14 replies to this topic

[rigmini smig]

hi all- (93' cooper spi)

just wanted to ask if you need to drain cooling system to remove and inspect heater matrix?

sorry if its dumb but cant get my head around it.i got steam from windscreen vents which goes if i turn on the blower but reading past posts it would suggest a leaky matrix although all the carpets are dry so is there anything else i could check?

cheers!

[taffy1967]

If it's smelling of coolant then yes you need to replace the heater matrix and no you don't need to empty the whole system.

Just put something down to protect the carpets and put a bowl underneath the hoses when you remove them.

[madalicesdad]

In the engine bay, disconnect the two pipes that pass through the bulkhead to the heater. Put a bowl under the heater and undo the jubilee clips on the passenger side of the heater matrix. Remove the hoses, and the coolant from the disconnected pipes and matrix will drain into the bowl. The rest of the coolant should stay in the radiator/engine -disconnecting the pipes in the engine bay will stop it syphoning onto the carpet.
You can then remove the matrix with the heater in situ.
It may be worth removing the front carpet and sound proofing first though just to be safe!

by the way I have repaired the matrix (1993 Cooper SPi) in the past using epoxy resin. Worth a try before buying a new matrix.
Mike

[SMP]

Most probably is the matrix - had exactly the same problem on 93 cooper this year. The carpets were not wet - the leak must just be slow enough that it evaporates before it can soak the carpet. Took the matrix out and it was a rigtht mess - somebody had clearly been using rad weld or similar to keep it going for a few years. New matrix was about £42 - money well spent.

You will need to drain the system down a bit to take the matrix out. I didn't bother draining under the bonnet - just put a kitchen bowl in the footwell and disconnect the pipes at the heater.

You probably find that the sponge around the matrix is totally shot. This makes sure that air flows through the matrix rather than leaking round it. I used a car wash sponge neatly sliced up with an electric kitchen knife.

Also cut two pieces of cardboard to fit against the sponge on the side of the matrix. Place the sponge in the heater box. Place the cardboard strips in - make sure that they are long enough so that they stick out. Slide the matrix in between the two pieces of cardboard. If you don't do this the matrix will snag on the sponge and just roll it up into a ball doing nothing!! Slide the matrix all the way in then grip the ends of the cardboard and slowly slide them out. Hope you can follow that - if not I'll have to draw you a picture. Cheers

[taffy1967]

Or just use fabric glue and glue the new sponge to the sides of the new matrix.

That's what I did anyway and it was easy too.

[rigmini smig]

Cheers all!
thanks for the speedy responses;
will have a look at it today hopefully if the rain keeps off

[darkcat_systems]

Thread resurestion!!

HOW do you actually remove the matrix??


got in my car yesturday afternoon and had a puddle of pink in both footwells!!

managed to by-pass it by linking the in/out pipes in the engine bay for now.

[jb93]

You have to remove the whole heater unit, and then you get spearate this and get at the matrix.

The heater is held in by two nuts to the rear of the unit (one on either side).

Then, you have to disconnect the two pipes which go into the matrix by undoing the jubilee clips (it's best to have a bucket so if there is any left over coolant it won't spill all over your carpets). I removed the carpet when I did it, although it sounds as if your carpet got a bit wet anyway....

You can then lift the unit out of the car. There are a series of crew holding the unit together. By undoing these, you can separate it and get to the matrix.

Putting it back together it is the opposite of taking it apart, although make sure nothing is rattling, as this can be extremely irritating.

Edited by jb93, 06 April 2012 - 07:45 AM.

[jb93]

I just realised that everything I just typed is written above

[darkcat_systems]

Thanks JB93 - the reason i asked was that i was told that on the SPI models and later it was possible to remove the matrix without taking the unit out...

[Dan]

It is. If you'd said what car or heater you meant you might have got a better answer.

The late plastic cased heaters have the matrix held in by some screws at one end, and it slides out sideways. What coolant are you using to leave pink puddles? Most orange or pink coolants are not compatible with the Mini engine. Since you will have to drain most of the system now anyway, it would be good to drain and flush fully and make sure you are using a proper ethylene glycol coolant.

[SRO]

How long does it take to remove the matrix in a 1995 Mini Cooper?

Is it difficult?

[CityEPete]

It's easy, there are a couple of screws then the matrix slides out, make sure you have a good bowl under the pipes as you remove them.


I did mine a few months ago, it was rotten and the box was full of sludgey water that was misting the screen up, I was getting the odd warm drip on my foot only noticed when wearing flip flops! swapped and cleaned the box out and all is well.

[CityEPete]

http://www.minispare...|Back to search

You can see where the two diagonal screws are and I'd get a pair of new seals too. Good time to do a full flush and drain if it's been a while.

[SRO]

What is the best way to replace the matrix on a 1995 Cooper?