Heater pipes on bulkhead help wanted

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 24 Jul 2007, 22:17

Through my flu addled clumsiness I've managed to break the input/output
pipes on the bulkhead that feed into the heater matrix on my TD VSX Xantia
estate...

This is the receiver end ON THE ACTUAL BULKHEAD for the totally naff affair
quick assemble impossible disassemble joint that joins the ends of the two
pipes off the engine to the heater.

What I really need to know now is how this is mounted/removed off the
bulkhead. I've undone two torx screws on a plate that then flops about but
the receiver pipes dont seem to move.

I REALLY dont want to hear that they come off the car by going inwards
towards the matrix heater box and dashboard. To add to my woes I cannot
see pictures on the new PR net so would apprecite anyone's time to access
this particular hideous design Citroen managed to contrive to scupper me.

Andrew

LeeDJC · Unread post by **LeeDJC** » 24 Jul 2007, 22:20

These pipes are attached to the heater matrix....and you know what I'm going to say next......

....Yes, unfortunately, the ONLY way to change these is by removing the dash. They come away with the matrix itself.

On a brighter note, however, I've got a spare set of pipes that you can have for nowt. You "simply" need to undo the two 8mm bolts on the matrix and remove the old one, then pop on two new seals and screw the new one back on.

Sorry for the bad news!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Jul 2007, 22:27

Andrew,

I have a picture downloaded from pr.net ready for you but the photobucket site is down at the moment

As soon as it is back up, I'll post it up.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 24 Jul 2007, 23:33

Thanks! What a totally rubbish design!

Guess I would either have to live with a permanently cold interior, or
wait for the heater matrix to leak, BUT it never will now as the pipes
aren't connected...

Why is everything now made of brittle crap plastic on Xm's and Xantiae.
You wouldn't get the same issues with a CX or a GS. Rust - Yes, broken
tacky plakky heater inlets, accumulator return bowl NO!!

Access to the heater matrix inlet is totally abysmal in the engine bay
of a 1.9TD although this had been made even worse by the AC pipes.
I now know that working blind in the throes of hideous flu/lurgy isn't
the best idea. Hope this hard learned lesson may help others from
being so cack-handed!

This whole scenario started as the positive feed to the lighting circuit
went awol and I was tracing methods of routing a new wire through into
the cabin from the battery and the bonnet release cable goes through the
bulkhead sitting directly below the confounded fragile as papier maché
piping for the heater. Looks like I'm going to find out what happened to
the lighting wire after I've removed the contents of the front of the car's
interior the HARD WAY...

I REALLY dont want to know...

Andrew

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 25 Jul 2007, 12:39

Hi Andrew,

I feel your frustration

Here is the picture:

If it is any consolation, I'm going to have to my matrix sooner or later. Once the car starts to smell like a curry house you just know

I'm going to risk a bit of Bars leaks first though...

LeeDJC · Unread post by **LeeDJC** » 25 Jul 2007, 12:43

The only thing that the PR net pic doesn't show is that the pipes that come off the matrix are removable.

But TBH, you may as well change the matrix whilst you are there anyway!

Unread post by **RichardW** » 25 Jul 2007, 12:52

Try Forte Radiator Sealer. I've used it in both my Xantias and is has cured leaks that were dripping out of the bottom of the dash - seemingly without any ill effects (well, both cars dropped their running temps to 70°C some time afterwards, but I'm not sure if this due to the Forte, or just coincidence, as it happened at about the same mileage...). My current one is about 35k on from Forte and I just get the occasional whiff - and this car developed the leak pretty quick, just a few days from no smell ty water out of the dash, compared to my previous car that had the curry house smell for about 25k miles before I got any water out.

Trouble is, the Forte stuff is about £14 a shot - half the cost of a new matrix

. 0.1% of the installation time though

LeeDJC · Unread post by **LeeDJC** » 25 Jul 2007, 12:57

As the pipes are broken, the only way to fix is to replace them....

handyman · Unread post by **handyman** » 25 Jul 2007, 13:42

Hi Andrew,

Reading your initial posting, have you broken the pipes going into the bulhead or the two right angles pipes that are connected to the heater pipes? I would be really surprised if you had snapped the two bulkhead pipes as they are quite substantial, unlike the elbowed heater pipe connectors.

These elbow pipes tend to suffer fatigue over a period of time and can get very brittle. They then only need a little bit of force to collapse.

If it is the latter, do not panic as they can be removed and a replacement fitted without the expense of buying the complete hose set.

Most Citroen and Peugeot cars use the same system, with slight variations, so a visit to your local breakers should supply you with the elbow assembly, cut from the connecting pipes at the back of the engine.

With the old elbow connectors, carefully cut through the plastic supports in line with the rubber pipes, taking care not to damage the pipes. Ease the pipes off the remains of the connectors, taking care not to let the cracked plastic fall into the pipes. Do the same to the connectors you have got from the scrapyard. Get a couple of jubilee clips and refit the pipes to the new connectors. Either fit new O rings or grease up the old ones with vaseline and refit the connector block. Fill with system with fluid and test.

Hope this has helped.

I have done a few matrix changes and never come across the link pipes to the matrix being damaged or rotten, although I have found a few duff elbow connectors.

Handyman

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 25 Jul 2007, 22:04

Update!!

I've spent a stupid amount of time humming and harring with this broken
bulkhead fitting pipe/joint with mirrors/lights and a load of eye strain and
headache pills!!

Now able to actually see the broken part with nothing to lose I've attempted
a repair of the broken piece. Effectively what's happened is the sleeve/collar
on ONE of the two pipes fixed off the end of the heater matrix has snapped
off in about a 1/3rd of the circumference just the safe side of the seating
for the o ring. It's broken enough to worry me about the O ring failing
though!

I loctited the offending fragment and then skimmed the outside wall with
a good helping of some Plastic Paddding instant metal. I'm just hoping now
that there isn't any real stress on the outer sleeve or the O ring when the
bent twin pipe heel is offered up into it.

Yep, could still all end in tears. I've bought a shiny new heater matrix as
a 'back up' plan B hoping it's a positive jinx as now I've spent the money
sod's law dictates it's now superfluous...

FURTHER PROGRESS REPORTS TO FOLLOW!!

Andrew