Windows steaming up b5 s4

[spudboy6]

Quick question
Windows keep steaming up and really getting annoying now

Now I know the most common issue is heater matrix but

1) had one fitted not to long ago
2) not loosing any coolant
3) streams up with the heater on or off
4) no coolant visible coming out the footwell vents

Other issues I had
1)Washer pipe burst in the passenger footwell and filled the floor with screen wash so is damp .
2) found pollen filter seal leaking and found water entering via the pollen filter blower motor area

Now I’m not worried , if I have to take the dash out so be it , but I want to be sure and not waste my time if it’s just wet carpets

It steams up if I have heaters on or off ,

What people think ?

I’ll give the carpets a week or so to dry out but it mainly affects the windscreen so it all points at matrix

Last thing I noticed is battery tray has collected some water and it’s not draining away so It could be this leaking in too , I’m going to dry this out and see how I get on

Cars been sat around for a long time probably not been used for 3/4months maybe longer and I don’t remember it steaming up anytime before I Parked it

Also it was in the dealer to investigate as recently lost heat. But they came back with water pump thermo stat etc which now it’s red hot since as they did the cambelt and water pump etc

Opinions ??

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[russell.hammond]

I would say clear the bing holes under the battery tray and totally dry out the carpet and see if you still have condensation before ripping the dash out.

I did it to replace my evap core. It isn’t fun.


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[spudboy6]

Bung holes under battery was completely blocked and battery sat in a good few inches of water,

Cleaned out and left the dehumidifier in it all day and put some rain-ex on the windscreen

Went for a small drive just now and it’s not steamed up yet so give it a few days to fully dry it out and see how we go

If not matrix time


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[spudboy6]

Quick update
Was alright for three days , was driving home this afternoon and had a strong coolant smell and the windows steamed up immediately

I have ordered a heater matrix and will be fitting it very soon




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[russell.hammond]

Good luck. It’s a pig of a job. Takes ages! Will you disconnect the steering column and take the dash out in one piece or take it apart but by bit?


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[spudboy6]

I’m not sure yet , probably drop the column down and work around it , but will take it out if it makes it easier

Won’t be able to start it until this Sunday and finish it another weekend but want to make a start on it ,

Done a few dash’s and matrix over the years I’ve been retro fitted air con to transporter t5’s so this shouldn’t take me too long but fingers crossed .


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[russell.hammond]

There is a way to lift out the entire dash by disconnecting the steering column and all the cables that go through the bulkhead. I tried it but couldn’t get the Allen undone due to lack of leverage room.


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[VAG-Slag]

There's a walk-through here of how to take the dash out in one piece:


It doesn't look too bad to be honest... Will be tackling it myself soon!

 

[russell.hammond]

Yes I tried this. The difference is the centre console needs to come out (radio and all the buttons) plus I couldn’t get the steering column detached. That bolt is f*** tight!!


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[VAG-Slag]

Yes I tried this. The difference is the centre console needs to come out (radio and all the buttons) plus I couldn’t get the steering column detached. That bolt is f*** tight!!


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Re the steering column bolt - the bolt is like a cam that tightens up and locks in the steering column, and it needs to be turned CLOCKWISE to release the column, only after you've taken the nut off on the other side...

Did you try the nut/bolt on the other side?

 

[VAG-Slag]

Wait, I might be wrong about the clockwise bit... Either way the nut on the other side comes off first and the bolt only turns about a quarter turn. If you turn it too much either way it locks up again.

 

[russell.hammond]

No I didn’t. I took the dash apart instead and gave up on the column. Good advice for the OP though.


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[VAG-Slag]

No I didn’t. I took the dash apart instead and gave up on the column. Good advice for the OP though.


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Yea, it took me a good while of thinking "how the fffff is this bolt so tight" before I worked that out! lol

 

[aragorn]

the carpets hold a tonne of water if the cars been leaking.

You'll have to lift the carpet and dry it out.

 

[spudboy6]

The smell off coolant in the cabin has been getting worse day by day

I’ve got the parts and planning to pull the dash tomorrow

Was planning to just drop the column down but I’ll have a look at that above article on removing it and I’ll report back how I get on




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[spudboy6]

Did it today and was only 6-8 hours work

Not as bad as everybody makes out

Dropped Column to carpet

Removed all lower trims inc air bag

Removed centre console

Remove dials

Few other bits and bobs then loosened dash bar and pulled heater box forward left it in the car and changed it


Box was full off coolant so great success !

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[russell.hammond]

Good job. Now you’ve got to put it all back!!


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[spudboy6]

Was all done yesterday
Whole job done under 8 hours


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[spudboy6]

Even cleaned all the carpets and treated the seats



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[russell.hammond]

Well done. Any screws left over??!


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[spudboy6]

Well done. Any screws left over??!


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Not a single one !

Even got my tracker installed into the back of the dash too where nobody could ever get to it so happy with that too

How much is this job in the dealer / independents anybody had a quote ?


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[VAG-Slag]

Fair play mate, 8 hours not too bad at all... Where you on your own?

My friend has also just bought an S4 with leaky matrix, so planning on pairing up and tag-teaming both mine and his! . . Do you think two people could get two done in 8 hours?

 

[spudboy6]

I did most the work my self and only had a helper for the actual part where it came to pulling the dash bar .

I left the bar in with the heater box attached and just pulled it forward enough for matrix to clear the windscreen as it pulls upwards

I think your be hard pushed to do two in one day ,

Once you’ve done one and you then know where your at the second one in sure will only take half the time as the first one is spent messing about looking for the hidden bolts to release the dash pad


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[VAG-Slag]

How much is this job in the dealer / independents anybody had a quote ?

I looked up the book time for the job and it comes in at 26 hours! . . With most specialists charging around £80 an hour, that's £2080 in labour charges alone, plus VAT of course!