Heater Matrix Replacement

davidhowson

Junior Member
Messages
474
Hi all, after realising the heater matrix had finally given up ( car filled with steam ) i bought the part from Opie Oils (i was surprised to find they sold them too) and after 6 hours my car has gone from this

30cc4c54d96416eda8fd67363ddfb8cf.jpg


To this:

9b357179bc407d3063a4efd5034c6cd5.jpg


Scary stuff!!

If anyone would like any pictures of any parts while i'm in there, let me know !

Best wishes
David




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safrane

Member
Messages
16,746
Fast work David. And I hope you and the girls are well (wife and daughter).

A few have attempted this job now so good to see it is not such a hard one after all... six hours is good going.

best of luck getting it all back together.
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
Great work and fair enough for doing it yourself. Mine was leaking for what must have been at least 2 years and was causing some electrical problems so I handed it to AV for some much needed specialist assistance. If it goes again during my ownership I'd like to think that I would catch it early and change it myself
 

Gp79

Member
Messages
1,393
Good work and these posts inspire others to take on these scary looking jobs.

Keep us posted
 

spn

Junior Member
Messages
88
Probably a bit late but you can get a full metal Saab one on ebay (item 152780938147) for £75 delivered. Quality looks good and should be less likely to fail again.

Cheers,

Simon
 

davy83

Member
Messages
2,809
scary stuff indeed, brave man and i bet it takes more that 6 hours to put it all back! good on you for tackling it.
 

davidhowson

Junior Member
Messages
474
Thanks for the encouragement; I will also extend an invitation to view / help too if your interested and close enough to Guildford! No cash found but several washers and other odd bits under the carpets. I don't know whether i should return the oem part and go for the saab now you say that.



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Navcorr

Member
Messages
3,839
Dean at Saabtech is a good guy - if he says the part is genuine it will be. I believe it was Craig Waterman who advised the Saab part fits (ref: alternative parts list) so for £75 the all metal option seems like a no brainer.
 

Robbe

Junior Member
Messages
87
I see that you removed your steering wheel and stalks as well.
I am in the middle of the same job (waiting for the alfa 166 part to arrive), but could not remove the steering wheel. Removed the center nut, and all the screws inside.
Still no movement whatsoever. So I had to proceed with the wheel in place.
And still managed to remove the dash. Not easy, but it can be done.
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
I see that you removed your steering wheel and stalks as well.
I am in the middle of the same job (waiting for the alfa 166 part to arrive), but could not remove the steering wheel. Removed the center nut, and all the screws inside.
Still no movement whatsoever. So I had to proceed with the wheel in place.
And still managed to remove the dash. Not easy, but it can be done.

A three leg puller and nerves of steel is the solution, I think someone made a tool when they did it but not everyone can do that option!
 

spn

Junior Member
Messages
88
Thanks for the encouragement; I will also extend an invitation to view / help too if your interested and close enough to Guildford! No cash found but several washers and other odd bits under the carpets. I don't know whether i should return the oem part and go for the saab now you say that.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've yet to change mine but I bought a Denso metal/plastic matrix (from Opie I think) but wasn't really happy with the idea of spending ages stripping the car to put a replacement with the same flaw as the original back in. I've been trying to find a metal one for a while now and these came up at a very reasonable price.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,539
A three leg puller and nerves of steel is the solution, I think someone made a tool when they did it but not everyone can do that option!

Or the Edd China method. Leave the nut on and rock it like a bugger

C
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
Or the Edd China method. Leave the nut on and rock it like a bugger

C

Tried that, no dice. The wheel has a bit of flex in it so didn't feel comfortable heaving on it. Others may have found that works though.
 

BL330

Member
Messages
1,121
David, having done the same process, may I suggest you consider this a good opportunity to freshen your carpets with carpet dye?
Mine are black and the transformation was incredible. I have posted photos previously.
You may consider a colour change to dark blue or black?
It is an easy spray can process once you remove the carpets from the car.
Otherwise hire the carpet cleaner machine with the upholstery wand to decontaminate the coolant stains.
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
I remember doing the same stuff on Range Rovers in the 80's, you just need your head in gear!

Dave
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,539
Tried that, no dice. The wheel has a bit of flex in it so didn’t feel comfortable heaving on it. Others may have found that works though.

I think I've seen him put his knees into it as well. But I always used a puller :)

C
 

voicey

Member
Messages
660
I've never been able to get a 4200 wheel off by hand and always use a puller. Ferrari wheels just slide off though!