Heater / radiator problems
 

My heater is only giving out heat (accept when you turn it fully to the cold, but one click upper would give out heat). Also A/c is not working. And I noticed my radiator fluid is constantly droping from time to time, and there is fluid on the drivers side underneath the radiator. But my gauge is staying mid-way, i.e. its not showing that the car is over heating.

This started to happen when I tried to turn the car on without the ECU plugged in. I already tried flushing the new system, and re-filling it but no luck. Do you think its the thermostat? .....but the gauge is not showing any sign of heating. All fuses are intact.

by the way the car is a my97 WRX.

water leak causing the heater matrix to be empty.. ?

What is the heater matrix? If its the radiator, I have filled it, close the top, then turn the engine on till it got warm, and then top it up again .

The heater matrix is the "mini radiator" that is behind the dash and warms the air...

There are two small hoses that go into the side of the water pump, try disconnecting the one from the matrix and see if there is coolant flowing, it might be blocked.

Where is the tap to fill the heater matrix? What do I fill it with? water?

The heater matrix is sealed, it recirculates out side of the radiator/block coolant circuit.. You should be able to see the hoses coming into the engine bay from inside the car through the bulk head just under the intercooler.

Could this be possibly related to the fact that sometimes oil leaks near the driver side? I was told by the mechanic that there was only a little bit coming out, and it wasn't that of an issue.

The oil leak is probably the rocker/cam cover gasket, the exhaust runs very close to the head on this side and can cause this gasket to deteriorate, its not really a big issue it just means oil will drip onto the exhaust and smell a bit.

As for the cooling system problems, first of all you should try flushing the cooling system with a flushing product.

when you top up the water put the heater on hot.. otherwise it will not fill the heater matrix..

This does not apply to the heater matrix in the Impreza. There is no valve regulating waterflow through the heater core (always fully open), the temperature is adjusted by a butterfly valve regulating AIRflow through it.

I also had a defective heater matrix in my MY97, probably caused by corrosive coolant. Now I change the coolant at least 1-2 times every year.

We lifted the car today, and found out that there is a rust patch on the bottom of the radiator, hence coolant is leaking from there. Do you reckon if when I change the radiator the heater matrix would be fixed?

if the rad is leaking water and the level dropping enough that the heater matrix is empty then yes you would get no heat with heater on as it has no water in it.

Simon

No problem is that I am getting heat only.

If you have a leak on the radiator replace it. Since the heater matrix is in the same system as the leak then you need to sort out the first problem before you can be sure you have one with something else. Dont use any of that stop leak additive. Ive had to replace 3 heater matrix's on peoples cars because the stuff blocks holes but it also blocks the small pipes in the heater matrix.

Problem has been sorted with a new radiator. Thanks to you alll!