heater question and antifreeze question

[nirms]

It does self bleed and the foam flap covering coming off will not be your problem, if you have feed pipe check valves get rid of them and the heat MAY come back BUT you risk an impromptu boiling hot face shower and foot bath, it has happened to me twice now and I can say without reservation it is ******* unpleasant!

Thanks for the reply. Valves are already out and still no difference. There is little to no difference with them on or off.

I understand about matrix bursting but have had no valves connected for a while now, but would like to get heating working without them and then put them back.

Any suggestions on what I could try/test?

Thanks in advance.

[Crasher]

Your matrix is blocked and the valves could be faulty as well, they are a bodge and you can no longer buy them. What you are supposed to do is fit a specific heater box, VW part number 1H2 819 031 B and I have been unable to obtain these from the original manufacturer Valeo as they only offer the earlier 1H2 819 031 A, their number 812031 which I am not 100% sure is certified for use without the check valves but is used on the Golf 3 and Golf 4 so should not be a problem. What I would do is obtain a top quality matrix (maybe the Hella one but it is Chinese made) and fit that without check valves, then you will have heat. The matrix genuine VW is £170 but I fit them from Febi and I do not have any problems with them, I sell these for £34.68 plus £10 carriage as they are fragile and have to be carefully packaged.

When fitting a new matrix it is important that it is fitted with the side foam seal and top foam seal and to avoid a nasty acrid smell in the cabin, wash the new matrix down with brake cleaner before fitting it.

[turpal]

Matrix it is from the above description.

[nirms]

Thanks for the speedy replies to all.

Blocked matrix it is then.

A bit more info. I had a new matrix fitted Jan 2011 as old one was leaking. I will try to upload picture later.

At the time heating was as poor as it is now but I put this down to leaking matrix and as I soon discovered a few other minor leaks.

I had a new rad fitted as old one had major leaks.

After new matrix was fitted the heating was still poor. All leaks are sorted now and coolant level is rock solid.

Out of curiosity what causes the matrix to get blocked?

I was thinking of trying to flush the matrix out and if successful then replacing with fresh water anti freeze mix.

From reading previous threads on here and your replies I may have more than one problem.

When I bought the matrix, in the box was matrix and a thin long type strip which I assumed was some type of gasket that fits round the matrix, there was nothing else as you have mentioned.

Would the fitter have used the old foam seal that fits around the matrix? I assume this is what you meant in your post.

[Crasher]

The matrix gets blocked by system debris, it needs seriously flushing out BUT it is impossible to flush the matrix once blocked due to its top flow design.

[nirms]

Gutted!

So for near on 3 years after getting new matrix fitted with no improvement in heat. System was dirty and blocked new matrix up.

I don't know what to say, I can't even complain to garage as its been so long.