Heater Matrix ? Help please

[kali291]

Hi
I have a year 2000 terrano 2 2.7tdi. I believe the heater matrix may be shot (although I hope not, cos I.ve seen what's involved in replacing it )
Symptoms: gurgling noise from behind glove box, especially if engine under load, steamed up windows +++, smell of coolant when heater on, drips on passenger carpet, but NO significant loss of coolant.
From reading previous posts, the first thing to try is K-seal. I can't find this in Ireland. They only sell Radweld. I have ordered some from the UK, but it takes anything up to a week to get here, and I need transport.
My question is, can I bypass the heater totally. Will this solve the problem of steamed up windows and allow me to drive the car temporarily until it is fixed? Will this damage the engine or confuse the ecu? (I don't have a/c). And finally, can I buy a kit to do this, or do I just have to botch it with whatever pipe i can lay my hands on. (Does anyone know the size of the heater pipes?)
Sorry for all the questions
Ron

 

[lacroupade]

Hi
I have a year 2000 terrano 2 2.7tdi. I believe the heater matrix may be shot (although I hope not, cos I.ve seen what's involved in replacing it )
Symptoms: gurgling noise from behind glove box, especially if engine under load, steamed up windows +++, smell of coolant when heater on, drips on passenger carpet, but NO significant loss of coolant.
From reading previous posts, the first thing to try is K-seal. I can't find this in Ireland. They only sell Radweld. I have ordered some from the UK, but it takes anything up to a week to get here, and I need transport.
My question is, can I bypass the heater totally. Will this solve the problem of steamed up windows and allow me to drive the car temporarily until it is fixed? Will this damage the engine or confuse the ecu? (I don't have a/c). And finally, can I buy a kit to do this, or do I just have to botch it with whatever pipe i can lay my hands on. (Does anyone know the size of the heater pipes?)
Sorry for all the questions
Ron

I think you can bypass it using the pipes where they emerge from the bulkhead in the engine compartment.

But its better to bite the bullet and get the thing out and repaired/replaced.

PS have you tried driving with the aircon switched on? that might at least help to prevent or minimise the condensation - aircon should be run throughout the year anyway, with or without heater.

 

[kali291]

Thanks for that. Unfortunately, I don't have aircon, so can't do much about condensation, and it is bad enough to prevent safe driving.
Replacing the heater matrix looks inevitable, but I would have to source the part in the UK (I am assuming there is only one model fits all), and find the time and assistance to replace it.(I am disabled, and unable to put much weight on my left leg, which means getting on and off the floor is a bit of a performance :lol)
Meanwhile, I do need to use the truck, hence the query re bypassing the heater.
Ron

 

[clivvy]

might be worth doing a full coolant change. I believe emptying the engine via the correct drain plug on the engine will empty the whole system, including the matrix. flush out, add new coolant, k-seal or equivalent and see what happens.

 

[solarman216]

Clivvy, have you ever tried to get at that drain plug? on most of the engines we have had out, out of interest I have tried undoing same, several I could not move for fear of shearing the plug off, but yes it is fine to connect the two hoses together, or blank them of makes no difference, till you can replace the heater, Rick

 

[kali291]

Thanks for that. Looks like a bypass is the way to go until I get the heater matrix.
One more question please. Will those pipes join with standard 3/4 inch copper pipe? It looks to be about that size, but I'd like to be sure before I take them off.
thanks
Ron

 

[Liam]

Thanks for that. Looks like a bypass is the way to go until I get the heater matrix.
One more question please. Will those pipes join with standard 3/4 inch copper pipe? It looks to be about that size, but I'd like to be sure before I take them off.
thanks
Ron

I had the same problem recently, used a similar product to Radweld and no problems since. Bradshaws in Portlaoise do a very good Radweld substitute, don't know the name but it comes highly recommended. I think Bradshaws would even post it to you. Anyway, the stuff I used was either German or Austrian, worked a treat and I had exactly the same issue, screen misting and water in the passenger footwell.

 

[kali291]

@Liam. Have already ordered K-Seal from UK, as everybody says its good. If it doesn't work, I'll go to Bradshaws and give that stuff a try. Anything to avoid changing the matrix .
When you did yours, did you just throw the stuff in, or did you flush it first and refill it?
Thanks
Ron

 

[Liam]

@Liam. Have already ordered K-Seal from UK, as everybody says its good. If it doesn't work, I'll go to Bradshaws and give that stuff a try. Anything to avoid changing the matrix .
When you did yours, did you just throw the stuff in, or did you flush it first and refill it?
Thanks
Ron

Just horsed it in as I was in Connemara and had to get back to Laois. Still ok as we speak, so whatever I used it was good.

 

[zippy656]

simple to by pass. you need some rad pipe and just disconect the heater ( two pipes under inter cooler ) and link the two from the engine to a temp fix.