2 replies to this topic

[lewBlew]

Hi everyone. My cabin heater hasn't been as hot as it used to be before I replaced the matrix. Sometimes on a long journey it will be warm for ages and then suddenly be blowing out cold air for a couple of minutes, so I'm guessing I have an air lock?

 

How's best to bleed the system and is this necessary? I have left the rad cap off for a few minutes before and let the car warm up without noticing any difference.

 

Also does anyone have a link to a radiator bleed valve which I could plumb in to prevent this happening again?

 

Thanks

[Carlos W]

I bled one using a funnel and a long pipe, close the heater valve, remove pipe, attach funnel to pipe, put up high, pour in coolant, squeeze other pipe, watch bubbles appear, reattach, open valve, run car until hot all should be well

[AVV IT]

I've always done it by flushing the circuit with a garden hose, (disconnect both inlet and outlet on the engine bay side of the bulkhead and then connect a garden hose to one, and a spare length of hose leading to a bucket to the other). That way you remove any sludge and debris that might be moving around in the matrix and causing the problem, as well as priming the system and removing any air locks at the same time. (If you use this method don't turn the garden tap on fully though, as full mains water pressure is likely to blow holes in your matrix, just turn it on enough to get a steady flow of water into the bucket, and then turn it off again when the water runs clear.)