Heater Matrix Replacement

randyreindeer · January 17, 2009

Its either gonna be a pig of a job or really easy. Has anyone had one out? Its a MK4 LS and im just beginning to get the tell tale curry smell.

steve2006 · January 17, 2009

If it's like most cars it's usually most of the dash out plus centre console, might be worth having the cooling system pressure checked 1st. BTW is it losing coolant?

Might also be worth checking the air con/ pollen filter as these cause nasty niffs if neglected

CB1300 · January 18, 2009

If it's like most cars it's usually most of the dash out plus centre console, might be worth having the cooling system pressure checked 1st. BTW is it losing coolant?
Might also be worth checking the air con/ pollen filter as these cause nasty niffs if neglected

A tell tale sign could be a wet passenger foot well, Don`t want to sound too depressing but I think its a dash out job.

You could add a bottle or two of K Seal to the water system ? It claims to do a permanent repair.

Its certainly worked for me in the past.

randyreindeer · January 18, 2009

I haven't checked for it losing water yet. I just got the curry smell coupled with the quick misting on the windscreen so decided it must be weeping. I'll run some more checks before I condemn it but im pretty sure its weeping.

steveskeggy · January 19, 2009

Looking at my repair manual, it looks worse than a pig of a job.

From what I can make out, the heater radiator, as they call it, is inside the air conditioning housing.

The only way to get it out is by draining the A/C and water, stripping the center console and "reinforcement"(?) taking out the blower then removing the A/C unit and stripping it down.

I may be wrong, there may be a short cut, but it looks like a job for somebody else to me.

The good news is that it dont look like the dash has to come out!....