Theo205 0 Posted May 4, 2007 We , the 205 owners, know by first hand the excelent quality of French plastics , especially when they become as old as 15yo. Now imagine the same 15yo plastic spending its life time in a country where summer temps reach 44 degrees. For the last 4 years my 205s dash has been coming appart (dissolving) slowly slowly day after day, and rattling was becoming unbareable. I tried several times to remove and use epoxy chem. glue etc to help suspend its life but nothing helped. So I decided to get me some used dash parts in better shape from the UK. Thanks to my friend Dino and some other excelent dude around uk Ebay (justgtis), I finally got all the parts for my new dash delivered to Cyprus for peanuts. Tonight I decided to take the big step and started to dissassemble the whole dash. Thankfully I found a "DASH REMOVAL GUIDE" laying somewhere in my hard disc. It was written by a forum member some time ago (some Andrew Robinson) and it was indeed VERY helpful. If anybody wants it i can send it on email . SInce I would be doing this kind of job I thought i could also do some other stuff while I was that deep, so I will also change the heater matrix and do some rewiring. Heres my old dash resting on the couch (in pieces ) http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/Theo...pg?t=1178317729 http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/Theo...pg?t=1178317885 And some reparing/reinforcing to the main body of the dash with loads of epoxy glue. I did this not only to protect it but also to elliminate rattling since some parts that are supposed to be glued/attached directly on the main body of the dash had come loose and rattle. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/Theo...pg?t=1178318088 And a couple of questions for the more expirienced... What is this? I found it mounted on the side of the steering column. I had to remove it in order slide the heater matrix out. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/Theo...pg?t=1178318197 I tried swapping the ph2 heater matrix with a ph1 heater matrix and it didnt fit.. The ph1 is a bit longer since it carries an extra plastic cover on its side. it wont slide all the way in. ANybody had the same problem? Where can I get me a new heater matrix for a good price and EU shipping? ANyway. I hope I will finish everything except the heater matrix in a couple of days. Since then wish me luck ... and patience Theo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars Posted May 4, 2007 "What is this? I found it mounted on the side of the steering column. I had to remove it in order slide the heater matrix out." central locking control module for the PLIP system Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taylorspug 7 Posted May 5, 2007 Heater matrix can be had for around £35 from people like GSF or Euro Car Parts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theo205 0 Posted May 5, 2007 "What is this? I found it mounted on the side of the steering column. I had to remove it in order slide the heater matrix out." central locking control module for the PLIP system Thanks. I removed it and now my aftermarket central locking mechanism works better previously it used to lock and unlock the door very lazy and sometimes i needed to press the lock/unlock button twice to work.. It seems the two devices were conflicting in some way. Now it works perfectly!! Meanwhile I took appart the wiper-stalk and cleaned all of its contacts. The water jet pump now works alot better. I still have a problem with the heater matrix though The heater matrix i took off a PH1 GTI wont fit in the slot all the way in. It seems it is a bit bigger on the one end because of the plastic cap. I searched a bit and found out that there should be no essential difference between ph1 and ph2 heater matrix radiators. In addition , all other heater matrix Ive seen untill now carry the plastic cap on one end while the one that was on my car doesnt? ANy clues what is wrong here? http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/Theo...pg?t=1178364378 I need to know because i cant risk buying a new matrix to find out that it wont fit. Thanx Theo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Super Josh 4 Posted May 5, 2007 Nice 'Scope and Sig. Generators in your workshop Josh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theo205 0 Posted May 5, 2007 Heater matrix can be had for around £35 from people like GSF or Euro Car Parts. Thanx Taylor, Ive already checked that but it would be a pitty if i got the matrix shipped to Cyprus and then find out that it wont fit either... This is why im trying to sort this out Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daza4 24 Posted May 5, 2007 ANy clues what is wrong here? http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/Theo...pg?t=1178364378 I need to know because i cant risk buying a new matrix to find out that it wont fit. Thanx Theo I think you might find the end cover is not on your matrix (from your picture the end is missing ie exposing the coils inside the matrix itself) is actually stuck inside the dash. Thus it feels that the matrix is too big as part of the old one is still in the plastic sleve it fits in. remove this and it will probably fit your new one. Mine feel off when i replaced my matrix!!! Daza4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damien 22 1 Cars Posted May 5, 2007 changing the dashes over isnt that bad of a job, took me a weekend to remove a ph 1.5 and fit a ph 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gti_al 1 Posted May 5, 2007 As has been said, it isn't that bad. I've gone from phase 1 to 2, and despite not being able to get the last bits it has been ok. It has been like this for six months - doesn't look that crap once you get used to it... The different series cars have different heater boxes though, so you may have to swap the front bit to fit the different matrix. They come apart fairly easily, so it isn't really a problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theo205 0 Posted May 5, 2007 Yes its not THAT bad but when you are working with extremly fragile and already cracked plastic is even harder. In reply to DAZA: Unfortunately that is not the case. I tried removing the plastic from the PH1 rad to discover that the rad pipes didnt loop back into the rad like on the other matrix. It needs that cap to be on. I looked in the dash where the matrix slides in and theres nothing in it. After inspecting the heater unit from the other side It looks as if that "extra" plastic cover like the one on the side of the ph1 rad is BUILT-in the heater unit. Its one piece with the rest of the heater unit. Is it like this in all 205 gti? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daza4 24 Posted May 5, 2007 In reply to DAZA: Unfortunately that is not the case. I tried removing the plastic from the PH1 rad to discover that the rad pipes didnt loop back into the rad like on the other matrix. It needs that cap to be on. I looked in the dash where the matrix slides in and theres nothing in it. After inspecting the heater unit from the other side It looks as if that "extra" plastic cover like the one on the side of the ph1 rad is BUILT-in the heater unit. Its one piece with the rest of the heater unit. Is it like this in all 205 gti? Is yours a LHD or RHD 205 ?? sorry never been to cyprus (Think you have RHD ??) When I removed my matrix then end fell off and looked like the top picture. So must have been similar but the end did come out in the end!!! and the replacement certainly looked like the lower picture. There is'nt anything else stopping it from going back into place???? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theo205 0 Posted May 5, 2007 I've done it.... RHD Danza As I said the heater matrix side cap was one with thebody of the heater... So I put in use my pneumatic jigsaw After that The heater matrix slided right in Still, ive never seen this kind of heater on any other 205.. Maybe its because the car had an A/c and used a different kind of heater unit? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Super Josh 4 Posted May 7, 2007 Maybe its because the car had an A/c and used a different kind of heater unit? No, A/C 205 has the same Heater Matrix. Josh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
