On Xantia Heater Matrix Elbows and Rad Sealants...

Post by **CitroJim** » 10 Oct 2011, 20:08

I've seen them where they blow white powder out of the vents Lexi.. Now that is scary...

Never fear, I'm on the case and I'm thinking of ways of mitigating it and making the job easier or less doomed to disaster, it all centres round that bloody elbow...

Watch this space, I have ideas forming...

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 10 Oct 2011, 20:15

lexi wrote:
Eventually you'll get mist coming out the vents and even having the a/c on won't stop the windscrean from fogging up.
Cheer us up why don't ya Sounded like something from a John Carpenter movie there...........maybe The Fog

Had that in Juliet, mist coming out the vents.
Cassy was starting to get the white powder forming on the vents.

Post by **xantia_v6** » 10 Oct 2011, 20:36

CitroJim wrote: Also, I'm reasonably sure now that all that happens to a Xantia matrix to make it leak is hard O rings on the inner flange; That was the case with Cassy's most definitely... Her rings were as hard as iron..

Next time it'll be worth really trying to just replace those O rings (they're a standard size) without disturbing the elbow. If it fails though, it'll be a sod give the dash will have to come all the way out again...

When the matrix went on my V6, it was certainly a pinhole in the aluminium.

Post by **CitroJim** » 10 Oct 2011, 20:42

xantia_v6 wrote: When the matrix went on my V6, it was certainly a pinhole in the aluminium.

Was the pinhole on the U bends on the end? I've known a number of 205 matrixes to go on the U bends due to scale in the cooling system acting as a fine abrasive. Given the inevitable cavitation on the U bends, it eventually pin-holes them. My old 205GTi had a lot of irremovable scale in the cooling system and it got through THREE matrixes during my custody of her

I knew when a matrix went as I'd end up with a warm, wet left foot

imperial21 · Post by **imperial21** » 10 Oct 2011, 21:01

Do you need a elbow for your matrix change as i have the original from my car you can have ?

Post by **xantia_v6** » 10 Oct 2011, 21:39

CitroJim wrote:
xantia_v6 wrote: When the matrix went on my V6, it was certainly a pinhole in the aluminium.
Was the pinhole on the U bends on the end? I've known a number of 205 matrixes to go on the U bends due to scale in the cooling system acting as a fine abrasive. Given the inevitable cavitation on the U bends, it eventually pin-holes them.

Yes it was "gone in the U-bend".

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 10 Oct 2011, 22:29

A sight to strike fear into any Xantia owner

this is the matrix and elbow connection when I changed the matrix in what is now Jim's Activa. Whilst these is white powder collecting at the bottom of the matrix it was leaking at the crimp joint between the plastic top and matrix, this has been the case on all of the three Xantia's of mine where I've needed to change the matrix.

Dommo · Post by **Dommo** » 10 Oct 2011, 22:47

I wonder if there's a better make to fit into the car, or just stick with Valeo and their 10-15 year life span?

robert_e_smart · Post by **robert_e_smart** » 11 Oct 2011, 07:53

Just get a Xm,

Heater matrix failure is uncommon, and they can be changed without taking the dash out!

addo · Post by **addo** » 11 Oct 2011, 09:22

Just you wait for the dreaded "evaporator+compost" escapade...

If the car's been run without a pollen filter for a time or that convoluted drain tube is not free, it gets pretty nasty inside.

Xantidote · Post by **Xantidote** » 11 Oct 2011, 11:03

My TD's matrix failed exactly as DickieG's did, at the top crimp joint between plastic top and matrix. No problem removing the elbow.

This happened when car 9 years old, so may not be long before has to be done again? And by then, memory so addled that I'll not remember how I did it first time

lexi · Post by **lexi** » 11 Oct 2011, 13:23

What about cutting a lump out of bulkhead ,doing Matrix and welding back in.

I have a Plasma cutter and I aint scared to use it

Prolly set the whole car on fire

Post by **CitroJim** » 11 Oct 2011, 18:46

I've noticed all matrixes I've changed appear to be wet around the crimp joint but I've assumed, perhaps wrongly, that's just where leakage from the flange has collected and settled... I confess I've not probed deeper into it so maybe it's not just the flange O rings that go then...

One thing Xac and I noticed on the flange is a channel that's cut into it that provides a perfect leakage path when the O rings fail. Thinking on I do wonder if that's some kind of relief channel to protect the main matrix from going pop under excess pressure; a kind of safety valve...

lexi wrote:What about cutting a lump out of bulkhead ,doing Matrix and welding back in.

I have a Plasma cutter and I aint scared to use it

You'd have to cut an amazing amount of bulkhead away Lexi, right up to the windscreen and then part of the dash as well...

I reckon a visit from the Sapeurs-pompiers would be absolutely certain if you tried it

Robert, yes. That's just one of many areas of the XM that shows excellent and inspired design... Can't immediately think of the others though...

robert_e_smart · Post by **robert_e_smart** » 11 Oct 2011, 18:51

That's just one of many areas of the XM that shows excellent and inspired design... Can't immediately think of the others though...

I can help you! Seats are better in XMs, certainly compared to the seats in regular Xantias which are the most common.

Post by **CitroJim** » 11 Oct 2011, 18:56

robert_e_smart wrote: I can help you! Seats are better in XMs

Oh yes, I'll agree there, the Exclusive leathers are better than the finest armchairs and with better switchery too

Can they be fitted to a Xantia by any chance?

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On Xantia Heater Matrix Elbows and Rad Sealants...

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