Lukey. 381 Posted March 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Pretty annoyed tonight, noticed a little bit of coolant loss so hunted around for pink powder and found some on a heater matrix pipe, I just touched it and boom the take-off snaps completely off.I hadn't gone far but the after run pump was on and the system was pressurised, so it spat hot-ish coolant all over me and about 15 foot down the drive.Here is the plastic pipe, still in the hoseThere was lots more pink residue but it must have washed off in the explosionHeater matrix ordered from TPS at a cost of £140 Not to mention the many hour dash out job I now have to do Link to post Share on other sites
VR6Pete 1,455 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 That's bloody unlucky mate That's expensive for a matrix isn't it? Are you taking your car ultimate dubs too? Always at the last bloody minute!! Grrrr Good luck with the fix buddy! Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 That's what I thought, but no that seems the going rate now, as is the cost of a simple brake fluid change, £25 last time I checked in November, now cheapest is £40, but cant do brake fluid by myself and as brakes are a little bit important I will bite the bullet.Its a genuine part, I know you can get a budget part but I thought about the £20sum item and thought I'm not prepared to take the interior out more than once and hopefully the new item will last as long as the original part. Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Just renewed my membership so I can get the guide to taking the dash out. isobarboy 1 Link to post Share on other sites
VR6Pete 1,455 Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Good man thanks for your support Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Made a start tonight on the inside, I think I've got it pretty much stripped bare now, just gotta make the push tomorrow hopefully and get the thing out.Got the new genuine part waiting to go back in and an undetermined amount of coolant to top up with. God I tell you the cost of this little bastard is making me fume!!Seems we're on G13 now, easier to ask for than G12plusplus.And apparently this is German for fuel filter. Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 I've decided I like white dial illumination better than green Link to post Share on other sites
VR6Pete 1,455 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 I do like that! looks very modern, how did you achieve that look? Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 I've soldered 2 super white LEDs to the light tracks for the normal bulbs on the top of the dial casing and removed the green film. I'll probably try and bend the bulbs towards the centres more, they are pointing at like 5 and 7 o'clock at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 Progress report in tea break, my hands are shredded and the car looks like this, just perusing the DIY on how to get the heater box out now. Link to post Share on other sites
VR6Pete 1,455 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 Good progress that mate you'll soon have it back together. What's the bet you have some screws left over? Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 hehe yea ive tried to be organised and have the bits in pots for each section, having trouble with the firewall bolt next to the abs unit, its spinning and rusted up tight, ill give it a soak in WD40 and hold the thread in vice grips but if all fails I'm gonna have to try and dremel the nut off, atm im trying to see if you can get replacement nuts and bolts for this position.Just found out you can so im just gonna dremel it off, it clearly isnt salvageable anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
VR6Pete 1,455 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 Always good to be organized, my garage has parts everywhere from whipping out engine yesterday! Sometimes its better to cut your losses and cut it out and then go from there There's always a way of getting it back together, but its surprising what bits you can get from VW still ! Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 Ive got the double ended screw ordered and 3 of the rubber sealed captive nuts for all 3.Finally got the bugger out!! And as you can see it was also leakingI cant really do a lot more with it now apart from try and reassemble the heater box, as I need to put this little screw in that Ill get from VW tomorrow. Im going to try and tidy up, re foam and secure the wiring looms and also foam pack the dash and vent channels and the foams on the vent covers that has degraded and fallen to bits. I want no creaks or rattles!! Link to post Share on other sites
matty.vrt 120 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 Looks like you got some fun times on your hands there mate. I hate working on or behind the dash board it's just awkward you neither in the car or out. Link to post Share on other sites
psilosimon 8 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 I only had about three spare screws left over when I did it. Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 I did note there's 2 plastic 10mm nuts that I can't remember a all where they are from, they aren't for the white vent shroud cos I've put them back. Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Picked up the required bolt and nuts this morning and the new matrix is now in place and coolant topped back up with fresh, car run up to open the thermostat and the fans kick in, no leaks, no coolant smell (after it had burned off all of the engine etc, it smelt sickly as hell).I took the opportunity to tidy the cabling up, I've re organised it to all run below the dash, not fastened to it like it was to minimise rattles and re foamed and zip tied up anything that needed it, all the heater box foams disintegrated when it came to pieces. Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2013 Finished the job now everything is back together and everything works, so job done, I am NEVER doing that again! Oh and no spare screws left over Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Replaced the rubbers that came with the Bonrath intake for ASH silicone today as the rubber had finally given up an split.Took a fair bit of fettling into place so it didn't foul on the suspension tower, I've tested it too by revving the engine so it bucks around, no contact.The catch tank is doing its job well, after about 3 years there was no oil in the intake. Link to post Share on other sites
VR6Pete 1,455 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Nightmare doing that as its very tight. I had issues too when my rubber had split. Looking good though chap. Can't beat some silicon . Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2013 Just had my brake fluid replaced and pedal feel and firmness is right back to the top again Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 Got a bit organsied Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Took the catch can off as I haven't cleaned it out for a while, the stuff that was collected is absolutely minging, like car diarrhoea, seems to work well as a condenser, which is the idea. Link to post Share on other sites
Lukey. 381 Posted March 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2013 Cleaned my leather steering heel today with auto glym leather cleaner then their leather care cream. I chose this one because I read it doesn't leave a greasy residue. It's 9 years old and went a bit hard and shiny and slippy, the products have brought it back an it looks and feels like new now, much softer and more grippy, should have done it ages ago. It did leave a tiny bit of a hand cream feel but after buffing it up a few times over the course of 48 hours as per instructions that has gone now. Link to post Share on other sites
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