ScoobyDoo555

Now, I KNOW it's a bast@rd to get to, as it's a dashboard "out" job.

However, my guess is that in the meantime, the car isn't safe to use.

My reasoning? Well, the heater matrix is fed from the coolant running around the engine. if the matrix goes in some fashion, obviously, its content of coolant will p1ss out all over the carpets in the car!!

OR will it?

I genuinely don't know, but something in me says that just because the matrix goes, surely the car doesn't become undriveable.........

Now at present, it's just misting up, and smells of dead rat, but no serious leakage into the cabin....... so what's the verdict?

Dan

bugeyeandy

Don't know on that car but sometimes it's possible to join the inlet and outlet hoses to the matrix under the bonnet.
Means your heater won't work but does mean you'll be able to drive the car safely.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

My heater matrix went, no water in the car also no water in the radiator
so no, its not safe to drive
Also ensure they get the right heater matrix for it, GTi-6's have a different one to other 306's, but if you take it to someone reasonable it will cost you about 400 quid to have it fitted, saves the hassle as it is a dash out job

Tony

jjones

try radweld first

Biggsy

Definitely worth a try.

I used something similar [the name eludes me] years ago when I had my GTI 6.

I took it to my local garage with about 2inches of water in the passenger footwell. The chap told me how much of a nightmare changing the matrix would be - dash out etc, so recommended the radweld type stuff. It worked and had no more trouble with it.

ScoobyDoo555

Thanks guys - by the looks of it, the rad's blocked (heater matrix), as it;s bl00dy cold in there now!!
I checked the radiator whilst it was running, and the coolant came up to the top - indicates to me that the liquid's taking an alternative (shorter) route away from the heater matrix.
No puddles in the footwell, but it's probably a ticking timebomb. I've got a heater matrix now, and am looking to put it in over the next few days.

Drove it to work today (12miles), just to see how bad it was - the temp got up to just over 110, then the little red warning light came on.
So, I'm letting it cool right back down now (won't take long - it's -2 here!! ), then I'll drive it back home and park up.

Thankfully, I'm on holiday this week, and don't need my other car, so Wifey can use it

Dan

Dream Weaver

You can just join the pipes together as said above to bypass the heater matrix - on the 205 its just the 2 pipes into the bulkhead, not sure where they are on the 306.

Watch the head gasket if you have the red light coming on!!

ScoobyDoo555

yeh - I know! Just had the gasket done before Chrimbo. Don't really want to redo it

Dan

ScoobyDoo555

just a bit of an update for you - turns out that the heater matrix is OK!!

yes, it smells a bit, so I'm still going to do it, but probably at Easter when I've got some more time.

So what was it?

Turns out that the thermostat that was replaced when I did the head in October was dodgy.

£7 later and 15mins fitting......HEAT!!!

Car's now running like a dream.

Lesson learnt? Always look for the cheapest-to-repair fault first. Then work up.

Dan (lovin his GTi6 again!!! )

Biggsy

Good result

BOB.T

There is some stuff you can get to remove smells from heaters / aircon systems, I forget the name though. It comes in an aerosol with a long tube that you poke down the heater outlets and then spray away! It kills all the bacteria which cause smells, might be worth a shot if your still having problems Also, do you have a pollen filter, that may need changing.

ScoobyDoo555

Nice one - will have a looky!

Dan