D1SCD
Member Since: 13 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 407
  
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| Fitting a new heater matrix. |
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I've been searching fitting a new heater matrix (my passenger side isn't getting warm), looks like may not be too bad a job if I make the small dremel cut to allow to slide out.
My question is - are the feed and return pipes removable from the unit ? Looks to me like the job would be a whole lot easier if I could just leave the old ones in place and not have the problem of feeding them through.
Or am I missing something, and been totally stupid 
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 29th Oct 2020 12:40 pm |
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Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20732
 
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If you buy a genuine part, the pipes are one part with the matrix, and reqs dash removal
Buy a Nissens part, and they come separate, and easily done in a few hours  My D3 Build Thread
TDV8 Retrofit Build Thread
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| 29th Oct 2020 1:07 pm |
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Capripaul
Member Since: 20 Nov 2018
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 62
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I took this advice and did mine a couple of weeks ago, whole thing was done in 2 hours, even time for a cup of tea in the middle.
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| 29th Oct 2020 1:44 pm |
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D1SCD
Member Since: 13 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 407
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Just ordered Nissens
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| 29th Oct 2020 2:06 pm |
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D1SCD
Member Since: 13 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 407
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Disco_Mikey wrote:If you buy a genuine part, the pipes are one part with the matrix, and reqs dash removal
Buy a Nissens part, and they come separate, and easily done in a few hours
Just a thought on this .. did the genuine ones used to be removable pipes, otherwise, how do I fit original pipes to new matrix ?
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| 29th Oct 2020 2:17 pm |
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rowlejohn
Member Since: 15 Sep 2017
Location: Montmorillon, Vienne (86)
Posts: 214
 
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Yes, the original matrix has a clamp securng the pipes.
The Nissens I bought last year came with the pipes, clamps & sealing "O" rings. I discarded the new pipes and used the clamps etc. that were supplied.
The first matrix I ordered (Not Nissens) had the pipes swaged on to the matrix so I sent it back, got a refund and bought the Nissens which is very good quality.
TIP
Before refitting the new matrix put a smear of silicone grease on the upper and lower edges of the matrix, this will help when it's slid into the housing past the rubber seals. Relocated to Mid France from N. Wales March 2021
Rovacomlite and IDD/ SSD diagnostics user
Previous Landies
3.9 SE Classic
3.5 V8 Disco
4.6 P38 HSE
L322 Vogue HSE
TD4 ES Freelander 1
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| 29th Oct 2020 3:03 pm |
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D1SCD
Member Since: 13 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 407
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Perfect - Sounds like a good plan
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| 29th Oct 2020 3:28 pm |
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rowlejohn
Member Since: 15 Sep 2017
Location: Montmorillon, Vienne (86)
Posts: 214
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Relocated to Mid France from N. Wales March 2021
Rovacomlite and IDD/ SSD diagnostics user
Previous Landies
3.9 SE Classic
3.5 V8 Disco
4.6 P38 HSE
L322 Vogue HSE
TD4 ES Freelander 1
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| 29th Oct 2020 3:41 pm |
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ajmacfarlane
Member Since: 12 Dec 2016
Location: Maidenhead
Posts: 132
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Hi, only thing I'd add form when I changed mine, and perhaps it's me, but I found the clips which fasten the flow/return pipes to the matrix to be a right pain in the a**e!
I ended up ditching the pipes and using heater hose instead and securing with compression clips.
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| 29th Oct 2020 4:20 pm |
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D1SCD
Member Since: 13 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 407
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Started the job this morning, and stuck already
Can anyone offer advice, as how the trim is removed (the bit near left foot that covers the matrix)
I've taken the front panel off, plus all the screws that hold radio etc, but what else needs to go...
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| 3rd Nov 2020 11:38 am |
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ajmacfarlane
Member Since: 12 Dec 2016
Location: Maidenhead
Posts: 132
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Hi,
From memory there is one small screw keeping the corner of the trim in place over the matrix which needs to be removed, the trim is then clipped into the surround of the steering column.
I think that you careful pull the surround (containing the radio etc) towards you so that it pops out from the steering column area and it’s just a case of holding it open for access or pulling it far enough out the way that one of the fin style clips catches elsewhere to keep the area open.
I think if you were to it completely properly you’d take out all the bolts which retain the radio surround panel in place but this is a huge job so I just pulled/carefully bent the side of the surround out of the way.
There’s a really useful guide on here somewhere.
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| 3rd Nov 2020 11:55 am |
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D1SCD
Member Since: 13 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 407
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OK Thanks-time to move on to plan 'B' I think 
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| 3rd Nov 2020 2:04 pm |
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Globetrotter448
Member Since: 21 Mar 2017
Location: Londonderry NSW
Posts: 1783
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And plan "B" is???
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| 7th Nov 2020 2:26 am |
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Olddiver
Member Since: 21 Aug 2012
Location: Beckton, London
Posts: 31
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Classic problem. I purchased from Motorads a British made matrix for my 257k D3. Total cost £81.00 delivered which included the clips ect but no pipes. Hacked off, sorry, removed a portion of the centre consul adjacent to my left foot. Felt it was a bit too much to ask the garage to do it. Ivan Barrett's in Warboys, Cambridgeshire did the job as an experiment, my words not theirs's. It took a couple of hours. Apparently the new seals and clips were a bit fiddly. Cost £150 labour! Result. And now nice warm feet on both sides of the foot well.
Now I have get that growling dog out of the transfer box. Doh!
Hope this helps.
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| 14th Nov 2020 2:13 pm |
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D1SCD
Member Since: 13 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 407
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New matrix fitted - all nice and war now on both sides
So - how was my experience.
What I did was tried to bend back the plastic trim on the right side of the console to access the matrix, fount this difficult, so took out all the screws on the right side of the heater / radio etc, this seemed to loosen the central dash allowing it to bend back easier to gain access.
One I was to this stage the job was quite straight forward (after cutting the plastic under dash to allow the matrix to slide out)
The most fiddly bit I found of the whole job, was reconnecting the pipes.The clips just didn’t want to go on, and seemed impossible to lineup after fitting the new o rings, but perseverance and I got there in the end.
I’m sure it’ll be worth it in the coming winter.
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| 15th Nov 2020 12:22 am |
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