heater matrix problem 1.9td mark 1 xantia

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kevino
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heater matrix problem 1.9td mark 1 xantia

Post by kevino »

Hi Eveybody & a happy new year,
I have a 1.9 td xantia, I have recently noticed that the heater doesn't seem to be getting hot in the car even though the car engine temperature is a steady 71 degrees. I think I have tried the logical things like water level and draining the water and replacing with coolant and water mix but nothing seems to make any difference. Has anybody any ideas as i am puzzled and cold.

Cheers Kevino
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Post by myglaren »

Have you thoroughly bled the system? An air lock could prevent coolant flowing through the heater matrix - or worse.

Did it seem to stop working all of a sudden, could be clogged with sediment.

Try disconnecting the heater hoses and flushing them through with a hose.
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Post by andmcit »

How long have you had the car?

I ask as the previous owner has probably decided that rather than remove
the whole dash to renew a leaking heater matrix and/or lose use of the
car, an easier solution was a cheat by bridging the inlet/outlet pipes inside
the engine bay on the bulkhead so NO hot water will remotely enter the
cabin allowing heat to dissipate into the heater trunking.

Andrew
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Post by admiral51 »

Does the radiator get fully hot and do the cooling fans kick in at about the 70 degree mark

I had a similar problem with my mk1 1.9td where the temp got to 70 ish and the fans would kick in but the rad was only hot near the top.

i let the engine go cold and then did a coolant/air bleed turned out i had an airlock soon as the system was properly bled the rad got fully hot and warm air was again available in the cabin :D :D

Worth checking the inlet/outlet pipes if the car is new to you

Colin
kevino
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Post by kevino »

hi andmcit
I've had the car for a few years now and have never had any problems with the matrix it always did get very hot in the car, it now gets warm as though it's only on half heat , it's as though there is water getting through but not enough to get the car hot. I've tried the heater valve on the dash board, it turns the full 90 degrees at the valve so there should be a full flow but there isn't.

cheers kevino
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Post by admiral51 »

Hi kevino
Just a thought having read your last post.....
When you say its only getting warm not hot do you get full power from the interior fan as if the pollen filter is blocked you will not get much heat blown into the cabin.

Still worried that temp sits at 70 though

Colin
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Post by admiral51 »

just thought again 70 is about right this time of year does the temp go up if left at idle for a while??

Colin
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Post by CitroJim »

The heater is an air-blender so the slideron the heater panel controls the movement of a flap. Hot water flows through the matrix itsel full-bore, constantly; there is no water valve.

On an air conditioned car, the flap is motor driven. It is not uncommon for this to fail and give the symptoms of a duff matrix. The temperature slider is mainly just a switch...

There have been several posts in the past about this very problem.

Also, you may have an issue where the climate control ECU believes the cabin to be warm and closes off the flap.. This is often caused by a stuck/seized fan in the cabin air temperature sensor that hides behind the alarm LED...

A quick Lexia session will reveal all.
Jim

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Post by Clogzz »

If both heater hoses are about equally hot, it means that the water flows through normally.
The water flow through the heater starts immediately, not going through thermostats or anything.
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Post by Xaccers »

citrojim wrote: On an air conditioned car, the flap is motor driven. It is not uncommon for this to fail and give the symptoms of a duff matrix. The temperature slider is mainly just a switch...

There have been several posts in the past about this very problem.
That's what I reckoned to have happened to my other estate.
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