Help, heater matrix not working!

[Crynox]

Hi everyone,

First of all Id like to introduce myself, I am from the Bristol area and have owned my Golf Mk2 GTI 16V for around a month now.

It is a great car!  It looks the business in its metallic grey paint and has different, (factory), wheels to normal, and having never driven any Golf GTI before, Iam always amazed at how quick it is!  Driving down my favourite stretch of country road from work I find myself backing off on occassions!  Which is very unusual!  It handles very well too, overall very impressed, Im starting to understand what all the fuss is about now...

However, I do have a problem with the car the heater doesnt work, or should I say it starts to work faintly then just goes cold.  So far I have removed the lower dash and can see the hot/cold arm linkage is still attached and working Ok, I have removed the hoses going into the matrix, (from the engine compartment side), and flushed thru, no blockage evident.  It isnt losing coolent, so I am now failing to understand.  If the matrix is flushing thru Ok, then theres no point replacing it.....?

Can anybody help ?

Thanks for your time.


Rich. 

[Horney]

Welcome to the site fella.

What is your water temp gauage doing? What oil temp are you running after 15 mins of normal driving?

Nick

[Organisys]

Mines has had it as well. It flows water no problem, but is the actual fins of the matrix that are furred up to the max I guess. No choice but to swap it mate. They are not expensive, but it's time consuming to do!

 

[Crynox]

Welcome to the site fella.

What is your water temp gauage doing? What oil temp are you running after 15 mins of normal driving?

Nick

Water temperature is half and stable.  Oil temp is about 90 degree`s.

Thanks,

Rich.

[Organisys]

Welcome to the site fella.

What is your water temp gauage doing? What oil temp are you running after 15 mins of normal driving?

Nick

Water temperature is half and stable.  Oil temp is about 90 degree`s.

Thanks,

Rich.

These are spot on mate. New Matrix time I expect, but first try running it in reverse flow direction and / or flushing it out using a steam cleaner. Another trick is to clamp the top radiator hose for a few minutes to try and force the flow through the matrix only.

[Crynox]

I just thought that if I had flow, which I have in both directions, the matrix is surely working...?  No sludge deposits came out of it...I dont want to go to through all the hassle of removing and replacing the matrix if it is OK etc.


Thanks,

Rich.

[Dinky]

welcome to the forum hun

Dinx

[boneybradley]

hallo und Willkommen zum Forum....

[Organisys]

I just thought that if I had flow, which I have in both directions, the matrix is surely working...?  No sludge deposits came out of it...I dont want to go to through all the hassle of removing and replacing the matrix if it is OK etc.


Thanks,

Rich.

I get flow in both directions, but no heat........

[vw-bob]

hey