Replacing Heater Matrix On Mk2

[dlt1617]

I thought I would post this for anyone thinking about replacing the main heater matrix on Mk2 Galaxy so that it will take less time then it has taken me!

 

If you have a Ford TIS disc or VW Elsawin (I have both) ignore whats listed as it's rubbish!

 

Remove the bulkhead panel above the engine (only 3 bolts) and then remove the wiper linkage and the pollen filter and housing.

 

On the driver's side remove the sound insulation fitted on the bulkhead below the wiper linkage and next to the horn. Remove all the bolts and nuts you can now see across the bulkhead area.

 

There are nuts and bolts lower down on the bulkhead which also need to be removed, on the passengerside there are several little flaps in the insulation at the back of the engine bay which cover nuts that have to be removed - get yourself a palm rachet and some long reach sockets before you start or give up now! The worse one is fitted right up in the far right of the engine bay behind the abs pump (the thing on the passenger inner wing with all the brake pipes going to it) which is behind one of these flaps and I could only just reach (and I've only got small hands - no jokes please).

On the driver's side there is a bolt fitted behind the vacuum valves on the bulkhead - save time by just removing the heat sheild over them and then undoing the two nuts that hold the bracket with them on. The bolt is high up just under the lip where the bracket fits. There is also a bolt behind the run on water pump in the centre/passengerside of the bulkhead, again just undo the two nuts for the bracket and it is up the to under the lip (you may need to push the wiring harness there down a bit to get to it.

Disconnect the two water hoses where they go through the bulkhead and disconnect the air con pipes from the valve on the passengerside, the disconnect the valve.

That should be everything disconnected from the engine bay side now the dash!

 

When you open the doors on both sides of the dash are blanking panels that just pull off. Having removed them you can get to the top triangular vents and the main fresh air vents underneath them which with a bit of jiggling can be removed, there are wires going to the vents for the illumination which need a little hook lifting up to remove the plug.

The silver trims across the centre of the dash can be pulled of (start from the outside and move in). Once removed you can see the screws that hold the top and bottom sections together, undo the lot and then on the passenger top dash compartment remove the screws retaining it and pull it slightly towards you to remove it. The centre compartment just need the screws removing to remove. With the compartmements of you can get to the top dash screws - remove them as well as nothing falls off! The glovebox has two pins at the bottom that just unclip and left and right hook shaped bits to stop it opening to far, remove the trim around the left hook bit and the right will unhook if gently lifted/pulled. There are then screws to remove on the lower part of the lower dash panel, two on the top of the glovebox apperture.

 

I'm a bit tired now so I'll add more tomorrow!

 

Dave

[BigDog]

WELL DONE! Did it start leaking a little or fail more spectacularly? I have done the job on a previous Audi 80 and MkII Golf, took all day both times, this sounds similar to the Audi but with the added complication of A/C.

 

Matt

[dlt1617]

Hi Matt,

 

I will finish the notes on replacing the matrix when I have time but the main thing I found was that there was so little information on what needs to be removed to replace it as apposed to removing the whole heater case which is not necessary.

 

You have to remove all the dash trims and there is a reinforcing bar that has to be loose but not removed. The heater case just needs to be moved back by a couple of inches to allow the matrix to be removed from the top.

 

Most of my time was wasted trying to find where the bolts/nuts were retaining the heater case in the engine bay and trying to find a way to get to them with out without removing more than necessary(either parts on the car or skin on my hands!).

 

Best wishes

 

Dave