Replacing Heater Matrix - How?

[gold682]

Has anyone replaced the heater matrix in their golf (mine is a 2000 1.8 cabrio).

The heater unit leaks (mainly onto the passenger footwell). It's not bad but it does cause that awful smell of warm coolant.

anyway fishing for any tips on replacing it - not got a haynes manual yet !

Cheers
Paul

[Crasher]

A Golf 3. You have to remove the complete facia and release the heater box in the engine bay to allow it to be pulled back to withdraw the matrix. ONLY USE a genuine VW matrix purchased from a VW dealer as they car a two year full warranty. Pattern units fail. Before you fit a new matrix, wash it down thoroughly with brake cleaner as they are covered in production oil that stinks. Make sure you get the side and top foam seals which come with an aftermarket Valeo matrix but not with a genuine unit that cost four times the price!

[rick vandal]

Think twice for DIY repair, just done mine! Everything out from wipers to handbrake cables and door to door trim. A variety of screws used throughout cabin and some tricksy jacking nuts behind T45 screws each side of the fascia frame. The sheared head bolts on the steering column need chiselling out but ordinary M8x20 bolts will go back in and reassembly is twice as quick. Matrix from Poland is £10 on eBay, others for £30 but from VWdealer is £100! Check for damage and take the bottom plastic protection cap off before fitting.
Best of luck!

[Crasher]

If a Polish or fleaBay matrix fails and blows boiling water all over your feet, who do you complain to? If a VW dealer supplied matrix fails within two years, VW do the work for free, labour included, even if you fitted the matrix yourself. Also, the Polish matrix will probably be for a left hand drive car, left and right hand drive are different.