ALL MK 2 OWNERS TAKE NOTE!!

[spacerat]

i have the same problem and i am going for the copper pipe method this weekend   

[Diamond Hell]

I can't understand where this myth has come from - its virtually impossible for the matrix to burst - then spray boiling water onto your legs!

It's not a myth, it's a warantee replacement because this has actually happened on many occasions.

It happened to Sharpie on the way to the 'ring September 08.

The heat exchangers/bias valves, whatever people want to call them are pressure reduction valves, which VW fitted as the fix to stop the matrix bursting.  Take them out with an old matrix and you're risking a burst matrix.  Replace the matrix and you'll get a later matrix AND you can remove the valves because the later matrices don't need the pressure reduction.

If you want an OEM stylee fix have a look at some Golf3 heater hoses - lose the valves and tidy things up.

[Ben Lessani]

I don't doubt they burst - but its the spraying boiling water onto your legs which is dumb!

[mf44]

Believe me it happens! A few years back it burst & sprayed steaming hot water all very my girlfriends legs, & I'm not just talking about a couple of drips but a bucket full. luckily she had jeans on but she wasn't too impressed! Plus the water stinks foul & it takes a lot to get rid of the lingering smell once its on your carpets & the sound deadener material has soaked a load of it up.

[shrocco]

I don't doubt they burst - but its the spraying boiling water onto your legs which is dumb!

my friend in the passenger seat got wet feet/legs but its mostly steam.

[weazgti]

mine started running down,didnt spray but i did feel the heat from the water on my legs to make me pull over and let it cool.
Didnt even get out of the car.

[Horney]

I had one let go at full chat in 2nd gear coming off a roundabout, had I had a passanger they'd have had very badly burnt legs, it went everywhere. It even made a low pop/thump like noise when it went. I shat myself, thought I'd blown the engine up with all the (what I initially thought was) smoke.

Also when  watching a trackday a few years back a MKII came tonking down the straight at Combe and suddenly steam poured out of the windows, the car dived on to the grass and the passanger jumped out and pulled his tousers off while swearing.........a lot!

Nick

[Brayster]

Right I am sure this has been asked a million times but I replace the heater matrix and then buy new hoses aren't I gonna be left with a gap where a bypass valve should be. Or are new hoses longer?   

[weazgti]

thats where the copper pipe comes in,or you can try mk3 ones.
Mine never had the valves so you could try finding one that never had them fitted in the scrappy but mk2 s are a bit thin on the ground up scrappys now.

[VeeDubGTI16v]

you can get the longer hoses from gsf, the part number is buried in rubjonny's etka thread!