Anyone changed the heater matrix themselves?

it looks like an absolute biiaaatch of a job mate! i had a good look at it when i had my dash out to replace my heater fan, definately not a job id choose do to!!
 
sandip said:
Oh dear, is it leaking Westle :(
Click to expand...

The smell is getting worse and I can only assume it's the matrix :(

quattro1 said:
it looks like an absolute biiaaatch of a job mate! i had a good look at it when i had my dash out to replace my heater fan, definately not a job id choose do to!!
Click to expand...

If nobody recomends doing it it'll be done by my trusty mech when he does my turb in 3 weeks time.
 
I reckon a late night mechs sessions with elsawin.

plus a couple of beers sorted.

save the labour charge and spend on mods. - I think thats good advise lol.
 
owch nice job to-do wouldnt even hazard a guess when u say it smells nothing to do with the atmosheric catch can you got going on affecting the pollen filter? its a long shot but thought i would ask it
 
paul syverson said:
owch nice job to-do wouldnt even hazard a guess when u say it smells nothing to do with the atmosheric catch can you got going on aftecting the pollen filter? its a long shot but thought i would ask it
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Nah I've had this smell for a long time and it smells nothing like the fuel smell you get from the catch can. It's more of a sweet spicey smell which I'm guessing is a mixture of stagnant water and coolant. You can only smell it when the heater unit is turned on which all points towards the heater matrix if you ask me.
 
Westle said:
Looks like an entire dashboard off job!

Brief guide to removing your heater Matrix B5 1997.. pics - Audifans.net
Click to expand...

Ooooooooo.... that brings back memories of doing the heater matrix in my A4.... a thankless task...

Just had a quick look in my A3 Haynes manual (yes, I have one!) and it looks a similar job... dash off before you can get to the heater unit... disappointing...

You will need to get your aircon degassed prior to the job (thats how I did my A4 at least) then regassed after... I also discovered the aircon condensor needed replacing too as it had a leak...

According to the Haynes manual, you also have to modify the dash panel support to get the heater unit out... involves drilling out a couple of spot welds then cutting part way through... there is a reinforcing plate behind that you don't cut through as this is what you will be bolting it back together with..

Crappy phone pic of Haynes...

IMAG0710.jpg


Drill out 'A' with a 7mm drill and cut carefully through the 'dashed' line underneath but not through the plate at the back is how I read it..

<tuffty/>
 
quattro1 said:
sod that!!! lol
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You are not wrong... was an long winded job!! My A4 went from this..

20080119_IMG_2613.jpg


to this...
20080122_IMG_2645.jpg


Fun it was not but feck knows how much a dealer would have charged!!

Neil, the symptoms on my A4 were condensation on the inside of the windows whilst the heater was on and a sweet sickly smell of coolant... if yours has gone I wouldn't advise driving too far with it as it will make you ill... mine was like it for a month before I got around to doing it... I never felt so 'well' afterwards... G12 is not nice stuff..

<tuffty/>
 
jesus that looks like a complete ballache lol, fair play to you for having the drive to get it done! dont think i could do it!
 
quattro1 said:
jesus that looks like a complete ballache lol, fair play to you for having the drive to get it done! dont think i could do it!
Click to expand...

It was but the motivation was purely financial... as was when I did the cam belt on her..
IMG_2250.jpg


Fairly std process on longitudal VAGs to remove the front though to do 'anything'....

<tuffty/>
 
Heater matrix?.........................rather you than me!
 
omg tuft lol, that looks unreal. i bet that would cost an absolute friggin fortune in labour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Paul I've been driving round like it for nearly a year and it's been getting worse and worse. I've got the heater off at the moment. No condensation but it smells like spicy celary! That's the only way I can describe it!
 
Thought I'd revive this thread as the mornings are starting to get cold and I really need to get it sorted.

I got a quote from my usual audi mechanic who quoted me around £300 for the heater matrix to be changed due to the amount of time it takes. £300 is not an option because I refuse to pay that amount just to be warm, so I'll have a crack at it myself.

The smell that comes through is definitely coolant as it smells exactly the same as when you stick your nose inside the header tank but it's stronger when heated and in the car.

I did the old heater on full blast with AC on and pointing at the windscreen to see if there was any moisture that would show a leaky heater matrix. Not a bean, nothing on the screen at all!

My mechanic said that he's never had to change an S3s heater matrix so I assume it's quite rare that they go! I'm wondering what else it could be but It looks like i'll need to strip out the dash and investigate the heater matrix before I find out. I'll keep you updated.
 
Ok guys I need your help!

I'm getting together all the needed parts this week ready to tackle this job next week.

I need a list of parts to do the job including any bespoke tools and gaskets etc. Please add to my list:

- Heater Matrix (obviously)
- Coolant
- Steering Wheel removal tool
 
Torx and Hex tools
Some pliers
Spanner no.17 or 19 don't remember
some spare time
and obviously couple of beers:) lol
 
Westy said:
Have you done this before Danio?

Can I de-gas the AC myself or is it best to just go to my local garage?
Click to expand...

Yes I've done it before on my A3 when I was fitting air con.

Yes you can de-gas AC yourself if you know how to. I went to Halfords to do it as I had voucher.
Obviously it is not hard to do it but you have no guaranties that all system is tight so maybe better is to go to garage and re-gas it.
 
Danio said:
Yes I've done it before on my A3 when I was fitting air con.

Yes you can de-gas AC yourself if you know how to. I went to Halfords to do it as I had voucher.
Obviously it is not hard to do it but you have no guaranties that all system is tight so maybe better is to go to garage and re-gas it.
Click to expand...

Will definitely get it regassed at a garage but was thinking about de-gassing it myself if it's not too difficult?
 
Good lucky westy.
Mine is starting to smell.
But it has to wait a couple of months before I tackle it. I need to get my electronic bits sorted out.

Can't wait for the post. :)
 
Westy said:
Will definitely get it regassed at a garage but was thinking about de-gassing it myself if it's not too difficult?
Click to expand...

No just open both valves one near radiator and the second one behind maf sensor.
 
Danio said:
No just open both valves one near radiator and the second one behind maf sensor.
Click to expand...

Thats bad for the environment, bad for your health and illegal.
Give it to a registered garage.
If you talk to them nicely, they might empty it for free if you go back or pay to empty but free refill.
 
Always wondered how many heater matrixes rot from the inside out due to not having the coolant changed. Say a car is coming on ten years old, then how much corrosion inhibitor is going to be left in the original coolant?
 
a3tdi2001 said:
Always wondered how many heater matrixes rot from the inside out due to not having the coolant changed. Say a car is coming on ten years old, then how much corrosion inhibitor is going to be left in the original coolant?
Click to expand...

Not alot in the original coolant but it should be changed. I can't remember when it should be changed it should deffo be changed.
I think its part of the service schedule.

People run water, the wrong mixture of coolant or the wrong coolant does not help.
If it corrodes a heater matrix, just think what it is doing to the rest of the coolant system. :|
 
I thought that the coolant was for life according to Audi. Oh well.
Don't like the new G++. They've gone back to using silicates which I'm not so sure about, especially for water pump seals. Time will tell all I guess.
 
Last edited:
scott b5 said:
Thats bad for the environment, bad for your health and illegal.
Give it to a registered garage.
If you talk to them nicely, they might empty it for free if you go back or pay to empty but free refill.
Click to expand...

Scott never heard about it that is illegal or bad to environment.
I thought that gas has got no smell, at least I never smell anything.
And next thing what if your system is not tight (you don't know about it) and all gas going to atmosphere?? Is that mean everyone will be sick??
 
Danio said:
Scott never heard about it that is illegal or bad to environment.
I thought that gas has got no smell, at least I never smell anything.
And next thing what if your system is not tight (you don't know about it) and all gas going to atmosphere?? Is that mean everyone will be sick??
Click to expand...

I take it back.
The old R12 gas is what was harmful, the new R134A is not. Still, I would not trust it as its under pressure.

It might not be illegal for joe public, I know garages has to dispose of it properly.
 
Found an official audi doc which shows you how to remove the dash if you want it fella. PM me your email address if you do :)
 
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