18 replies to this topic

[Quinlan minor]

Could it be an airlock? - I haven't tried to bleed the system - by releasing the return from the heater to the bottom hose I think might do that?

Any thoughts?

An airlock is a distinct possibility.
I had one on mine. Took the input hose off, in the engine bay, filled hose while holding it up as far as I could, thumb over the end and refit as quickly as possible. Run car, check for heat and leaks.

[Tornado99]

I have a similar problem with my kit car - the hoses are hot, indicating hot water into and out of the matrix (I think - see bottom point).

However the heater only feels lukewarm and as soon as I turn the fan on the blown air goes cold after a few seconds (even though the hoses are still hot) was a new matrix when I rebuilt the car so no blockage.

Could it be an airlock? - I haven't tried to bleed the system - by releasing the return from the heater to the bottom hose I think might do that?

Any thoughts?

Unlikely an air lock. Highly likely a blockage in the small passages of the core. Can be from corrosion or not running a descaler flush through it every few years. You can try seeing how much water comes through it using a garden hose. Can be done in car if you clamp off the heater hoses and arrange a catch basin, but it is not hard to just remove it entirely and test outside.

New core easy to fit and not expensive. Quite few youtube videos on how to do it.

[Kieranlee999]

Well I've been out today and bought a new matrix from P&L Will get it fitted in a few weeks when the engine is coming out. 

[mini-mad-mark]

 

I have a similar problem with my kit car - the hoses are hot, indicating hot water into and out of the matrix (I think - see bottom point).

However the heater only feels lukewarm and as soon as I turn the fan on the blown air goes cold after a few seconds (even though the hoses are still hot) was a new matrix when I rebuilt the car so no blockage.

Could it be an airlock? - I haven't tried to bleed the system - by releasing the return from the heater to the bottom hose I think might do that?

Any thoughts?

Unlikely an air lock. Highly likely a blockage in the small passages of the core. Can be from corrosion or not running a descaler flush through it every few years. You can try seeing how much water comes through it using a garden hose. Can be done in car if you clamp off the heater hoses and arrange a catch basin, but it is not hard to just remove it entirely and test outside.

New core easy to fit and not expensive. Quite few youtube videos on how to do it.

 

Matrix was new during eh build so less than 2 years old (yes it took two years to rebuild the car for various reasons!!!)