19 replies to this topic

[Kt1966]

Here's an odd one ( to me at least)

 

Piecing the van back together and all seems good except there's steam in the cabin coming up through the heater/demist hoses.  This happens within a minute or 2 or starting up and does reduce, but there's a bit coming out most of the time.  The inlet/oulet hoses themslves seem quite hot as well.

 

Temp guage is fine (if anything running quite cold)

 

What could this be ? - airlock ? Which way round should the brass tap on the head be ( it's in the vertical position at the moment)

 

Appreciate any thoughts/pointers....

 

Thanks

[Carlos W]

I imagine there's a hole in the heater matrix

[Dusky]

Id say a leaking matrix as well. Mine did the Same, little smoke machine in the car

[tiger99]

Can't be anything else. Airlocks and wrongly positioned valves don't provide leakage paths for coolant into the cabin.

I had that happen once, and used a tin of Holt Radweld. It worked, and the car ran for many tens of thousands of miles with no more problems. But you may not be so lucky. A new matrix is best, but in those days I had no money.

[slidehammer]

Check all the hose clips are tight as if it reduces when it warms up it might be the matrix is expanding and sealing slightly better. I have used something called K-Seal in a car with a leaking heater matrix and it stopped the leak, but you need to be sure the matrix and pipes are in reasonable condition and not going to give out on you and leave you stranded.

[Carlos W]

The other issue is, total failure would lead to the driver being scalded, the windscreen is likely to steam up leaving the driver with no vision through the screen and in incredible pain.

Replace the matrix, they're not a lot of money

[Kt1966]

Thanks for the responses and yes that makes sense (though I don't understand why there's no water leaking if the matrix is faulty. ).

I'll get a new one (it was off a later plastic heater though the feed pipes are 1/2 and I think the heater is slightly larger).

Many thanks.

[Cooperman]

It is a good idea to use steel braided hoses where they carry very hot water inside the car.

[Kt1966]

And do the steel braided ones fix straight onto the bit of copper pipe I've got in the engine bay ?

[Kt1966]

Just a thought (don't know whether this would make a difference - does it matter which way the inlet/outlet pipes are fitted onto the matrix ?

 

 

Thanks

[Ethel]

Not really, it will chase out air a bit better if it enters low and leaves high. Another possibility is the air intake has taken in water, but it does sound like a typical matrix leak. It'll be obviously rusty if it is.

[CityEPete]

The water just collects in the bottom of the heater casing and evaporates (up your screen as you're finding out),if you run your finger under the heater you might get a little bit of antifreeze smell or wetness.

[Kt1966]

I see. Day off tomorrow so I'll take it out and have a look over.

Thanks

[Kt1966]

So I've isolated the heater hoses (= no steam in the car), checked the stat is working and flushed the rad.
But, hoses are still very hot but there's no water at all in either of the rad hoses....
So, to my way if thinking that means there's either a massive air lock ( unlikely as I've flushed the rad) or it's the water pump??

Any thoughts- am I on the right lines?
Thanks

[Kt1966]

Stripped it all down and the pump looks fine and turns freely.
Now I'm at a loss as to what next other than put it all back together and hope it was a big airlock.

Anyone got other/better ideas?

Thanks