Leaky Heater And Its Not The Matrix :(

[Tommer 0]

hey guys,

 

I hope someone can offer me some assistance as I am pulling my hair out. I recently bought new window rubbers for the rear windows, bought new sound prooding felt and cleaned my carpet, I want to put it all back in now, however i discovered some new water pools in the front footwells. one of which is on the drivers side is coming in from the windscreen, and I have bought some nice squidgy black windscreen sealer to stop that! the other seems to be coming from the centre console / dashboard where the heater comes to the floor above where the radio fits. I first thought it was where I had left the scuttle panel off and the water from the rain had gone directly into the air intake and dripped through, but I have put the scuttle back on and this still happens. i thought it might be the heater matrix but its not, it only happens when it rains and it doesnt taste like coolant. so i am stumped.

 

I keep getting pools over water (not massive ones) on the tunnel that the exhaust runs under (see pics), so I daren't put the carpet and new sound proofing in until I have fixed the leak!

 

any help appreciated, cheers guys

 

link to pic where leak is

[2-Pugs 57]

Have you got a sunroof?

[Goliath 94]

another vote for a leaky sunroof if you have one!

[Tommer 0]

I have got a sunroof yes, but you can see the water dripping off the heater matrix surround...

I bit the bullet today, ripped the dash out and checked it all, final thing was the matrix, pulled that out and the thing was rusty and corroded seems like I found the source! gutted.

 

some pics:

Dash out

 

Matrix pipes in engine bay

 

looking a state

 

rusty matrix

[Goliath 94]

Im pretty sure i have a spare matrix if you dont already have a replacement!

PM me if you want it

[jackherer 543]

Too late now but you really don't need to take the dash out...

[Tommer 0]

I had read a couple of posts about not needing to take the dash out to remove the matrix, but I thought to be on the safe side I had better have a check for any possible leaks before putting the carpets back down, glad I did as the seam sealer had come off in a few places on the bulkhead so I can sort that and re-seal the windscreen whilst the dash is out of the way

[jackherer 543]

Fair enough mate, the main reason for my post was to stop others reading this thread from doing unnecessary work. Haynes have got a lot to answer for...

[Tommer 0]

I know, damn haynes! I have a manual for every car / bike I have ever owned, and this one for the 205 seems to be the least useful not sure why