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Post by shrimp on Sept 13, 2014 22:54:25 GMT 1
Back last year I suspected my head gasket was going so I added steel seal and all that did was block my heater matrix so I had to flush the heater matrix out to get the heater working again. I then had the head gasket replaced but then the heater wasn't getting that warm but I thought that was because the head wasn't skimmed, So now I've done the head gasket myself and had the head skimmed but now I only have heat for a while then it goes cool but if I turn the heater to cold for a few minutes then turn the blower back to hot I get hot for a few seconds. So would anyone know what could be wrong or does it sound like I need a new heater matrix.
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Post by natedog on Sept 13, 2014 23:10:00 GMT 1
Poor flow thru the matrix for some reason. Try putting the hosepipe on one side of it and seeing if you can get a good flow of clean water thru it. Don't know if these control water flow or air flow to vary cabin temp, but if there is a valve make sure that it isn't clogged
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2014 23:41:12 GMT 1
On the timing case cover you will find the water pump, look carefully and you might find if fitted what looks like a blanking plug, its actually a bleed plug, bleed the air out up to that point and then look at the top of the water pump and you will see a pipe with a tube fitted, remove the hose and prime the air out then put the hose back on and keep the coolant system topped up, then your heater should work ok  |
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Post by shrimp on Sept 14, 2014 8:48:03 GMT 1
I've flushed the heater matrix and I get a good flow from both pipes. What I have noticed is if you put your hand on the pipe that comes from the heater matrix to the egr adaptor housing the pipe is hot but if you put your hand on the pipe that comes from the heater matrix to the water pump it's not very hot. On the bottom of the water pump there is a plug but I thought that was just a drain plug and the metal pipe with a pipe fitted to goes to the throttle body. Do I need the engine running when I remove the plug at the bottom of the water pump.
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french crap fanatic
Apprentice
french car specialist based in dagenham east london
Posts: 3,355
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Post by french crap fanatic on Sept 14, 2014 9:11:28 GMT 1
ive never known a blocked heater matrix to get unblocked once its got rad sealer init.
get a new one fitted and go from there.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 10:55:00 GMT 1
No shrimp that would be dangerous, the best idea would be to remove the hose at the top of the pump next to the temperature switch and let the engine idle while allowing any trapped air to escape, then refit the hose. If you suspect a problem with the heater matrix try putting a hose in it and pump water through it and see if a good strong volume of water exits the other tube, if it does it will more than likely be ok, but if little or no flow then there is your problem. If you work on cars a lot you might think about investing in a cooling system vacuum pump, that device will check cooling system for leaks and correctly fill the system ensuring that no air locks are present, assuming of course there are no mechanical problems  |
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Post by Rhubarb on Sept 14, 2014 11:33:26 GMT 1
Have you changed the thermostat?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 11:48:28 GMT 1
It looks like shrimp has changed the pump and thermostat housing Rhubarb, unless he just removed the pump to illustrate the drain plug lol  |
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Post by shrimp on Sept 14, 2014 11:56:48 GMT 1
Yes its a new pump and thermostat/housing.
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Post by shrimp on Sept 14, 2014 21:26:33 GMT 1
ive never known a blocked heater matrix to get unblocked once its got rad sealer init. get a new one fitted and go from there. When I added the steel seal I had no heat whatsoever so I flushed the heater matrix out with cold water form the hose pipe and then I had nice and hot heaters again. It was only when the head gasket was replaced the heater started playing up. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2014 20:32:29 GMT 1
Steel Seal any good ?
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Post by shrimp on Sept 15, 2014 23:19:15 GMT 1
It didn't do anything for my car apart from block the heater matrix. |
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Post by upkeep on Sept 16, 2014 8:19:18 GMT 1
Will Steel seal block or clog my cooling system?
"No, Steel Seal Head Gasket Repair will not block or clog your cooling system or cause any damage to your vehicle. Unlike other products making similar claims Steel Seal contains no fibrous material to seal your blown head gasket. It relies on a thermo chemical bonding process which is a chemical reaction, to seal the leak in your blown head gasket."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 21:47:22 GMT 1
What I don't understand about this thread is that at the beginning there was a problem with a head gasket that was renewed and then after that a heater problem occurred that was not present before, and now sealant compounds are being added to the cooling system, which suggests to me that coolant is being lost, and if so then subject to how bad the loss actually is, air will be present because the circulation is poor and thus will lead to the heater operating unsatisfactorily.
Why all the additives, simply flush all the crap out and pressure test the system, use a cooling system dye that will show up combustion in the cooling system and if all is well, ensure the cooling system has no air locks and your heater should be OK.
It seems to me at least that the job is being made much more difficult that it actually needs to be.
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Post by Rhubarb on Sept 16, 2014 23:14:40 GMT 1
I think the lesson here is don't use "magic" treatments!
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