Damn Thing!

[HPmuirt]

Being such a huge major job, i wouldnt waste your money on a 2nd hand matrix, they are just as likely to pop as yours has!! GSF or ECP would be able to supply a GOOD quality one. DONT buy a nissens one!! As if its anything like the radiators then you will be pulling it all out again.

Just as a quide, a brand new genuine matrix is P/N 894 819 031A at about 97+vat retail. Get your dealer or vagparts to double check that number before you order!!

Also bear in mind you will need to possibly de gas the AC system to remove the heaterbox if needed. Im not sure on a RHD car is that is needed, as I have never done one.

Hi there,

Tom is bang on...this IS a Huge and major job

Read this thread, as I posted some pics from when I changed the heater matrix on my 2.8 coupe....they might scare you

Cheers n

Si

[stevieyid]

that look a bloody nightmare to me. I f i could et the dash off it would save me some money in labour thats what i was thinking. Maybe get a matrix either new or breakers and just get a mechanice to fit it after i had got the dash off. how long would it take a pro to get the dash and that off and do the job?

[HPmuirt]

that look a bloody nightmare to me. I f i could et the dash off it would save me some money in labour thats what i was thinking. Maybe get a matrix either new or breakers and just get a mechanice to fit it after i had got the dash off. how long would it take a pro to get the dash and that off and do the job?

Yeah, I did some of it to help out.

My mate runs a garage and is an ex Audi mechanic, so he knew what he was doing. All in it was about 5 hours to strip and rebuild the dash and nearly an hour to fit the new matrix into the heater assembly (Mine needed some lubrication to the cable runs so yours should not take as long to attach).

Cheers n

Si

[s2avant95M]

Its problems like this that scare me as an S2 owner.

[audiman]

Steve, that ebay item should fit your car but its 13 years old!! A new one from ECP is 49.50+vat retail. They are listing it as a genuine item too. Better off spending your money like that IMHO.

To bypass the matrix, there are two hoses that go onto the bulkhead in the engine bay. If you look in, they are just to the right of the inlet manifold and one should have a bleed screw in it. Take them off and fit a bit of pipe there.

Dash out job looks a right nightmare

@Si, did your 2.8 have AC?? Did that make/would that make any difference?

[UR-2-S2]

Dunno, A4 has a dfferent part number to the 80. Starts 8A0 and not 894, not sure what that means

8A0 refers the car in this case, im sure.

A4 wiper blades are 8A0 955 425A

I would check out the appearance of the matrix at a wreckers and confirm that way. Might help but then as Audiman states - a secondhand one might not have long to go before that goes south too. Best IMO to save up for a new one and be done

[porkkis]

I'll take my post back. Must be RHD/LHD differences! LHD ones use a very common matrix!

[HPmuirt]

Dash out job looks a right nightmare

@Si, did your 2.8 have AC?? Did that make/would that make any difference?

Hey Tom,

No aircon on my 2.8 coupe I am told that it does make quite a difference with aircon, so maybe add another hour

You could certailnly now be looking at 6-7 hours for the total job if you had never done it before

Cheers n

Si

[stevieyid]

£49.50 plus vat sounds ok have ECP got a web site or something so i can order one? I put rad wels in there yetserday followed the instructions i.e run the engine warm put the stuff in then run it for a few mins for it to harden. I did this and no change but this morning i put the heater on full directed the air to the passenger footwell and guess what no water is coming out. The air coming out does not smell off coolant. I tried everything to try and get it to leak but it wont. Is it the rad weld has plugged the gap? I will still replace it but its some temporary relief

[audiman]

Sounds like it has stopped it.... for now. www.eurocarparts.co.uk its dead easy really. If your car has AC you WILL have to get it de-gassed and then refilled after you have done the job. Have you seen the Haynes book spanner method of working out how hard a job is?? 1-5 scale. 5 being the hardest. Car without AC is about 3-4 spanners, with AC make it a 4-5 IMO

[Chris M]

Have you seen the Haynes book spanner method of working out how hard a job is??

I love the detailed description in haynes manuals. Things like "Take off the 4 retaining bolts and simply remove" Its 14 years old, its not gonna come off easily is it??

Cheers,

Chris

[audiman]

Yeah right!! Book times are based on NEW cars, not 14 year old ones!!

[stevieyid]

Hi a few drops started coming through again. I think i will buy the matrix from ECP and bypass the matrix for now until i get the cash to pay for labour. is this the two hoses i join together to bypass it?

[porkkis]

Yes.

[stevieyid]

So how do i do this, do i just clamp another bit of hose over those two in the pics? if so what size hose do i use? thanks for your help.