Member Since: 24 Sep 2018
Location: Manchester
Posts: 26
Cabin heater blowing cold (different problem)
Hiya guys, first time poster here. Praise the forum gods for the help they have provided thus far
I have owned a 2010 D4 3.0L TDV6 HSE now for 9 months and have had a few niggles, which I have mostly had sorted. This is my first LR.
I noticed immediately on my journey home in the bad snow we had in February, that the heater wasn’t getting very hot. Warm at a push. I realised that this was not normal and intended to get it sorted but over the coming weeks/months, other, more serious problems arose and I had to get them sorted fast. (Bought privately and seller wasn’t very graceful when I told him about the results of guy salmons health check days later) so didn’t even bother to contact him after a bill of £2k
Anyway, I digress...
I deduced over time that the passenger side blows completely cold air, even on full temp, regardless of direction of heating. Drivers side blows only warm and so the only way I could kinda heat the cabin was to have the centre fans on, with passenger vents closed.
Fast forward to now and as the cold weather is creeping in, the heater is being required again.
Today, using the heater for the first time in a while, i find it has become worse. Only the middle drivers side vent will blow warm air, right hand of the steering wheel vent is now also blowing cold.
I know heater issues have been covered. And I know from reading the posts, that there is a known problem (of some kind, that people with far greater knowledge than me don’t seem to have the answer to) but I think my problem is different to that.
What I don’t want to do is take it in, to be told it’s this, that or the other that is the problem, as I know it is a complicated system and could be any number of things. Only to keep paying for various fixes that don’t resolve the issue.
I love the car, I really do. Best car I have had but the problems with it. I just put it down to age, I suppose I could have had worse problems though.
Good job I do love it hey!
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
28th Oct 2018 10:47 pm
Ady-:)
Member Since: 10 Feb 2018
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 50
Hi, did you get to the bottom of this? I have the exact same fault on my D3, right down to only the middle right vent blowing hot, all the rest luke warm (but will blow ice cold if selected)
I've had a camera down the vents and can see the flaps for air con and feet positions move.
Does anyone have a drawing of the stepper motor locations and of the general heating aircon layout?
Thanks
Ady
23rd Nov 2018 10:15 pm
caravangler
Member Since: 24 Sep 2018
Location: Manchester
Posts: 26
Hi Ady,
No, not got to the bottom of it yet. I rang the indie that I use and his suggestion was to leave the car with him for 2/3 days so they can “try things” which sounded expensive and inconvenient.
I got a friend to plug it in and it came up with a fault code. Well, many actually but a particular one re the heating.
See attached photos.
My next move is to have a auto electrician to investigate.
I’m at a loss as to why I have had 190 people read my post, yet you are the only person to reply
Hope this is of some help.
24th Nov 2018 9:27 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8227
Because the other 189 including myself can’t advise you It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
24th Nov 2018 10:04 pm
Ady-:)
Member Since: 10 Feb 2018
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 50
I've come to the conclusion that it may be a blocked heater matrix, I've bought a couple of bottles of radiator coolant flush and I'm going to pump it into the heater matrix directly behind the firewall.
I'm sure it's not the flaps as when I stuffed the camera down there I could clearly see the matrix when the flapps opened and closed. If it is the matrix it will be unlikely to show any codes.
A new matrix is £100 on euro Car Parts using black Friday discount but its a biggish job of removing a great deal to get to it, so I'm hoping my DIY flush will do the trick, I'll keep you all updated on my success or failure.
24th Nov 2018 10:48 pm
caravangler
Member Since: 24 Sep 2018
Location: Manchester
Posts: 26
Worth a go. Let me know how you get on
29th Nov 2018 10:14 pm
caravangler
Member Since: 24 Sep 2018
Location: Manchester
Posts: 26
Here are the pics I neglected to add. amateur!
Hope they can be of some help.
29th Nov 2018 10:15 pm
caravangler
Member Since: 24 Sep 2018
Location: Manchester
Posts: 26
How did you get on with flushing the matrix Ady?
17th Dec 2018 10:34 am
Ady-:)
Member Since: 10 Feb 2018
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 50
I have replaced the heater matrix/exchanger behind the dash and I now have wonderful heat. So hot that I had to turn it down for the first time.
I will send some photos in due corse.
7th Jan 2020 7:28 pm
life - live it
Member Since: 14 Apr 2017
Location: Behind you
Posts: 1035
How easy / hard was it to replace
Tia
8th Jan 2020 7:53 am
Ady-:)
Member Since: 10 Feb 2018
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 50
Not to bad, took about 6 hours as I was also cleaning and removing crumbs as I went.
Here is a link to my very porley written how to guide with photos.
Member Since: 04 Feb 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 166
Hi All
See this is a D3 has anyone changed a matrix on a D4 2010, looking at the ady post photo the D4 is a different matrix with what looks like connectors a third of the way up the pipes, would appreciate a reply.
Discovery 3 SE gone but not forgotten.
Discovery 4 HSE (Mrs S)
Discovery 3 GS project, great, but manual, Gone.
Discovery 4 XS
13th Dec 2022 2:29 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8227
Not had the pleasure of changing one thank goodness but all the info I received was it is a full dash out job
The only possible alternative if you are positive it needs changing is the Nissen matrix comes with separate pipes that connect near the matrix, my thoughts are could the existing pipes be cut there and the matrix slid out sideways like the D3 to save taking dash out?It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
13th Dec 2022 4:43 pm
davecars
Member Since: 04 Feb 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 166
Hi
Pretty sure it’s the matrix, been OK, but wife has said for a while the passenger side is not very warm, now with the temp up here down to -9c it’s very evident that the near side is cold with only a little warmth on the drivers side, plenty air from the vents on de-frost, face or foot, which Nissan vehicle would the matrix be from, I would like to see how far up the connectors are into the dash, I hear what you say about a full dash out but is it not feasible for us mere mortals, probably take a few days but might be worth it, I’m sure Disco Mikey may have done one and could maybe advise if worth attempting? 🤔Discovery 3 SE gone but not forgotten.
Discovery 4 HSE (Mrs S)
Discovery 3 GS project, great, but manual, Gone.
Discovery 4 XS
13th Dec 2022 11:01 pm
BradC
Member Since: 29 Apr 2019
Location: Perth
Posts: 119
I successfully cleared mine out using a combination of water from the garden hose backed up with ~110PSI of compressed air.
Mine was still giving warmth to the driver, but the passenger side was cold. I disconnected the lines in the engine bay where the hose meets the hard-line down the side of the engine and blasted it back and forward for an hour or so until I could see no more grunge come out.
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I just put it down to age, I suppose I could have had worse problems though.
