Technical Heater Matrix/Core Pipe Clips?

[schummy027]

Hi Peeps, dipping my toes back into the site after my Stilo Schumacher died way back in 2018...This conversation/ enquiry/thread is to do with my daughter's 2012 500 Abarth that I've currently been working on to get the heating back up and running...story goes that a garage did a flush of the system and when that didn't work defaulted to it needing a matrix replacement at £1k "in the hope" that's the problem. Having previously researched heater matrix replacement on the 500's I knew that rather than the usual expected complete dashboard dismantle, oddly, the Italians have made it a very simple process. Rather than mess about, and it not being the heater matrix, I've opted to replace thermostat, matrix and blower motor in one go.
The thermostat turned out to be by far and away the most labour intensive and difficult job with most of the engine bay on the battery side needing stripping out to get the access needed, however with access finally gained the swap over and fitting was relatively simple.
Changing the Heater Blower was again relatively easy, as was the Heater Matrix/Core once access was gained via stripping out the left passenger side gloves compartment area and releasing cowling around the gear stick.
As is often the case I was initially sent (used registration rather than vin) the incorrect Heater Matrix/ Core but quickly turned around the correct one by simply sending part ref and images of the one removed.
Here is the crunch of my thread!...the main stumbling block is now the need for replacement (only one is broken) pipe to matrix compression/ securing/ sealing 'clips', which so far appear to be like trying to find unicorn tears, with unicorn tears probably more likely to find!
I had hoped that on the broken clip I could use a decent cable tie to bring the broken ends together but sadly on refilling the system it simply isn't enough.
Before writing, I spent over an hour searching through all the drawings in ePAR and unless it requires a computer hacker to find anything to do with the actual heater matrix, it does not appear to be given any specific drawing for either the matrix/ core or it's component parts.
I have seen the clips sold along with (attached to) used/scrapper units, however these will and do show the same break down of the plastic over time and therefore run the risk of breaking on removal as the originals we have did, plus your having to buy the complete unit simply to get the clips, which at £40 is an expensive set of clips.
The unit that I purchased new online, and all of those available that are new via eBay/Amazon and other outside of dealer options do not come with the clips (probably for the same reason as I'm finding).
When I initially made enquiries to find the heater matrix via in-store enquires with my local eurocarparts they advised that nationally they could not source the same unit from any supplier as showing as discontinued.
When I was initially sent the wrong heater matrix (later), you can tell that fiat moved away from the earlier 'clips' that I'm searching for and updated/upgraded follow on units with a much easier and simplified method if sealing the pipes to the unit (updated/upgraded units are wider and do fit 2008-2012 models).
Has anyone in here managed to source the clips in their own as a pair whilst undertaking the same work please?
I've included a few pics and a vid showing stages of the work, the matrix and infamous 'clips' with a vid after last night's attempted refill and nicely leaking seal via the lower clip...have always loved the site and found it an invaluable source of info and advice etc, keep up the good work

 

[The Panda Nut]

If you have the broken parts. I think your best bet would be to find an engineering firm to 3D print new ones. If they can scan all the bits they will be able to bring teh images together to make a single print map. Get a few extras and you will be able to sell them to recover some of the cost.

 

[schummy027]

So, to give closure on this...

Following my thread, having initially contacted Fiat UK and spoken directly with my nearest FIAT UK Dealer in Epsom, I confirmed that the only way you get hold of the two clips and seals is to order the two aluminium pipes with a turn around of more than a month!

With car on my friends driveway in bits the job was time critical.

I opted to purchase a new aftermarket heater matrix, which included pipes and a separate pack of the all important clips and seals listed on eBay.

The matrix was listed as for Vauxhall, however clips and seals looked identical to what I needed and the part ref' linked to several other makes and mods such as Fiat, Opel.

The matrix with bits were with me within a few days, and I got the new clips and seals straight onto the earlier fitted model specific matrix.

Quick re-cap before I move on...

Initially paid a garage for full cooling system flush and refill, their recommendation, which didn't work.

Same garage said they couldn't be sure, but wanted us to pay £1k+ to get new matrix fitted by them in the 'hope' that would work.

I then do my own work to fit new thermostat, heater matrix, heater blower, heater resister to cover all basis, in the hope that it would work and if not, at least we could tell any garage the amount of work done in order to avoid a long drawn out, expensive, lets suck it and see approach.

All the parts up to now had set us back £150.

Unfortunately the work did not solve the problem of zero heating, with a slight rise in temperature but basically still useless.

Knowing that all bases had now been covered (for the big stuff at least), I continued to research and found another thread, which referred to and recommended an independent fiat specialist near Southampton that do (or at least did, as it was unknown if it was still in operation and or doing the work) a successful 'work-around' to gain access to and repair the main, full heating control unit (digital climate control etc) on the specific years that have it (2008-2011 with our Abarth) which is mahoosively expensive to have replaced by fiat in, excess of £2k as a complete unit not including fitting.

Thankfully, I found that the independent garage were still in operation and carrying out the work to the heater units. The original thread had referred to them having carried out more than 250 successful jobs for happy customers as per the write up on their website at the time, however having contacted them directly, they confirmed they had now done well over 500 of the procedure, with customers having travelled from parts of Europe, such as France and Germany to get the work done.

They were confident that they would fix the problem with their 'fix' advising that out of over 500 that they had done, not a single repair failed to solve the problem.

We booked the Abarth in and had the work done today...and hey presto, after a couple of hours work and £200 including vat, the heating is once again working perfectly.

For anyone who suddenly loses the heating in their Abarth 500, and it has the dreaded digital climate control/ heating unit system (2008-2011/12 in our case) I 'highly' recommend contacting, or going to see this garage, if not too far, before shelling out on a general garages preferred default option of Heater Matrix as a starting point.

 

[schummy027]

Just some images after getting the new clips and seals onto the new matrix and topping up the system (again) thankfully l with zero leaks