Heater Matrix

Newbie Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 18

My heating system used to be brilliant, could be the middle of winter and you'd be roasting inside the car, unfortunately it's now knackered so it's useless.

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Chris H wrote:

the belt should go under the pulley not over it.

Well if I've understood what you've said correctly, then I believe this pic is wrong.....

Cuz the belt isn't going under the pulley like you said it should, it's going over it. Well, from the top down it is anyway, and assuming that is the right pulley also!

But then I don't see how else the belt could go in that picture. It just wouldn't work any other way surely?

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

that is 100% correct matey, like you say, no other way it could go anyway.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

that picture is fine simonds

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

So...err....now I know where the water pump is.....um....that doesn't look like it's gonna be too easy to try and change if we decide that is the problem! Bit easier to change than the matrix tho surely! Bit of a gamble really innit. Don't really wanna go through all the trouble of changing a bit and then finding it's not it. Like if I had of changed the heater matrix (I'd have probably gone to a garage to do it and payed Â£17,000 or something!).......and I still had no heaters........I'd have been slightly annoyed! Doh

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

yeah thats right, I have seen cut covers tand the belt wrapped the other way, who know how they manage it!

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Well, you'll have to excuse my tremendous technical drawing of this lol, but in the above photo, the belt is like this.....

But I spoze it could also go like this....

The smooth & grooved sides of the belt would still be right, and also it would still spin everything the same way. So it wouldn't make the pump run in reverse that way. Ah well, I dunno! That isn't my problem anyway so dunno why I did this post. I just felt like drawing little pretty pictures and trying to be clever Laughing

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

So the question is........is it actually possible for me to have a slightly dodgy water pump (that's not creating enough pressure) and the engine not ever overheat? Or do ya reckon I'm barking up the wrong tree here? Because the cooling system in itself seems fine. I've had the car nearly 2 years now and it's never overheated EVER. Not even come close infact. Heaters have never worked either, so nothing has changed since I've got the car. That's the only thing that's makin me think it isn't the water pump, is the fact that I've had the car so long and it's still okay. Like if it was on it's way out.......it's been on it's way out for 2 years......so it's kinda takin it's time about givin up! BUT.......if the cooling system can still keep the engine cool with a slightly dodgy pump, then it could well be the problem

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

theres a flow issue at the water pipes to the matrix. Start the car take em off and water shoudl gush out, I mean hosepipe gush.

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

water pump doesnt create pressure either, all the water pump does it pump it around, the pressure is created by the temp.

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

danlp6 wrote:

water pump doesnt create pressure either, all the water pump does it pump it around, the pressure is created by the temp.

Well why would I have no pressure in the system then? Like after a long drive, I would expect at least a little hiss of air when I open the expansion tank..........but absolutely nothing. It's as if I'm opening it first thing in the morning before I've driven it. Ah well, I dunno. I'll try takin the matrix hoses off and see how the flow is out of 'em with the engine running. I assume I'll have to have somebody topping up the expansion tank while it's running, otherwise I'll eventually empty the system won't I

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

the pump does build up a preessure head in the block, roughly pump and temp pressure is about 35psi in the block.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

if you have not got pressure in the system ,there obviously is something wrong . might be a tiny leak from one of the pipes that you would not be able to see .

do you lose any water ?

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

I do lose water, but it's like the level goes down about 5mm in the expansion tank after about a month. So it is either an incredibly tiny leak, or the water somehow dissapears anyway.....like evaporation or something. I dunno. If I have got a small leak tho, I doubt that's anything to do with the heaters not working.

Chatting to a mate about it earlier, he says it's probably not the water pump cuz the car would be over heating if it was. He reckons it sounds like the heater matrix is mostly blocked. The water can only pass through a few of the tiny channels sorta thing. I dunno. No point sitting here guessing really, I'm gonna have to have another look and try and figure something out. Well.....sitting here guessing is kinda useful cuz you guys are givin me ideas of things that might be wrong that I haven't thought of

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

did you run a hosepipe through the matrix pipes ? the speed of water coming out should give you a fair idea of how blocked it is

Newbie Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 18

I take it you've reverse flushed the matrix using a hose? That solved mine today. Very Happy

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Yeah I've flushed the matrix both ways a few times and the flow seems okay. Does the matrix have some sort of by-pass system? As in, if the matrix channels are blocked, then can the water just by-pass it and carry on around the system? Or if the matrix is completely blocked, the whole system stops? Cuz I'm wondering if the water is just taking the easiest route around, and missing out the matrix if it's a bit blocked?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

its part of the system but it will be bypassed if blocked. It would rather flow through the matrix put it that way

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

I'm in essex next week (colchester), staying with a mate from uni......so who near by wants to come & help me change my heater matrix? Razz