Leaking heater

Iain78 · Post by **Iain78** » 22 Oct 2008, 12:51

Hi guys - i am new to here - and i am hoping someone may be able to help me out.

The car involved in a Citroen Saxo mischief - and the problem lies with the heater of the car - in the fact that it doesnt work and clear the mist on the wondscreen. This is not helped with the fact that it is drippig water out of the botton of the heater.

Can anyone shed any light as to any possible problem - except its .... and needs a hammer taking to it?!

Thanks

Iain

TBONE · Post by **TBONE** » 22 Oct 2008, 13:19

its the heater matrix so needs investigating obviously there is more damages than you first thought "The car involved in a Citroen Saxo mischief"

Post by **CitroJim** » 22 Oct 2008, 13:20

Welcome to the forum

Nah, no need of a hammer Iain

It just might need a new heater matrix fitted. An easy enough job, just incredibly tedious and long-winded due to the need to remove the complete dash. At least, I believe you do on a Saxo.

Is the driping water coolant? You can tell by dipping your finger in and tating it if the smell and colour of it has not given it away already. Coolant will have a very sweet taste. Just a taste though as it's poisonous.

If not coolant, the problem may be that the cooling system needs a bleed. The TU engine in the Saxo is the very devil to bleed. You need to use a header tank on the expansion bottle and to open all three bleed valves.

If it is not coolant leaking, you may well have the problem where the scuttle panel at the bottom of the windscreem has lost its bond to the screen glass. This can be fixed with a bead of automotive RTV sealant. Rain then runs straight into the heater air intake.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 25 Oct 2008, 12:56

So is the XM the only model that is sensible enough to NOT need to take the dash out to change the matrix...

OF Course it is, its not a Peugeot dictated layout and they were allowed to do it their way...

Paul

Old-Guy · Post by **Old-Guy** » 26 Oct 2008, 15:21

Paul

I think you mistake the priorities of modern automotive design: on the one hand, cut component and assembly costs to the bone (and beyond), and on the other, increase repair costs.

Dealers make next to nothing on new cars and servicing is highly competitive. So to stay in business manufacturers need to shorten 'economic life' to keep selling new cars and dealers need time-consuming (profitable) repair jobs. And of course, they can't do without each other!