Technical Wet passenger footwell... Heater matrix ?

[koalar]

Is there a screw or bolt midway on the pipes, inside car?

I looked on the bulkhead but didn't see anything other than the factory clips connecting the rubber hoses to the plastic heater pipes

@varesecrazy wrote a nice guide

Heater Matrix change - Lower Dash removal Info.

:idea: Mystery coolant loss = DAMP Carpets :( chances are you've got a leaky heater Matrix assembly :thumbd: I had these issues, here is a brief run-through of the job.., Glove-box ; remove the 4 small TORX screws from the upper and...

www.fiatforum.com

Is far as I remember just this

Should remember as I had mine apart a few times

Tried add grease to the o rings
Tried filing a bit of the matting surfaces
I got pretty close but as it cooled it would suck in a bit of air

In the end I just RTV the two parts together, that lasted while I had the car

 

[portland_bill]

There's a screw along the pipes, near the bulkhead, difficult to see, and also awkward to get at. Then pipes are held into bulkhead by the rubber surround.
If replacing the matrix, get a Denso, as that is OE, although replacement may not be to the same standard. I got a Mahle, supposedly a good brand, but was noticeably cheap in construction, and the sealing rings, whilst doing OK so far, looked poorer than the originals.
A new matrix usually comes with new pipes and seals.

 

[koalar]

There's a screw along the pipes, near the bulkhead, difficult to see, and also awkward to get at. Then pipes are held into bulkhead by the rubber surround.
If replacing the matrix, get a Denso, as that is OE, although replacement may not be to the same standard. I got a Mahle, supposedly a good brand, but was noticeably cheap in construction, and the sealing rings, whilst doing OK so far, looked poorer than the originals.
A new matrix usually comes with new pipes and seals.

Isn't this screw holding on the outer cover and pipes

Which @zippeyrude has already removed

I could be wrong it's been a couple of years and done a few heater cores on different model cars in between

 

[portland_bill]

Isn't this screw holding on the outer cover and pipes

View attachment 456344

Which @zippeyrude has already removed

I could be wrong it's been a couple of years and done a few heater cores on different model cars in between

Could be.
Whilst only a short while ago I did mine, it is already fading from memory. Not pleasant on knees with head under the dash.

 

[koalar]

Could be.
Whilst only a short while ago I did mine, it is already fading from memory. Not pleasant on knees with head under the dash.

I took mine apart a few times, it's wasn't a big job

And yet I still can't be certain

When it's only a few bolts or screws, I just press on, there's nothing to reinforce my aging memory

 

[zippeyrude]

Anyone able to point to part numbers for the o rings / seals that go on the rigid pipes and into the heater matrix?

I've got some rtv that I'll add, but also wanted to replace the o rings...

 

[koalar]

Size 2.5x27x22

Part number. 14457680

 

[zippeyrude]

Size 2.5x27x22

Part number. 14457680

Thank you!

 

[portland_bill]

Anyone able to point to part numbers for the o rings / seals that go on the rigid pipes and into the heater matrix?

I've got some rtv that I'll add, but also wanted to replace the o rings...

Just use new O rings. Ensure the grooves are clean, and clamp it up without additional sealant. The additional sealant will increase the potential to leak, as the clamp is trying to do more work.

 

[koalar]

Ensure the grooves are clean,

Not that sort of joint

It's just squeezed together

There only one screw in the middle as it's tightened up it bows the plastic ever so slightly and weeps slightly, heat doesn't help

It's a bit of a design flaw the one in the photo below looks better made than mine

It's fairly common fault

Leak at heater matrix/pipe joint - HELP PLEASE! | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

After having to scrape ice off the inside of the windows, I recently discovered soaking wet carpets in the front footwells of my diesel Panda (no air-con). The source of the leak would seem to be the joint of the heater matrix to the flow/return pipes at the passenger (UK) side of the matrix -...

www.fiatforum.com

I did mine with sealant as it was the easiest quickest and cheapest, be wasteful changing the matrix and pipes because they no longer clamp squarely, I did try filing a bit off so it clamped more tightly

 

[zippeyrude]

Not that sort of joint

It's just squeezed together

There only one screw in the middle as it's tightened up it bows the plastic ever so slightly and weeps slightly, heat doesn't help

It's a bit of a design flaw the one in the photo below looks better made than mine

View attachment 457438

It's fairly common fault

Leak at heater matrix/pipe joint - HELP PLEASE! | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

After having to scrape ice off the inside of the windows, I recently discovered soaking wet carpets in the front footwells of my diesel Panda (no air-con). The source of the leak would seem to be the joint of the heater matrix to the flow/return pipes at the passenger (UK) side of the matrix -...

www.fiatforum.com

I did mine with sealant as it was the easiest quickest and cheapest, be wasteful changing the matrix and pipes because they no longer clamp squarely, I did try filing a bit off so it clamped more tightly

What part did you file?

I have a replacement matrix and pipes from a breaker.

I may still add a slither of rtv on the pipe, I can't see it doing any harm.

 

[koalar]

I took a small bit of here, I doubt it was needed

Mine was annoying as it was only a few millilitres day

Bigger problem is as the engine cools down it sucks in air, which as it expands as the engine heats up the next time it's started, pushes some of the coolant out, and the level in the expansion tank would be wrong until you undo the cap when it would then drop

Took it apart a few times in the end went for belt and braces, file plus sealant, lasted the rest of the time I owned the car

 

[zippeyrude]

Finally managed to get it in and ran the engine twice up to temperature, and it doesn't seem to leak.

I ended up adding some rtv to the rigid pipe and waited as day for it to cure before running the engine and circulating the water.

The must difficult was pulling out the heater matrix, and having to pull the bottom off the dash to let it out.

Apart from that it's an easy job with a fair bit of faff ( lifting carpet, trims, etc)

Thanks for all the replies