Issues with matrix removal

[Mart8V]

Hi all,

Followed the "how to" guides but have a couple of issues......

The lower nut in the engine bay is spinning and not coming out. Any option but to cut it off?  Also cannot get the blower end out as the plastic nut will not turn. Does it unscrew or prise off?

Wish I had never started this......!!

[weazgti]

Cut it or break it. That box ain't going nowhere once it's all back in.
You could leave blower and ping off the clips on heater box in the car just watch where they go.

[Mart8V]

Cut it or break it. That box ain't going nowhere once it's all back in.
You could leave blower and ping off the clips on heater box in the car just watch where they go.

Thanks, will have to go that route. Dremel it is......!

[weazgti]

I cut one off and the other I ripped out in a strop whilst upside down under dash

[Mart8V]

All done, but what a ball ache! Never again.

My son's old wetsuit died in the refurbishing of the blower vent doors but it will live on keeping the windscreen clear and the car warm!

Have just discovered that the rad is leaking though.  Next job awaits......

[clipperjay]

Well done for taking it on, you have earned those cut up hands! 

[Mart8V]

Well done for taking it on, you have earned those cut up hands! 

Telling me!  Looks like I have had a fight with a hacksaw..... Give me an engine strip and rebuild any day!

[mr_brown]

Just had exactly the same problem myself - had to take an angle grinder to the lower bolt. Upon examination it turns it's actually a threaded stud that is screwed into the plastic of the heater box. When I reassemble everything I'm just going to put a hex headed screw into it from the engine bay.

[gazareth]

could a section of the heater box not be chopped out to get matrix out? then glued or siliconed back on after new matrix is fitted?

[mr_brown]

could a section of the heater box not be chopped out to get matrix out? then glued or siliconed back on after new matrix is fitted?

I think it'd pretty tricky doing that in situ - you could probably take the whole thing out and mod it to make doing it again easier but how many times would you need to change the matrix in the lifetime of the car?