Steamy Windows. Matrix?

[macaroni 17 1 Cars]

Not a Tina Turner song and an over-long sci-fi trilogy, but issues with my car.

 

When blowing warm air against the screen, the car really steams up, plus the passenger footwell is wet with a sweet-tasting liquid.

So, I am guessing my heater matrix has a leak.

 

Is there any way the matrix would leak into the passenger side?

 

The procedure in Haynes seems very complex and involves removing the dash (something I intend to do anyway in the near future), but I've read posts in here that suggest it can be removed from the drivers footwell.

 

Is it really that easy?

 

I won't get a chance to look until Sunday, so thought I'd get a few pointers from people who have done the job before.

 

There is an ECP and Peugeot dealer very near my house, so I can get parts easily.

 

Cheers,

 

Antony

[Anthony 1,003]

No need to remove the dash - just remove the drivers side lower cowling, and there's space to squeeze it out from there.

 

And yes, does sound like a heater matrix that's failed. Could make the passenger footwell wet.

[Kezzer30 40 1 Cars]

Mine steams up really easily aswel but i find if i leave the heaters on and the windows down abit it helps

[Alan77 78 1 Cars]

Wear a headtorch when you change it out. It's much easier to see under there when poking the pipes out the bulkhead and fitting the new matrix.

[Alan77 78 1 Cars]

Mine steams up really easily aswel but i find if i leave the heaters on and the windows down abit it helps

 

This usually indicates moisture generally inside the car. Have a look under the carpet and discover the delights of the lovely original soundproofing...

[macaroni 17 1 Cars]

Thanks chaps, I'll pick up a matrix from ECP tomorrow and have a go at the weekend.

 

Mine didn't used to steam up, so something has gone wrong and I don't have a headtorch!

I've just drained and replaced the coolant when I fitted a new metal water pipe and hoses then remembered about the passenger footwell issue - oops!

[Alan77 78 1 Cars]

Yep, a coolant swap with a stronger mixture will show up any weaknesses in the plumbing, usually the culprit being an old heater matrix.

[Kezzer30 40 1 Cars]

 

 

This usually indicates moisture generally inside the car. Have a look under the carpet and discover the delights of the lovely original soundproofing...

 

Il have alook haha n post some pics for u lmao

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

Get your head unit out for the time being as its at risk of water damage

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

Get your head unit out for the time being as its at risk of water damage

 

Good tip.

 

MIne was leaking ever so slightly and I only noticed when I could see a tiny amount of moisture appearing in the radio aperture as I didn't have one fitted at the time.

[macaroni 17 1 Cars]

Almost got the old matrix out, except for one of the screws that holds one of the pipes in has corroded and rounded the head!

 

Does a new matrix come with the plastic housing in the side that the pipes screw into?

 

If so, I'll break it to remove it.

[Anthony 1,003]

The plastic end housing is part of the matrix, so yes, you'll get that with the new one.

 

I would try to avoid damaging the two pipes if you can help it though, as the new pipes that come with the new matrix can sometimes be a dubious fit and you might have to reuse the old ones. The two that I've done in the last couple of years were both fine, but others have had difficulties.

 

Don't forget the screw nearer the bulkhead that secures the pipes to the side of the heater box, otherwise you'll break the fixing when you go to remove the pipes.

[Anthony 1,003]

 

That's what comes with the ECP heater matrix when you buy it.

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

Are these oriented (e.g. RHD specific)?

 

I have a couple of OE ones and one seems like it would fit either while the other doesn't.

[Anton green 12 1 Cars]

Having done this job the hard way and removed the dash, then rebuilt it to find I could have access from the drivers footwell -after my new radio died from water ingress... the only thing I can add to the above good info is really to attempt to dry out the carpet underlay or replace it with something dry. Once wet it weighs plenty and generally wont do any good down there. It'll probably come away in chunks.

[welshpug 1,657]

Are these oriented (e.g. RHD specific)?

 

I have a couple of OE ones and one seems like it would fit either while the other doesn't.

 

no, the matrix itself is the same regardless but the hoses in the engine bay differ.

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

One of mine is exactly like the ECP one in the photo above, but the other one has angled outlets,

so wouldn't be possible to turn it around and use in an RHD car. It may have been a Ph1 unit though.

[macaroni 17 1 Cars]

Job jobbed. I had to use one ECP pipe as I needed to hacksaw the old one due to the rounded screw head.

No matter, its all gone back nicely and I'll refill with water this morning and check it out.

 

I pulled most of the dash out anyway as much of it needs replacing.

 

And yes Anton, the carpet will have to come out as it is saturated.

 

One thing though, I couldn't actually see any sign of a leak on the matrix. It could have been an o-ring, but they're on the drivers side.

Not entirely convinced this was my problem...

[macaroni 17 1 Cars]

The carpet underlay seems to be in very good condition and surprisingly dry.

 

That being the case and assuming I've fixed the leak, would you remove and replace it regardless of condition, or leave well alone?

[macaroni 17 1 Cars]

Upon closer inspection, the passenger carpet underlay was a bit damp so out it came. The floor was in excellent condition though, so can't have been leaking for long.

I thoroughly dried it and went to Halfords for some Vibe sound deadening material. The piece they had was an EXACT fit in the footwell so I bought 2. The drivers side is definitely dry so may use it in the boot instead.

 

My washed and sweet-smelling carpet is now back in so I'll have to see if it still leaks from anywhere.

 

I gave the roof/windscreen.wing and inside wheelarch a good hosing with no water ingress, so unless I've missed somewhere, it should be dry.