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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Ben Lessani on 22 February 2010, 13:07

Title: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: Ben Lessani on 22 February 2010, 13:07
Well, I haven't had my matrix that long, probably about 1 year since buying a brand new one from GSF and its gone pop again. I only noticed when the water levels were down and the drivers foot well was wet.

To say I'm annoyed is just the half of it, coolant mix was sat at 50% - good for -40 degs.

Here's to another 6 hours of swearing and bleeding again :cry:
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: walchy01 on 22 February 2010, 16:18
Hi there

Don't find much from GSF/Euro car parts etc that great, i know you pay alittle more from the stealers, but you are almost guarenteed that the part will last by buying direct from VW, on most parts may i add.

As per my waterpump, just renewing now on a 19 year old 16V, £25 quid from VW inc swapping old one, there is some guy on ebay knocking these out for £47 and i dont even think that they are genuine VW parts, sometimes you are better off biting the bullet.

All the best with fitting the next one.
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: mattneck(Beavis) on 22 February 2010, 17:06
Ben do you want em to sort you one out..

Jamie Pyrite has had one off me, ive got one in my car and have done since i had my old yin.. and know of a few other people who have had them off me without haas..

give me a shout let me know  :cool:
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: weazgti on 22 February 2010, 18:36
Well, I haven't had my matrix that long, probably about 1 year since buying a brand new one from GSF and its gone pop again. I only noticed when the water levels were down and the drivers foot well was wet.

To say I'm annoyed is just the half of it, coolant mix was sat at 50% - good for -40 degs.

Here's to another 6 hours of swearing and bleeding again :cry:


Easy this time round then. :cool:
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: fishnchipsx2 on 22 February 2010, 18:55
Out of interest, was it the cheaper GSF one, or the more expensive GSF one?
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: Cooper_si on 22 February 2010, 19:23
and was it a mk2 or mk3 matrix ?
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: Reasty on 22 February 2010, 21:07
Having done my matrix recently i feel your pain and having to do it twice is defiantly not funny at all. :sad:
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: tony_ack on 22 February 2010, 22:01
Hi there

Don't find much from GSF/Euro car parts etc that great, i know you pay alittle more from the stealers, but you are almost guarenteed that the part will last by buying direct from VW, on most parts may i add.

As per my waterpump, just renewing now on a 19 year old 16V, £25 quid from VW inc swapping old one, there is some guy on ebay knocking these out for £47 and i dont even think that they are genuine VW parts, sometimes you are better off biting the bullet.

All the best with fitting the next one.

Normally I'd agree with going to the dealer, but VW quoted me £120 + VAT for a matrix last year...
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: Ben Lessani on 22 February 2010, 22:10
and was it a mk2 or mk3 matrix ?

They are both the same now, but it was an OEM MK3 Valeo unit - not really what I would expect!

What make is the one you're shifting Beavis?
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: mattneck(Beavis) on 23 February 2010, 11:44
Why do people keep asking about was it a mk2 or mk3, and all this?

The Mk2 one DOES NOT EXIST ANY LONGER. Bollocks to what GSF or other numpties say on their websites.

the data history on the part number once and for all..

1h2-819-031b
1h2-819-031a
358-820-031
192-819-031

it superseeded to the mk3 part in late 1990, thats all thats been available since, so if you buy from a suitable, good quality name and source, youre going to get a good part.. wether its 'mk2 or mk3' is irrelevant, they are the same thing, you buy a cheap sh!t indian made part worth 10p or a dealer part with the same number.. theres going to be a difference. extreme ends of the spectrum, but tis samer across the span of it.
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: mattneck(Beavis) on 23 February 2010, 12:07
Ben - we do a Topran/ Hans Pries OE quality one @ 34.40+
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: DOA on 23 February 2010, 12:12
Try ringing VW and asking if they still do replacement free as I know I have used this before (also done the swap when that one went pop too lol) and they might still show up as a recall replacement.
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: Neo Badness on 23 February 2010, 12:21
Try ringing VW and asking if they still do replacement free as I know I have used this before (also done the swap when that one went pop too lol) and they might still show up as a recall replacement.

Recall has expired.
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: rubjonny on 23 February 2010, 15:30
matt, dont be so sure. gsf list a cheaper matrix but only for the MK2, and they have a more expensive matrix listed for both the MK2 and MK3. if the cheaper MK2 matrix was specced for non-heater valve cars, why is it not also listed for the MK3?
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: mattneck(Beavis) on 23 February 2010, 16:31
matt, dont be so sure. gsf list a cheaper matrix but only for the MK2, and they have a more expensive matrix listed for both the MK2 and MK3. if the cheaper MK2 matrix was specced for non-heater valve cars, why is it not also listed for the MK3?

One will be chinese replacement grade - made of paper, weak, sh!te..

One will be chinese or german OE.. proper buisness..

Same OE number though..

It's like cheap sh!t blue temp senders vs ELTH+ or OEM ones.. they all look the same and have the same part numbers, different resale companies will declare them and cateogrise them different ways.

my source is the fact my boss started at the dealer in 1987, and worked in the swedeutsch/uro/gsf network
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: rubjonny on 23 February 2010, 16:36
yeah but as i said, if it was just diffo quality, why is the cheaper one not also listed for the MK3?
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: Cooper_si on 23 February 2010, 19:29
yeah but as i said, if it was just diffo quality, why is the cheaper one not also listed for the MK3?

Thanks jonny......some people hey lol
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: rubjonny on 24 February 2010, 09:51
not saying it isnt tbh, just saying its worth noting just in case! if in doubt, buy MK3 ;)
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: Ben Lessani on 24 February 2010, 13:15
I'm thinking it might not be the matrix after all :) Hopefully, the wet floor is just from the door membrane ... as I found the expansion tank return hose had a tiny pinhole in it.

Here's to hoping!
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: russ-vdub on 24 February 2010, 13:29
^^ Weird init things like tiny holes in hoses, like how the feck did they appear! Hope you gt it sorted painlessly Beno!
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: Ben Lessani on 24 February 2010, 13:47
After 2 visits to GSF, the first to tell me its a dealer only part and the second for me to tell them their part no. for it (7mm hose), I've got a 2m length of it - which I'll pop on tonight.

Stupid wet floor, I was actually dabbing it with paper to see if it was blue .... and that was only after I considered tasting it :laugh:
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: Lap on 25 February 2010, 10:19
I'd be interested to hear if it was the heater matrix. I've had to change them on my last 2 Golf's and never had a problem with them. I went for the 'higher spec' £35 Valeo item too which I understood was OE.

Also, I thought it was commonly accepted that a passenger side leak could be a heater matrix and it's not normally the driverside? Dunno though, never been unlucky enough to find out.
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: mattneck(Beavis) on 25 February 2010, 11:00
yeah but as i said, if it was just diffo quality, why is the cheaper one not also listed for the MK3?

Just checked some old OLD listings from GSF - the Mk2 only one is the cheaper branded one according to it.. The Mk2/Mk3 one the mroe expensive.. It's either going to be a warranty related thing, or just some bod up high in GSF not wanting MK3 owners fitting the cheaper ones and then GSF getting claimed against for it going bang - whereas on the Mk2 it weas to be expected.
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: VeeDubGTI16v on 25 February 2010, 11:33
the gsf mk3 one isn't a mk3 one anyway, its an audi tt one  :grin:
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: rubjonny on 25 February 2010, 12:00
Just checked some old OLD listings from GSF - the Mk2 only one is the cheaper branded one according to it.. The Mk2/Mk3 one the mroe expensive.. It's either going to be a warranty related thing, or just some bod up high in GSF not wanting MK3 owners fitting the cheaper ones and then GSF getting claimed against for it going bang - whereas on the Mk2 it weas to be expected.

makes sence tbh, either way buy cheap, buy twice!
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: Neo Badness on 25 February 2010, 12:19
Wish I'd thoufght about this  before but I bought mine off tierod69 on fleabay for 18quid, guess it's going to go pop then? He normally sells ok stuff though.
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: rubjonny on 25 February 2010, 13:18
depends on the make of it! valeo is good, topran also iirc? what make do you sell matt?
Title: Re: Stupid heater matrix, blown again!
Post by: mattneck(Beavis) on 25 February 2010, 16:19
depends on the make of it! valeo is good, topran also iirc? what make do you sell matt?

Topran! aka Hans Motors as well now from other sources..