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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: stuyhird on 08 November 2009, 08:54
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Cant seem to find any info on the above topic, its somthing im doing now, the dash is removed but im still none the wiser.
Any help would be grand thanks, Stuy
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hi... right i have just done the heater matrix on mine this weekend... where are you up too????
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its not a nice job, even worse than doing it on a MK3. problem is that bloody knee bar is in the way! what i did was disconnect the steering UJ at the bottom so i could pull the knee bar forward enough with the column attached, to save messing with the shear bolts. to pull the knee bar forward ytou have to remove the kick panels either side of the footwell, which can be a struggle.
dash itself is a mare to remove as it has so many little bits holding stuff together, there are nuts in the scuttle area which are a pain as you have to take the plastic trim off, which means you have to take the wipers off. everything requires about 3 other things to come off first :grin:
Once the kneebar is pulled forward, remove all the vent stuff then go back into the engien bay and remove all the nuts holding the airbox& blower housing to the bulkhead, pull the whole thing off together.
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you can just undo the knee bar and pull the bar back abit leaving only enough room to slide the heater unit forward enough to remove the matrix
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yeah thats what i did
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Just thought i would add my experiences for anyone who reads this in the future, i have just changed mine recently and you do not need to remove the re-bar, you do not need to de-gas the air con (if you have it), you do not need to remove the sheer bolts on the steering column.
the process i took was,
1. disconnect negative battery on terminal
2. disconnect pipes into heater core (engine side) and drain coolant
3.remove drain gutter and windscreen wipers and motor
4.remove the 2 10mm nuts that secure the dash to the bulk head.
5. remove nuts under the 2 tabs on the heat proofing next to exhaust. (these secure heater box)
6. remove steering wheel and air bag
7. remove all switches, trim, glove box, passenger airbag,clocks, panels etc around dash
8. remove centre console (2 bolts under rear ashtray and 2 plastic bolts under gear gaiter.) you will probably need to loosen the handbrake by undoing the 2 13mm nuts
9. remove dash
10.remove white plenum in front of heater box (2 plastic nuts)
11.remove padding under air con unit to allow access and remove metal clips around connection between black heater box and air con unit. (not sure how this part goes for cars without air con)
12. remove sound proofing from above heater box area, ( 2 star shaped washer type nuts)
13. make sure all plastic heat directors are removed from heater box and slowly wiggle and pull heater box away from bulk head. (this take some force and movement, you have to be brave)
14. with a lot of effort and wiggling pull the old heater matrix out the black box. ( smashing it to pieces with a hammer will make you feel better here)
15. wipe up all the coolant at the bottom of the box
Before you put the new one in make sure you remove the plastic protector at the bottom if it has one, otherwise it will not fit back into the heater box and it could damage it. I got my heater matrix from euro car parts for £30 delivered they were cheaper than GSF.
Follow the steps in reverse order to fit the new matrix. Before you reconnect the battery put the key in the ignition and turn it on, this will make sure the airbag light doesn't stay on. Also make sure you are not inside the car when the battery is reconnected just in case the air bags go off.
Fill the car up with coolant and leave the expansion tank cap off, start the engine and let it idle for 5 minutes. Top the coolant up and screw the lid on. Let the car warm up until the fan kicks in and check for smoke from the vents and leaks into the foot wells. There will probably be a bit off smoke at the beginning form left over coolant.
In total it took me about 7 hours in a darkly lit garage. Just make sure you keep all your nuts and bolts safe in a tin or jam jar or something!!!!
I hope this will help anyone who has this problem in the future
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that's a great guide. get ready to put another gsf heater matrix in your car in about 6 months :grin:
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Being winter it is horrible not having heating and a few of my mates have had the matrix go.
As I have now done this a few times for mates cars I thought I would offer my services to any1 who wants a cheaper alternative to the garage. I will come to your house/driveway and fit a new matrix for £250 including the cost of the matrix and coolant. I will only travel within a sensible distance otherwise its not worth me doing it. If you are interested let me pm me. I can also do mk2's as well.
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So how much would a garage cost? Book time, hours wise?
I need to do mine but reading the guide I'll end up with the bonnet taken off, whole interior out, rear discs off and 2 weeks of me looking for the wrong thing lol.
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Being winter it is horrible not having heating and a few of my mates have had the matrix go.
As I have now done this a few times for mates cars I thought I would offer my services to any1 who wants a cheaper alternative to the garage. I will come to your house/driveway and fit a new matrix for £250 including the cost of the matrix and coolant. I will only travel within a sensible distance otherwise its not worth me doing it. If you are interested let me pm me. I can also do mk2's as well.
Was away to get my wallet out there but thanks to your guide should be able to do it myself now. :wink:
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So how much would a garage cost? Book time, hours wise?
I need to do mine but reading the guide I'll end up with the bonnet taken off, whole interior out, rear discs off and 2 weeks of me looking for the wrong thing lol.
it will take me around 5 or 6 hours depending on how much tea i drink :smiley: a garage will charge at least £350 but ive had quotes at over £500. its a horrible job but really worth doing this weather lol
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Being winter it is horrible not having heating and a few of my mates have had the matrix go.
As I have now done this a few times for mates cars I thought I would offer my services to any1 who wants a cheaper alternative to the garage. I will come to your house/driveway and fit a new matrix for £250 including the cost of the matrix and coolant. I will only travel within a sensible distance otherwise its not worth me doing it. If you are interested let me pm me. I can also do mk2's as well.
Was away to get my wallet out there but thanks to your guide should be able to do it myself now. :wink:
i hope you get it sorted, let me know how you get on and if you have any problems
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Good job I've got plenty of socks, hats & gloves lol.
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Book time on matrix replacement is about 4.2 hours.
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what a job man,i started doing it yesterday,i'm now at the point of pulling the black box from the bulk head,it's stuck at the bottom end.
do i just pull it like a mad man or does it have a screw holding it in place?
please help,any info would be gratefull
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there are 3 nuts on the bulkhead in the engine bay, did you remove them all?
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there are 3 nuts on the bulkhead in the engine bay, did you remove them all?
thanx buddy,i did find them,f**king things are well hidden :grin:
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Im struggling with getting the matrix housing and everything out! ive got the full dash out and have taken off the white plenum (breaking it at the same time) but none of the plastics want too move, i dont have aircon either! is there any hidden bolts holding the housing in? it feels to tight to just rive it out, i cant take the metal clips off to split it either as there are clips on the back which i cant get too! please help, i have a car in 100 bits lol
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ive also tried removing the polen filter and housing and the thing still wont budge! please help?
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Book time on matrix replacement is about 4.2 hours.
So about 150 labour really.
I've done two in a day before. One being a MK3 and the other a MK4 Polo.
You need to switch off, work methodically and just go steady.
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There's three studs that go thru the bulk head, they hold the heater box on, two are hidden behind the central heat shield, but there are slots cut out of it. The other one is under the expansion tank, undo these and the heater box should wiggle free
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Thats the reply i was waiting for! Thanks alot, will try tomorrow! Thanks again
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Thats the reply i was waiting for! Thanks alot, will try tomorrow! Thanks again
No worries, idid my heater matrix a few weeks ago, was a right b!tch!!!!! Good to have heat again tho :cool:
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No worries, idid my heater matrix a few weeks ago, was a right b!tch!!!!! Good to have heat again tho :cool:
I remember helping with my Skoda (16hrs in total), never again.
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No worries, idid my heater matrix a few weeks ago, was a right b!tch!!!!! Good to have heat again tho :cool:
I remember helping with my Skoda (16hrs in total), never again.
I'd never do another one
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They shouldn't take that long! I've had a Mk3 dash out in about 20-30 mins before! Admittedly a breaker so I didn't really care where everything landed but really shouldn't take that long.
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3 bolts helped alot lol, its deffently free now! But i dont know how Any of you have managed to ge that big bulk out from behind the knee plate! Im just abit paranoid about ripping wires out and snapping fixtures
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Got sick and started riving the knee plate out, which helped a great deal! also split the left hand side from the main unit! which free'd everything up! if anyone has any questions i feel confident enough to help! but i am yet to refit the dash haha!
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If you have someone helping you it's a lot easier. I unbolted the knee plate at both sides and in the middle. Then got someone to pull the knee plate and heater box back while I pulled the heater matrix out and put the other in
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This is what i finally found lol, no wonder my footwell was a big puddle
(http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/6474/photo1eux.jpg)
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This is what i finally found lol, no wonder my footwell was a big puddle
(http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/6474/photo1eux.jpg)
:shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:
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3 splits! :shocked:
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Every single rail split! Must have been in the frost with no antifreeze!
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Right ive sorted the heater matrix and got everything back together including topping the water levels, ive warmed the car up to temp and still no fan, ive replaced the fan relay and tested the fan actually works? The pipes feel pretty full with pressure, could this be thermostat or am i looking more towards the head gasket gone? which is why my matrix ended up in such a bad way?
Cheers
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Strange this. As I had to change my heater matrix, and then had to change my rad, and now my fans don't work. I think my fan motor has packed in
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Right ive sorted the heater matrix and got everything back together including topping the water levels, ive warmed the car up to temp and still no fan, ive replaced the fan relay and tested the fan actually works? The pipes feel pretty full with pressure, could this be thermostat or am i looking more towards the head gasket gone? which is why my matrix ended up in such a bad way?
Cheers
Fan switch, the one in the rad next to the clip
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Ive tried 2 seperate switches, but both second hand not knowing if they worked on previous vehicles! Would it be common that both of them are nackered? just before i purchase a new one! Ive done the test again on the connector and the fan works using a paperclip on the pins!
Had a serous panic, looking in my car to find the foot-well was soaking, thought it was the matrix knackered again, relised i don't have the cover on above the pollen filter so the snow has just soaked through it... Panic over