8 replies to this topic

[oldskoolhrdcore]

Hi, 

I could'nt find a guide for doing this and its very easy on an SPI mini so though I would put up some pics for anyone else who might not know how to get the job done...

 

firstly I disconnected the hose from the heater control valve in the engine bay, to stop the coolant possibly sucking more through when I take the hoses off the matrix inside the car..

there are two hoses going through the bulk head, I was happy just disconnecting one to relieve pressure 

 

photo 2 (1) by Oldskoolhrdcore, on Flickr

 

 

 

Then inside the car, two screws hold the matrix into the left hand side of the heater, four screws and 2 jubilee clips hold the two coolant pipes in place ( I found I couldnt get enough grip on the pipes to just pull them off once the jubilees were undone, so undid the flanges that hold them to the matrix and gently prized them off with a flat head screwdriver)

 

photo 1 (1) by Oldskoolhrdcore, on Flickr

 

 

 

once you have taken the pipes off, the matrix just slides out. 

Putting back is just a reversal, though watch out for the foam in the matrix, it will roll up, i've read using a card template on the matrix while pushing it in stops it rolling up.

 

 

 

The reason I had my matrix out was that I was'nt getting any heat except under load, doing about 50mph... so since the pipes were hot even on idle, I figured the matrix was blocked, once I had the matrix out I took it inside and blasted the tap through it both ways...when I put the matrix back in and reattached pipes in the footwell, I filled up the pipe from the valve end in the engine bay with coolant and blew it through the matrix, filling it up and since the heater is now working on idle, it must have been an air block :) 

 

 

[AVV IT]

Handy/detailed guide for swapping over a matrix there.

Just for future reference though, you don't actually need to go to all the trouble of removing the matrix from the heater in order to flush it. It can be be done in situ, by disconnecting the inlet/outlet hoses on the engine side of the bulkhead, attaching a garden hose to one, and a spare length of hose leading to a bucket to the other. Then turn on the garden tap and flush through until the water runs clear into the bucket. (Avoid turning the garden tap on fully though, as full mains water pressure is likely to blow holes in your matrix). If you want to be doubly sure, then you can always swap the hoses over and reverse flush the system before connecting everything back up again.

The other benefit of using this method, is that it also primes the heater circuit and matrix, and therefore should also purge the system of any air locks at the same time.

[reallybig]

i didn't do anything in the engine bay when i did mine just disconnected the hoses into a bucket and removed the whole matrix

[oldskoolhrdcore]

Handy/detailed guide for swapping over a matrix there.

Just for future reference though, you don't actually need to go to all the trouble of removing the matrix from the heater in order to flush it. It can be be done in situ, by disconnecting the inlet/outlet hoses on the engine side of the bulkhead, attaching a garden hose to one, and a spare length of hose leading to a bucket to the other. Then turn on the garden tap and flush through until the water runs clear into the bucket. (Avoid turning the garden tap on fully though, as full mains water pressure is likely to blow holes in your matrix). If you want to be doubly sure, then you can always swap the hoses over and reverse flush the system before connecting everything back up again.

The other benefit of using this method, is that it also primes the heater circuit and matrix, and therefore should also purge the system of any air locks at the same time.

 

Ah I only removed the Matrix as I don't have a hose :) I had to take it in the house and use the tap in the kitchen to blast it through

[oldskoolhrdcore]

i didn't do anything in the engine bay when i did mine just disconnected the hoses into a bucket and removed the whole matrix

 

I wanted to check the control valve was working anyway :) 

[mrducati]

Very useful! I'm going to do the same job on my MPi this weekend. Thanks for shearing!

[joecefnhedog]

Hi

Sorry quick question, took my heater matrix apart the other day, the two pipes that connect to it, i don't remember which pipe goes where?? noob mistake 

Thanks Joe

[elguapo]

I've just removed mine today. It has constantly had a slow leak no matter what we tried.

As I will only be using the car for summer the heater is one less problem I want to worry about. What's the best way to cap the feed from the radiator?

[bangermadness08]

Holly cow restarting an old thread but I've taken my old matrix off for a new one.

I didn't take the heater hose from engine side just the 2 from the heater box itself.

My question is when Its all fitted in and I need to pour coolant to prime the heater as stated above throu the heater hose in the engine side how much should go in? Until it dribbles out from the hose