6 replies to this topic

[minidriverfiona]

Hello
haven't been on here for ages, as for the last YEAR I have had no problems!! MOT due, so of course we have a problem.
I was out driving last week and noticed I had a wet left boot when I got home. Thought it would be one of the heater hoses, but after inspection I don't think it is, because:

They are in good condition and tight
When I go round a left bend the water pours out like a little waterfall.
There has been lots of steam pouring out every time I put the demister on.
(Boyfriend thinks it's hilarious.)

I think the water is coming out of the heater by the lower of the two hoses, not from the hose itself but from inside the heater and it happens to be coming out next to the hose so I thought it was the hose at fault. It would explain why it comes pouring out when I go round corners!
It's the heater type where the two hoses are on the right, one above the other.

Should I take the heater off and have a look. I think I can manage this myself

Thank you in advance for any advice!

Edited by minidriverfiona, 09 September 2012 - 02:06 PM.

[danie garry]

sounds like a leak alright!! could be the seal where the connector bit of the 2 pipes going in but it seems more likely that its the matrix.. easy enough to take out anyway and check

and that first sentence has to be a lie, no mini can go a year without a problem!!!

[minidriverfiona]

A whole year with no new parts or trips to the garage, honestly! Although there was one time where she'd not been driven for a while and the starter got sticky but after a bump start down the hill and a long drive it was fine again :)

Thanks I'm going to be brave and take it out myself!!

[Ethel]

Easier on a Mini than anything else. How much water, are you needing to top up the coolant by at least the same amount? Water can also enter via the air ducts - leaky windscreen or split, dodgy joins in the big un under the driver's wing.

[sonikk4]

It does sound like the matrix has gone and its a simple job to take apart. There are two screws just behind the center dash, undo these and the heater should drop down. You will have to disconnect the fresh air pipe to the right of the heater and the demister pipes and then when its hanging down you can disconnect the live and earth cable.
Disconnect the two water pipes, there will be some water to catch so a container will be needed.

At the back of heater are two hooks so you need to lift the back up to unhook. There is also nut that you may have to undo depending on whether its been tightened up or not.

Once you have the unit out take off the side plate and pull out the matrix. It will be obvious if its knackered. A bit like this



This had not quite got to the point of leaking on the carpet but when i took the heater apart the water was starting to leak out. And i got a lot of steam out of the vents when the engine was hot.

[AVV IT]

...Or like this!!



Mine was leaking out into the carpets and producing steam out of the demister vents (actually more of a "mister" than a "demister" in fact!! ). Be prepared that by the time it gets to this stage, it will probably have been leaking away for some time. So don't be surprised if the inside of the heater casing has corroded quite badly when you come to remove the matrix, at which point it might be time to strip it down, overhaul and repaint it. (or just replace it with another, if you're feeling lazy )

[minidriverfiona]

Thanks everyone - it's been misting rather than de-misting for years, so I'm expecting a grotty matrix!
Worth mentioning, I keep her inside and only go out on dry days, so it's definitely not rain getting in.
I have not yet had to top up the water, it only started dripping last week......
I will get stuck into taking it out and having a look as soon as I can