Heater matrix

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
imperial21
Posts: 346
Joined: 26 Aug 2010, 21:16
Location: sunny south, Poole Dorset
My Cars:
x 1

Heater matrix

Post by imperial21 »

I can not decide if my xantia has a leaky heater matrix, i think i found some anti freeze water at the bottom of the heater area but not sure,i think the water felt sticky!
But at the moment we have wet feet so wonder if the wetness in the car is from wet feet as the mats are only a bit wet ! i topped up apox 1/4 ltr of coolant today which is about week or 2 since i last did it :( . i am losing more water now than in the summer but i would expect the floor wells full of water as i keep topping up but cant find any leaks ! i think there is a faint smell of anti freeze but i wonder if its me !!!

If it is the matrix is there any tips to changing it ? are there any short cuts ???????
1999 Xantia exclusive 110BHP !! Now RIP !!
2002 C5 estate 110 hdi, Happily sold on !!!
User avatar
DickieG
Monaco's youngest playboy
Posts: 4877
Joined: 25 Nov 2006, 09:15
Location: Buckinghamshire
My Cars:
x 38

Post by DickieG »

If the matrix ias leaking then it normally shows itself by giving a strange whiff of curry a few minutes after starting from cold (may take longer ATM due to low temperatures).

As far as short cuts :lol: there are a few available allowing the job to be done within a day but allow a weekend to be sure, I've previously posted some and I know Jim has as well so a quick search of the forum will give the details.
13 Ram 1500 Hemi
14 BMW 535D Tourer
19 BMW i3s
06 C3 Desire 1.4
72 DS 21 EFi Pallas BVH
citroenxm
Posts: 8061
Joined: 30 Dec 2004, 23:10
Location: Somewhere in North Wales, Anglesey
My Cars: M reg Xm S2 2.1td Auto Exclusive. 269k and rising
L reg XM S1 V6 12v Manual SEi
L 94 XM 2.1 TD auto total resto

2008 Peugeot 207 Sw 1.6 16v hdi. 217k and rising
2010 Peugeot 207 SW 1.6 8v HDi 161k and rising
x 70

Post by citroenxm »

Hi Imperial21

Could well be the Matrix...

Theres no short cuts for removing the dash really... a tip for the scuttle though, if it still has the Original Citroen sticky holding the scuttle...

Use a hair dryer to help soften the bond while cutting it very carefully with the upmost sharpest of knifes!!!

Any rushing, as tryinging without WILL crack the outer laminate! You be surprised how easy they are to break!

The Matrix pipes, I use a screw driver, a long one, and lever from BEHIND the plastic pipes gently, while holding the clip across...

Once the dash is out, theres NO need to remove the whole heater unit, as you will have air con, you CAN split the heater unit just after the Pollen Filter... Theres Two 10mm bolts, one at the top one at the bottom.. Remove these, plus the 10mm on the Bulkhead in the engine bay, dont forget the Torx screws holding the metal plate behind the heater hoses.. this also holds the matrix to the bulk head...

I, as well as Citrojim, have done a few of these now EACH, so any help greatly offered..

Regards
Paul
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
M reg Xm 2.1 td auto exclusive S2 269k and rising
L reg XM V6 12v SEi auto .. Light project

A very sad...
1994 XM 2.1 d auto
Deanxm
Posts: 3327
Joined: 18 Dec 2008, 17:57
Location: Isle of wight
My Cars: Citroen XM
x 87

Post by Deanxm »

I have not seperated the heater pipes on mine with that silly little clip, i left the pipes in the bulhead and unscrewed the heater matrix from within the cabin and took it out in the heater box, this way i could really wash the heaterbox out to rid the car of that damn curry smell!!!

D
XM Prestige PRV6 92
Talbot Express Autotrail Chinook 89
Mitsubishi L200 Trojan 14
Xantia Activa 95, sold (missed)

Service Citroen is awesome, it shows me pictures of all the parts i used to be able to buy............
citroenxm
Posts: 8061
Joined: 30 Dec 2004, 23:10
Location: Somewhere in North Wales, Anglesey
My Cars: M reg Xm S2 2.1td Auto Exclusive. 269k and rising
L reg XM S1 V6 12v Manual SEi
L 94 XM 2.1 TD auto total resto

2008 Peugeot 207 Sw 1.6 16v hdi. 217k and rising
2010 Peugeot 207 SW 1.6 8v HDi 161k and rising
x 70

Post by citroenxm »

Bloody hell Dean!

That never crossed my mind - becuase the pipes can get in the way when trying to remove the heater box!

Ill do it that way next time! Nice pointer!

Paul
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
M reg Xm 2.1 td auto exclusive S2 269k and rising
L reg XM V6 12v SEi auto .. Light project

A very sad...
1994 XM 2.1 d auto
Deanxm
Posts: 3327
Joined: 18 Dec 2008, 17:57
Location: Isle of wight
My Cars: Citroen XM
x 87

Post by Deanxm »

obviously braver than me Paul, i had to take the boost pipes off to get to the second bolt that holds the heater box in and saw the clip you mention and gave a half assed attemp at removing it but it was -? at the time and being citroen plastic and old i thought it best not to push my luck and took it out from inside instead.

D
XM Prestige PRV6 92
Talbot Express Autotrail Chinook 89
Mitsubishi L200 Trojan 14
Xantia Activa 95, sold (missed)

Service Citroen is awesome, it shows me pictures of all the parts i used to be able to buy............
Peter.N.
Moderating Team
Posts: 11563
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
Location: Charmouth,Dorset
My Cars: Currently:

C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red

In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars.
x 1199

Post by Peter.N. »

Taste it, if its antifreeze it will be sweet - I've been doing it for years and I'm still here. :D

Peter
Toby_HDi
Posts: 1354
Joined: 05 Jan 2008, 21:31
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire
My Cars:
x 3

Post by Toby_HDi »

Peter.N. wrote:Taste it, if its antifreeze it will be sweet - I've been doing it for years and I'm still here. :D

Peter
Not always, these days anti-freeze has bittering agents in to make it not so attractive to children and animals.

Jim will attest to this as he got a mouthful of it when we removed Mike's V6 the second time round :lol:
Toby


Previous:
2004 Peugeot 407 HDi 138 SE Luxury Pack
2001 S2 Xantia HDi 110 SX
2001 Peugeot 406 V6 Coupé
1998 S2 Xantia Activa
2000 S2 Xantia HDi 110 SX
1999 Peugeot 406 2.0 16v Estate
Peter.N.
Moderating Team
Posts: 11563
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
Location: Charmouth,Dorset
My Cars: Currently:

C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red

In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars.
x 1199

Post by Peter.N. »

Well it should taste bitter then :D Hopefully distinguishable from the usual dirty carpet taste.

Peter
Rhothgar
Donor 2023
Posts: 1758
Joined: 22 Nov 2004, 00:21
Location: Nottingham - UK
My Cars: 2013 Peugeot 3008 Allure 1.6HDi - FD63 FWA VF3**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]
1995 Citroen Xantia 1.9TD S1 - M728 GDL VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]
1996 Citroen Xantia 1.9TD SX S1 - N707 MGP (Currrently laid up)
2000 Citroen Xantia 2.0 HDi S2 - X435 JGJ VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff] (Clutch died Dec 2017 - Resurrected Easter Sunday 2021)
1997 Citroen ZX SX TD - P788 AJL
1959 Landrover Defender S2 - Two owners from new
1968 Triumph Vitesse Convertible 2.0
1980 Ford Escort RS2000 Customer - 2nd Owner
1988 Saab 900 T16S - A 1980's exercise in understated Hooliganism...
Oh! and two Harley Davidsons - A 1990 Sportster and a 2003 Fatboy 100th Anniversary (the only vehicle I have owned from new)
x 78

Post by Rhothgar »

Is that curry smell reminiscent of celery or the curry spice, asafoetida?

Hope not!
RichardW
Forum Treasurer
Posts: 10812
Joined: 07 Aug 2002, 17:12
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: MK2 '17 C4GP 1.6 BlueHDi 120
'13 3008 1.6 HDi GripControl
x 983

Post by RichardW »

Link to the heater matrix info in this thread: http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=29981

On the three of mine that have leaked :lol: I have found that the AF drips from a spigot on the bottom of the heater box in the passenger footwell, close to the centre tunnel.

If it's only a minor leak, bung some Forte Rad Sealer in the header tank, and forget about it. Despite having had 3 leaking about the bottom of the dash, I've yet to change one :wink:
Richard W
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25362
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4888

Post by myglaren »

Just come from a garage where they have a broken 206 in.

The owner had put Radseal in to cure a leaking heater matrix and topped the cooling system with water.

When he started the car this morning the cooling system was frozen, including the water pump that stalled the timing belt and it jumped several teeth with much damage to the valves by the sound of things.
User avatar
Chris570
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1461
Joined: 12 Dec 2009, 14:10
Location:
My Cars:
x 29

Post by Chris570 »

myglaren wrote:Just come from a garage where they have a broken 206 in.

The owner had put Radseal in to cure a leaking heater matrix and topped the cooling system with water.

When he started the car this morning the cooling system was frozen, including the water pump that stalled the timing belt and it jumped several teeth with much damage to the valves by the sound of things.

Owwww, that will seriously hurt the wallet!!
2006 C5 HDi 170
1998 Xantia Activa S1
1971 D Special
2006 C3 1.6 HDi SX,
CitroJim wrote: I'm a pink fairy
A 1/3 of Team WFA 'Clarkson'
citroenxm
Posts: 8061
Joined: 30 Dec 2004, 23:10
Location: Somewhere in North Wales, Anglesey
My Cars: M reg Xm S2 2.1td Auto Exclusive. 269k and rising
L reg XM S1 V6 12v Manual SEi
L 94 XM 2.1 TD auto total resto

2008 Peugeot 207 Sw 1.6 16v hdi. 217k and rising
2010 Peugeot 207 SW 1.6 8v HDi 161k and rising
x 70

Post by citroenxm »

Hmmmmm just about sums up MY opinion of any Sealant..

I just DO NOT use them! Id far sooner top a system up with a Mixed anti freeze mix to keep the Rust at bay, and then get the job / do the job when possible!

Paul
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
M reg Xm 2.1 td auto exclusive S2 269k and rising
L reg XM V6 12v SEi auto .. Light project

A very sad...
1994 XM 2.1 d auto
User avatar
Xaccers
Posts: 7654
Joined: 07 Feb 2007, 23:46
Location: Milling around Milton Keynes
My Cars:
x 184

Post by Xaccers »

myglaren wrote:Just come from a garage where they have a broken 206 in.

The owner had put Radseal in to cure a leaking heater matrix and topped the cooling system with water.

When he started the car this morning the cooling system was frozen, including the water pump that stalled the timing belt and it jumped several teeth with much damage to the valves by the sound of things.
Girl I knew at NTL had a Corsa which had been run for 2 years with only water in the coolant (serviced at a Vauxhall garage that she bought it from).
Cold snap over winter and it sheared her water pump killing the head.
Garage said it would be £1400 to repair, but Vauxhall would pay £200 of that as a good will gesture.
She took it to an indie who saw how rusty it was inside, tested the remaining coolant and told her the results.
She got the RAC involved and eventually got the head replaced at no cost (did take the garage 2 attempts though as they got it wrong the first time!).
1.9TD+ SX Xantia Estate (Cassy) running on 100% veg
1.9TD SX Xantia Hatchback (Jenny) running on 100% veg for sale
Laguna II 2.0dCi Privilege (Monty)

DIY sphere tool
Post Reply