Leak!

[TiddlesRX7]

When I had some welding done on my car in December I removed the carpet out of the car. The passengerside footwell was soaking in water which I thought had come through from the windowscreen seal. I sorted the window seal out with a bit of sealant. Anyway when I was trying my PFC in the car yesterday I lifted the carpet to find it was soaking again. Now the only thing that looks like it as had a drip running down it is from the centre of the car behind the radio. The rubber mat that sits ontop of the carpet was bone dry so its not coming in from above that. I did notice that the liquid has a blue colour to it (maybe antifreeze). So im thinking it could be the heater matrix. Can anyone shed some light on this at all. Is this something that has happened to others?, is the heater matrix easy enough to get in and out?, where about under the dash is it located?

cheers
Ade

[grinder]

sounds like the matrix to be honest

have a read on rx7club.com - im sure there is a write up on there about it - didnt sound like a job i would want to do though :(

[FlikstRR]

aaah dude.. trust me.. even getting it to budge is an arse... i removed the 3 securing nuts.. hoping alot of it would lift away so i could get to the pipework/radiator thingy... nope.. not a chance.

you will have to disconnect the hose at the back of the engine i recon.. but thats without looking at the guide, just from observation etc.

[TiddlesRX7]

Is it a dash out job then?

[grinder]

it COULD be :(

[Prof]

I reckon heater matrix too - does it smell 'sweet' in the car ?

It is usually possible to get the matrixes out without taking the dash off, but it's not a quick job.

You could just bypass the heater hoses so that you can still drive the car around whilst you get parts ordered etc.

[TiddlesRX7]

Well I am hopeing to take the matrix off my spare car. It just means I have to do the job twice as such :( Think i'll Pete a PM he's bound to have had one or two out in the past!

[TiddlesRX7]

Just had a look at getting the dash out. Frickin thing may as well be welded in! I cant even find the main nuts,bolts or whatever it is holding it in. More searching for an idiots guide to dash removal needed. Think I may end up bypassing the matrix for now.

[monterx7]

its a very interesting job to get the dash out...alot of bolts and wire harnesses to disconnect. i did it to change out my heater core/matrix, and after taking it out i honestly dont see how you can do it with the dash in. if someone has done it please post how.

[pdtaylor18]

Not a chance!!! the dash has to come out and it can be removed in about 2 hours (thats if you know where everything is.) I have done about 3 now and a shame you were not closer as I would have done it. For now just bypass the matrix from within the engine bay, just join the two pipes that are at the back of the engine and go into the bulkhead.

see attachment for bolt locations.

[TiddlesRX7]

Cheers Pete, or should I say Super Pete! as that is what folk on here are gonna start refuring to you as soon. Think I will by pass it for now untill I have more time to sort it.

Pete I may need to purchase your spare Heater matrix at some point if you still have it. My spare car is going to the scrappy in the next week or so and I wont have time to get the HM out of it.

[pdtaylor18]

You can have the matrix for nothing mate, just send the postage which will be about £10 using Interparcel. Just let me know. The important thing about the dash is uncovering all the bolts. If I can get my head round it I will do a step by step guide,wish i had done that with pics when i did the last one.

[TiddlesRX7]

That would be awesome. Cheers Pete. I had a read of the Haynes manual today and it seems like its about 10-12 screws or bolts holding it in. Its just all the rea=st of thestuff located in the dash that has to come out also. One thing I will say now though, I bet it comes out easier than it goes back in. It always is with these things.
I'll pop you a tenner in your paypal later in the week then Pete if that is ok. I'll mark it as a gift and PM you when I have done so. I'm not in a major rush for it so don't put yourself out wrapping it up just yet.

[Grizzly]

I had a similar problem a while back with a T2 and an FD, mine was the Rubber grommet that the Engine loom goes through. The T2 one had a big split in where it had perished over time but the FD one simply wasn't in properly.

Its usually quite obvious if the matrix has gone, as suggested you will smell anti freeze on the carpets but you will find the water coolant levels will drop.

[TiddlesRX7]

Just the man. I read your posts on this on RX7Club Grizzly. So yours was the actual grommet thet was causing the leak? How do you mean? Had it let the pipe rub on the bulk head or something? I have noticed on mine that there is a water stain from the gromet running down the bulk head (engine side).

[pdtaylor18]

Just make sure your hoses are on tight at the bulkhead, especially the one above the turbo as this is notorious for perishing due to the heat. If you are lucky it may be that. If its the copper pipe that goes into the hoses from the matrix then I suppose they can be repaired with solder if they have been rubbing meteal to metal.

[TiddlesRX7]

I don't think they have been rubbing. They seem like they are in the middle of the bush/grommet in the bulk head. The one that looks like its got a stain is the one on the passenger side so not he the one above the turbo. Im gonna have a good look round the entire system though just to double check. If its gone in one place there is a good chance it'll go somewhere else soon.

Just to double check then. The two copper pipes that go through the bulk head. They go straight into the matrix itself do they?

[pdtaylor18]

yes they do and come attached as you pull the matrix out. They can be replaced but odds on the matrix itself is goosed.

[FlikstRR]

on a kind of side note....

in my case im trying to weight save etc.. and turning into a full track car..


wont bypassing the heater matrix.. mean les water in the system .. therefore less cooling??? wouldn't you have to compensate for the lost capacity?

[pdtaylor18]

I think its an insignificant amount to have any major affect on the cooling of the car. Yes there will be less water but the last thing you want on a race car is a heater!!!! the engine and gearbox temps will provide all the heat you want. I suppose sometimes when you know that temps are getting higher you put the heater on to get the temps lower so i suppose you will not have that ability but then you should not be relying on that to have lower temps.
I'll pour some water in the matrix and see what it holds.

[FlikstRR]

yeah it was the latter i was thinking about...turning the fans on to cool the engine slightly. if it is insignificant and i can find a guide to bypassing the system, I shall do so in the off-season.

cheers Peter..


dont forget BDC is on friday/saturday/sunday this weekend at Norfolk arena if your interested. :)

[TiddlesRX7]

Bypassing it should be easy enough. The 2 hoses that go to the matrix through the bulk head just need disconnecting, then joining together insted of going through the matrix. A bit off copper pipe and jubilee clips would do I would think untill a more preminant fix is done.