Hi all well my heater Matrix split on top and I searched on the net, prices ranged from $285-00 to $80-00 including shipping from the UK. DLS UK gave the best deal, and as I have purchased parts from them before, so 10 days after I had ordered the part it arrived.
The first thing was to get all of my tools together
you require:-
10mm socket
9 inch 1/4 drive extention
1/4 ratchet
Screw drivers
7mm spanner
pointed nose pliers
10 mm spanners
13mm spanner
torch (Very handy)
Remove the split pin on the bonnet stay and lift the bonnet fully open, tie it up to be safe.
Now remove the water washer bottle held in by 2 10mm nuts and then remove the frame which retains the bottle to the wing.
Once this has been done we can have better access to the heater box.
Remove the panel from the under dash aircon unit, this consisted of two 10mm bolts and 4 screws, 3 in the floor and one on the bulkhead bracket
Use the 7mm spanner and the pointed nose pliers to remove the cables and clips.
The grill covering the blower inlet on the top of the left wing, remove the screws and remove the grill, then there are 2 cross headed screws retaining the first stage of the air blower intake.
Remove the piping to allow movement of the blower part when we come to remove it.
When I took mine out the water drainage valve was blocked and had caused the fan motor to flood and swim in water
the swimming motor
once removed we can now remove the water pipes and start removing the retaing bolts.
I then placed a spanner on the lower two nuts from within the engine bay on the heater box jamming it against the box, and taped a 10mm socket and with using a torch aligned the socket onto thebolt and started to undo them, they came out really easily.
the lower nuts
Once out then there are two nuts on the upper part of the heater box, behind the heater matrix.
These are both 13mm and came out easily. the next thing was to disconnect the wire to the blower box.
The next thing is to wiggle the unit with the fan until your are able to remove it from the engine bay. I hade to slightly bend an Aircon pipe.
The next thing to do is top strip the unit down. The Matrix is retained by screws and brackets at the top and bottom.
remove the lower bracket which is held on by 3 10mm nuts
Once removed remove all of the screws holding the matrix retaing brackets and remove plates. Here is the bottom.
Pull the matrix from the heater box
Then here we check that the new part is correct
Due to my motor had been flooded I removed it to let it dry and cleaned the box and motor housing and put a fresh coat of paint on it.
The New Matrix did not come with the rubber pads on the bottom, so I removed them from the old matrix and glued them on.
Then slide the matrix back into the heater box and refit the retaining plates on the top and bottom.
Fit the lower bracket
Check the Bulkhead for rust and treat
Wiggle the heater box back into place and first of all. align the lower bracket holes and with the taped socket, push the bolts from the inside using the torch, and the light coming from the engine bay, then pack into position and go to the engine bay, place the nuts and washers on and then jam the spanner again and tighten with the ratchet.
Once these are tight refit the upper bolts making sure you don't jam the wire inbetween the heater box and the bulkhead.
Re connect the cables ensuring they operate correctly.
Once fitted join the wiring connector and then fill the heater matrix using the water hose and a can until it is full, this will prevent an air lock.
Once full connect the hoses.
Refit the under wing pipe ensuring the small valve is clear of gunk.
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refit the screws and fit the wing grill. then refit the water washer bottle bracket and then the water bottle. Then refit the air con cover in the passenger footwell.
Stand back and check your work
The first thing was to get all of my tools together
you require:-
10mm socket
9 inch 1/4 drive extention
1/4 ratchet
Screw drivers
7mm spanner
pointed nose pliers
10 mm spanners
13mm spanner
torch (Very handy)
Remove the split pin on the bonnet stay and lift the bonnet fully open, tie it up to be safe.
Now remove the water washer bottle held in by 2 10mm nuts and then remove the frame which retains the bottle to the wing.
Once this has been done we can have better access to the heater box.
Remove the panel from the under dash aircon unit, this consisted of two 10mm bolts and 4 screws, 3 in the floor and one on the bulkhead bracket
Use the 7mm spanner and the pointed nose pliers to remove the cables and clips.
The grill covering the blower inlet on the top of the left wing, remove the screws and remove the grill, then there are 2 cross headed screws retaining the first stage of the air blower intake.
Remove the piping to allow movement of the blower part when we come to remove it.
When I took mine out the water drainage valve was blocked and had caused the fan motor to flood and swim in water
the swimming motor
once removed we can now remove the water pipes and start removing the retaing bolts.
I then placed a spanner on the lower two nuts from within the engine bay on the heater box jamming it against the box, and taped a 10mm socket and with using a torch aligned the socket onto thebolt and started to undo them, they came out really easily.
the lower nuts
Once out then there are two nuts on the upper part of the heater box, behind the heater matrix.
These are both 13mm and came out easily. the next thing was to disconnect the wire to the blower box.
The next thing is to wiggle the unit with the fan until your are able to remove it from the engine bay. I hade to slightly bend an Aircon pipe.
The next thing to do is top strip the unit down. The Matrix is retained by screws and brackets at the top and bottom.
remove the lower bracket which is held on by 3 10mm nuts
Once removed remove all of the screws holding the matrix retaing brackets and remove plates. Here is the bottom.
Pull the matrix from the heater box
Then here we check that the new part is correct
Due to my motor had been flooded I removed it to let it dry and cleaned the box and motor housing and put a fresh coat of paint on it.
The New Matrix did not come with the rubber pads on the bottom, so I removed them from the old matrix and glued them on.
Then slide the matrix back into the heater box and refit the retaining plates on the top and bottom.
Fit the lower bracket
Check the Bulkhead for rust and treat
Wiggle the heater box back into place and first of all. align the lower bracket holes and with the taped socket, push the bolts from the inside using the torch, and the light coming from the engine bay, then pack into position and go to the engine bay, place the nuts and washers on and then jam the spanner again and tighten with the ratchet.
Once these are tight refit the upper bolts making sure you don't jam the wire inbetween the heater box and the bulkhead.
Re connect the cables ensuring they operate correctly.
Once fitted join the wiring connector and then fill the heater matrix using the water hose and a can until it is full, this will prevent an air lock.
Once full connect the hoses.
Refit the under wing pipe ensuring the small valve is clear of gunk.
refit the screws and fit the wing grill. then refit the water washer bottle bracket and then the water bottle. Then refit the air con cover in the passenger footwell.
Stand back and check your work
