1999 1.9td 406 Heater Matrix replacement

[Breedsey]

Looking for advice/ info on the above subject as mine has just poured all the coolant into the footwells via the heater vents!!!

I.E. is it do-able or not worth the hassle?
Any tips from anyone that's done it??

[CitroJim]

I would imagine, having no direct, first-hand experience, that for 406 read Xantia in the heater matrix department.

I'd expect it to be a full dash-out job.

Sounds harsh and difficult but in reality, if anything like a Xantia, just a long and tedious job.

It might be too late if it is really leaking bad but a bottle of Forte Leak Stop is always worth a try to stave off the fateful day. It's pretty magical stuff!

A leakiy matrix is not a good reason to scrap a car!

[Julz]

I've not done this on a 406, but if it's anything like when I did my Dad's Renault 5 many years ago we have to take almost the entire interior out to get to it, absolute pig of job.
Don't the heater matrices tend to be ally with plastic end caps that fall off (R5 was) so leak stop may not work, especially as you say poured all the coolant into the footwells

[spider]

Jim's right, similar to Xantia job.

I've never actually had to do one, but as he says its not 'that' difficult, more a long long job with an excess of dismantling (and remembering where each screw / bolt goes etc)

I can't remember the book time for it but 9 hours (aka: more than one days work time in a workshop) springs to mind , although that could be for a 306...

But its no 'really' difficult its just a long job. Not sure if column has to come out for this on a 406, I'd say probably not as you only need access to the heater box.

If its any help, I'm told its easier than a 405 one mostly.

[Breedsey]

Thanks for the replies guys, i've got the old one out, it's actually not too bad a job, it'd be a proper pain on a left hand drive model, you'd have to take the steering column out!!!

On a right hand drive you take the glove box out, then you're meant to take the complete dash out but, it's only a small corner that obstructs the removal of the matrix so i just trimmed above an inch off of the dash where it was in the way, it wont notice once the glove box is back in situ.
Then you just undo 1 bolt that holds the pipes in and 2 bolts that holds the matrix in then simply slid it out.

I've just gotta get a new one and refitit now, i reckon i could do it in an hour or so tops next time.

[citronut]

Andy wrote
"If its any help, I'm told its easier than a 405 one mostly."

i always thought the 405 was much like the BX, which is very easy and is no more that about a moornings work

regards malcolm

[toh]

If this is the same thing as I am looking for.

[Oldpug]

Andy wrote
"If its any help, I'm told its easier than a 405 one mostly."

i always thought the 405 was much like the BX, which is very easy and is no more that about a moornings work

regards malcolm

The early RHD 405’s were easy. Glove box out, a few screws and out it comes.
Then Peugeot came up with the face lift 405, with a different dash.Huge job, the whole dash had to be lifted away to get the matrix out.