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[sneakypenguin]

As some of you may know my miggy has been using coolant every now and then, you can smell it when the heaters are on. Went for a drive yestersay, got back and parked up and noticed a bit of steam coming from the vent above the bonnet on the passenger side.

Took it for another run today and it's doing the same, hadf a closer look and you can hear like a fizzing (which would explain the steam) only problem is I think it's coming from behing the bulkhead so I@m thinking the leak is in the matrix somewhere. How much of a pain in the a$%e is that to repair?

thanks

[tunnie]

As some of you may know my miggy has been using coolant every now and then, you can smell it when the heaters are on. Went for a drive yestersay, got back and parked up and noticed a bit of steam coming from the vent above the bonnet on the passenger side.

Took it for another run today and it's doing the same, hadf a closer look and you can hear like a fizzing (which would explain the steam) only problem is I think it's coming from behing the bulkhead so I@m thinking the leak is in the matrix somewhere. How much of a pain in the a$%e is that to repair?

thanks

Very, whole dash has to come out, and i mean the WHOLE dash 

Although i did see someone do it without, using a lot of brut force 

[toller]

I had this exact problem a few weeks back. Car was using coolant but there was no obvious leak and I occasioanlly got a smell of it when the heaters were on.

On one particular occasion I noticed steam coming up from under the bonnet at the bottom of the windscreen and then my temp gauge started dancing up and down.  Stopped the car and had a closer look and hear fizzing so presumed the heater bypass valve had failed. 

Changed the HBV a few days later and there was a lot of staining on the surrounding pipes from the leaking coolant, once the new HBV was in the problem seemed solved until 2 days after that I got a low coolant message again.

The problem ended up being a small (about 2mm) split in the big hose that attaches to the coolant bridge.  It was impossible to see without removing the plenum and other assorted bits.

I'd have a look down here first before you start ripping the coolant matrix out, much much less effort.

[Abiton]

There's been a few of us with the brutal technique. 

Search for thread title "Who's changed a heater matrix" for my account.

Also bear in mind (like you need more bad news), that in my case, in hindsight, it's hard to escape the conclusion that the matrix popping was a symptom of headgasket leakage/coolant system overpressurisation. 

Edit: Check out Toller's idea. Sounds like a much better scenario. 

[Andy H]

Before you do anything else read

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1225142864

and

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1228657191

[Welung666]

I have a matrix here if it does turn out it's that and yes they are a complete a$$ to change.

[cem_devecioglu]

matrix change is a fiddly job if you go the normal route (ie whole dash out).. it took whole day with an experienced service worker in order not to break anything (at one point forget one hidden screw and break a plastic part)..  steering out, airbag out, box round the -gear and handbrake- out.. heater wents, light control unit , speedo unit, back side hoses out etc etc..you will need experienced help :-/

also thermostat , oil cooler area are good candidates for coolant loss..

[Omega3]

reading cem's account of what needs to be removed...  it might be worth trying K-Seal first. I've had success with this with leaking radiator in the past and it was still working 18mths later when I sold the car. It's only a tenner and is not the same as the old radweld rubbish.

[PhilRich]

As some of you may know my miggy has been using coolant every now and then, you can smell it when the heaters are on. Went for a drive yestersay, got back and parked up and noticed a bit of steam coming from the vent above the bonnet on the passenger side.

Took it for another run today and it's doing the same, hadf a closer look and you can hear like a fizzing (which would explain the steam) only problem is I think it's coming from behing the bulkhead so I@m thinking the leak is in the matrix somewhere. How much of a pain in the a$%e is that to repair?

thanks

Very, whole dash has to come out, and i mean the WHOLE dash 

Although i did see someone do it without, using a lot of brut force

Where will he find that then Tunnie, in the deoderant aisle at Tesco?

[sneakypenguin]

thanks guys for all your help, it's def dot the hbv as that was changed for a new one not long ago. As for the system pressure test thingy, darth bog roll did that when he did my camcover gaskets and couldn't find anything. Think I will try a bottle of k-seal and see if that temporarly cures it, if not then I think a more drastic approach is needed.

[dbug]

Search on here for replacing heater matrix - you do NOT have to remove dash!!  Involves cutting a neat hole drivers side tunnel - took us about 2 hours from start to finish to swap mine.

[sneakypenguin]

well had a good look in the daylight and can see a bit of steam coming from the passenger side part of the engine to the side of the oil filler neck, thermostat/oil cooler/coolant bridge?

[Andy H]

When my headgasket failed the coolant leaked out of the back of the passenger side cylinder head.

It must have been doing it for a while because the dis pack was rusty and the heat shield on the exhaust had rotted out.

I can't remember whether I had visible steam, I suppose I must have done if it was dripping on the exhaust manifold.

I only found the leak by doing the pressure test and feeling around with a bit of kitchen roll until I found a wet bit.

[cem_devecioglu]

well had a good look in the daylight and can see a bit of steam coming from the passenger side part of the engine to the side of the oil filler neck, thermostat/oil cooler/coolant bridge?

mine did all..   and plus from the coolant cap :-?

previous owners thought head gasket but was not

[STAVROS MOONIE]

Search on here for replacing heater matrix - you do NOT have to remove dash!!  Involves cutting a neat hole drivers side tunnel - took us about 2 hours from start to finish to swap mine.

Where will I find this post on replacing the matrix please dbug??