Damn Thing!

[audiman]

Find a bit of metal pipe and stick it in the ends of both hoses. You cant use rubber as it will collapse with the jubilee clips. Its about 25-30mm OD. It doesnt need to be exact. Just dont block them off.

[porkkis]

20mm id hose

[newsh]

Steve, I mended mine a couple of years ago with Wynnes Seal , I think its called, I was recommended to use the Wynnes stuff and it worked, My matrix is finally being replaced at the mo though as I didn't want to chance it any longer, I think yours might be leaking worse than mine too. Bypass seems like its a good idea.

Here's the dash out page.

http://www.audi80pages.com/Dashboard.html

[audiman]

It looks like from reading that, that you DONT need to touch the AC system.

[porkkis]

I don't bother to read that but the truth is that the air box assy can be divided inplace to 2 separate parts. The aircon evap part stays in the car and the matrix side comes out. BTDT.

PITA job as you can guess but saves from the AC drier replacement and refill job. £££

LHD disclaimer again but probably applies to RHD also.

[audiman]

Yeah it does dude, you can seperate the AC part away and just leave in the car AFAIK.

[stevieyid]

Any idea where i can get his wynnes seal from? Would a 20mm metal pipe do the job for bypassing then? So u think i can get the matrix replaced without haveing to degass the air con and then regassing it?

[quattronutter]

20mm pipewill do the job,make sure the pipes have no kinks to stop water flow,you should find wynns rad seal or similar in halfords etc..i have used similar before(wonder weld)with good resultsto seal a headgasket on a friends 730i bmw,has lasted well over 2 yrs now!!

[stevieyid]

Hi got myself some pipe and some clamps and so ready to bypass the matrix. When i take the two hoses off i take it coolant will spill out? what happens to the two holes where i took the hoses out from do they need anything done to them? thanks for your help

[iain1067]

Yes some coolant will come out (do it when the car is cold), i would block off the holes in the bulk head to stop dirt getting in there with something suitable depending on the diameter.

[audiman]

Those 2 holes are the pipes of the matrix, dont bother blocking them, as the thing leaks anyway!