Partner Condensation. It's Not The Matrix, Is it?

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 01 Oct 2006, 22:34

I borrowed my brother's '00 Partner yesterday to move some junk. It was bucketing down so I tried to demist the windscreen once the engine had warmed up. Heat wasn't a problem - the van was like a sauna but the condensation on the windows wasn't shifting. The smell in the van could only be described as not nice, a cross between burning plastic and rotten eggs. If the blower was turned off or set to recirc the smell went away. I checked the footwell for damp, but being a rainy day the results were inconclusive...

The condensation remained for most of the day, until the sun came out and I could get the windows down. That is a matrix problem, isn't it? Or something closely related?

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 02 Oct 2006, 10:32

Closely related :
a very humid interior 8)

Open the coolant filler cap and inhale the smell. If you got any similar smell amongst the spicy interior smell - then its the matrix.
Me thinks its just the a/c that needs a good de-fungicide and the car a good ventilation.

Me thinks also that this van could do with lots of TLC. Vans are usually left down by their owner(s).

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 02 Oct 2006, 14:01

Thanks Anders. I forgot to mention there's no aircon on this poor little Pug. The coolant smell is similar alright. That's not good then...

I thought the funny smell might just be something scorched in or around the blower fan, but it looks like that's not the case now. €600 is the ballpark figure for a matrix change at a backstreet mechanic around here, so I think my brother better get shopping for a BOL and some tools.

I know what you mean about vans and TLC alright. Shame most have the crap driven out of them by somebody who isn't paying the servicing bills, or stopped and started fifty times a day. Second-hand vans can be a dodgy prospect alright, even with an FSH...

pugxpert · Unread post by **pugxpert** » 02 Oct 2006, 18:36

windscreen is leaking? water test around screen rubber check water not in bsi thats a favourite place to collect it

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 02 Oct 2006, 20:57

Cheers, I'll check that out as well tomorrow. The previous owner was a windscreen replacement company, so that would be very ironic but not surprising....

np · Unread post by np » 02 Oct 2006, 21:14

Does it have a cabin/pollen filter?If so,has it ever been changed?Could be this has become blocked up.On my Xantia if i left it to long before i changed it,the windows would mist up quicker & there would be a slight damp`ish smell.
I noticed you said if you switch it to recurculating the smell goes away,so the fan is drawing air from inside the car,van

not through the pollen filter.
Could be worth a shot.

Unread post by **philhoward** » 02 Oct 2006, 21:34

np wrote:Does it have a cabin/pollen filter?If so,has it ever been changed?Could be this has become blocked up.On my Xantia if i left it to long before i changed it,the windows would mist up quicker & there would be a slight damp`ish smell.
I noticed you said if you switch it to recurculating the smell goes away,so the fan is drawing air from inside the car,van not through the pollen filter.
Could be worth a shot.

I was just going to say the pollen filter, but thought it best to read the other replies first...

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 02 Oct 2006, 22:12

The pollen filter was my first thought until I looked beind the glovebox and saw it didn't exist.

I know it is neglected on Berlingos/Partners at service time seeing as you need to be either a contortionist or a midget to get at it...

God bless that non-moveable passenger seat/table.

James.UK · Unread post by **James.UK** » 25 Nov 2006, 00:50

As a rule of thumb, no air con : no pollen filter.. But even with aircon my Accord has no filters..

.

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 25 Nov 2006, 14:12

Thanks for the replies.

It appears it was the matrix in the end.

A replacement has been ordered. I didn't realise they were so cheap at €60. Autodata shows the labour time to be 4.8 hours to get the dash off and back on again, so that's gonna be the expensive part.

If it was my van I'd get a BOL and have a bash at it myself, but it isn't mine so it's off to the garage...