the heater box? Perhaps its a facelift thing. :search:

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I just undid the pipes and let it piss out into the atmosphere. I know it's a bit naughty but in the scheme of things one more car leaking its AC gas isn't going to hurt. Loads of Supras have already leaked their gas out through old age.

 

Yep thought that would be the easiest way. I did the same when I binned the A/C on my rover coupe turbo.

 

Anyway you didn't sign upto the Kyoto agreement, the Government did. :D

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Yes mate:D I wasn't going to but I got a bit carried away after taking the seats and carpet out so I could clean and dry the carpet (It was soaked with coolant)

Good lad. Does it still smell of fish (I always think coolant has a slightly fishy smell) or have you given it a good wash! ;)

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Good stuff, glad it came in usefull. I'm sure there is one bolt on each pipe going into the aircon side of the heater box? Perhaps its a facelift thing. :search:

 

Mines a Jap spec and had the to bolts for the AC but also only had 3 top bolts holding in the heater unit, very good tutorial though mate found it very had while doing mine. :)

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