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[sdgibbon]

I have a 1998 3.0 V6 Elite Saloon, and have recently had the coolant level warning come up.
I top it up and in a day or so will need to do so again.
The driver's side carpet (front & rear) are soaked, to the extent that a pool has collected on the rear rubber mat.
I am thinking heater matrix.... any other causes?
I have checked the drains at the front, but not the sunroof, but wouldn't I notice water elsewhere if it was coming in there?

Steve

[The Red Baron]

I have a 1998 3.0 V6 Elite Saloon, and have recently had the coolant level warning come up.
I top it up and in a day or so will need to do so again.
The driver's side carpet (front & rear) are soaked, to the extent that a pool has collected on the rear rubber mat.
I am thinking heater matrix.... any other causes?
I have checked the drains at the front, but not the sunroof, but wouldn't I notice water elsewhere if it was coming in there?

Steve

could be, silly question...have you dabbed a bit on your finger & tasted it? sweet? then coolant.
if you have antifreeze in of course.

[sdgibbon]

I did the taste test on the pool in the back.... more of a bitter than sweet taste.
I put some wire down the two front sunroof drains and met no resistance, but can't see the two at the back.
I have noticed that although the drivers floor is wet the carpet on the side (console/transmission tunnel) is dry... wouldn't that be wet if it was a matrix leak?
I emptied the water from the rear and will leave the car overnight. With the rain we've been having lately I can tell if it is perhaps the sunroof.

[The Red Baron]

I did the taste test on the pool in the back.... more of a bitter than sweet taste.
I put some wire down the two front sunroof drains and met no resistance, but can't see the two at the back.
I have noticed that although the drivers floor is wet the carpet on the side (console/transmission tunnel) is dry... wouldn't that be wet if it was a matrix leak?
I emptied the water from the rear and will leave the car overnight. With the rain we've been having lately I can tell if it is perhaps the sunroof.

yes, usually drivers side.

[Andy B]

... sweet? then coolant.
if you have antifreeze in of course.

You haven't sampled Vauxhall's pink anti-freeze then.  It's the most foul, bitter tasting thing I've ever tasted.
 

[The Red Baron]

... sweet? then coolant.
if you have antifreeze in of course.

You haven't sampled Vauxhall's pink anti-freeze then.  It's the most foul, bitter tasting thing I've ever tasted.
 

nope actually. only the sweet stuff for me. lol.

[Entwood]

... sweet? then coolant.
if you have antifreeze in of course.

You haven't sampled Vauxhall's pink anti-freeze then.  It's the most foul, bitter tasting thing I've ever tasted.
 

Agreed .. it is REALLY bad ... ... I was told, but have no proof, that it is "made" to taste bad to deter cats from drinking any spillage as Ethylene Glycol is extremely poisonous to cats

[The Red Baron]

... sweet? then coolant.
if you have antifreeze in of course.

You haven't sampled Vauxhall's pink anti-freeze then.  It's the most foul, bitter tasting thing I've ever tasted.
 

Agreed .. it is REALLY bad ... ... I was told, but have no proof, that it is "made" to taste bad to deter cats from drinking any spillage as Ethylene Glycol is extremely poisonous to cats

& most people in quantity.

[sdgibbon]

Well I am sure it's not the sunroof... topped up coolant again this morning, 4 mile round trip, and the warning lights back on and the carpet (rear especially) is soaked.
So, working on the assumption it is heater matrix related, and bearing in mind my mechanical skills are reasonably limited, what sort of possible costs am I looking at?
I have no aversion to getting my hands dirty, I just don't want to get out of my depth.... see what I did there?... water, depth..... whatever! 

Steve

[tigers_gonads]

Update your profile Steve
They might be a member near you who can help 

[Gaffers]

Sounds very much like it's the heater matrix, and it's a beehatch to sort out 

[The Red Baron]

Sounds very much like it's the heater matrix, and it's a beehatch to sort out 

not with a sharp knife & a hacksaw blade it isnt.

[joff]

Had this on the brothers Elite in April ish, if you are lucky it's only the 2 'o' seals which are about 50p ish i fitted new pipes aswell but could have done without them. Took about an hour of me upsidedown with the drivers seat right back and the panel by the fuses out the way for better access and a black bag over the carpet and some rags. if you have to take the matrix out good luck it's a sod. the garage my brother had first asked wanted £600 you can use an allen key to undo the bolt that holds the clamp for the two pipes.

[sdgibbon]

Profile updated.... I'm in sunny Slough.

[joff]

You say the leak is allowing water to go to the back so must be going down the vent plastic so must be the matrix and not the "o" seals you could always remove the centre console and check the vent run to the rear or remove carpits and top up with coolent and run to see if that is the correct way it is getting to the back