306 D Turbo - heater not working

Hi,

The heater doesn't work on my 306 D Turbo (N reg).

Some folk tell me the heating system needs bleeding - I've bled the two
screw valves on the water pipes (one behind the rocker cover and one to the
side) but still no heat from the heater.

I've also been told to flush the system - I've heard you can get flushing
agent that can be left in the system - is this correct - if so what is it
called.

Also I've been told that the heater matrix may need replacing. Is this a
big/costly job, and can I do any test first, to be sure it needs replacing.

By the way - no leaks anywhere.

Cheers,
Neil

 

Are the pipes to the matrix getting hot? If so, is the heat mixer flap
on the heater working?

 

hi first of all check the pipes that go to the matrix are hot if there not
check back a long pipes till you come to hot one prob between hot and cold
bit ie thermostat blocked pipe or (valve not opening electrical if fitted
to your model)
if hot go inside car put hand up and feel matrix if hot could just be
clip off heat adjuster or snaped cable or fulty valve ie flap not opening
and closing water not passing valve

ask for (holts rad flush) to clean water system...and matrix costly and
pain to fit
and one more point put garden hose to inlet pipe of matrix if water come
out the out let it fine cos you have no leaks as you say but remember some
matrix have shut of vavels and if this the case and it at fult hose test
wont work of corse
hope this helps some any probs post back

 

Hate to say it, but I tried all sorts, flushing backwards and forwards, but
it turned out I needed a new heater matrix. Shop around if going to a
Peugoet dealer as the prices I was quoted varied quite a bit,

Neil

 

I'm nearing the time when I expect mine to fail, I've seen them at
around 30-40 quid, but did you get a garage to fit it? If so how much
was it? If you didn't was it really that much of a pig to do?

 

Hi Mike, the whole dashboard has to come out to get to the heater matrix. I
could've taken it to any garage, but they'd have just been trial and error,
which I could have done myself. But as we've looked after the car for 5
years, I wanted the job done properly. I took it to a Peugoet dealer about
50 miles away as they did the job for £278 (and I've just found out they've
shut down, I'd have kept using them otherwise). Other quotes varied around
£400 - £600. It depends, if you've got a lot of patience and the risk the
car being off the road for a couple of days, it could be a nice project. I
was frightened by the thought of removing the airbag, but I've had to do
that since, to adjust the wheel and I found it easy.

Neil

 

Just goes to show how vital it is to change the engine coolant every two
years. The problem is that aluminium corrodes very easily. Ethylene Glycol
reduces the conductivity of the water (which is required for electrolytic
corrosion between aluminium and steel in the engine), and there is also a
corrosion inhibitor. Strange how its the heater matrix that goes, not the
radiator (which would be easy to replace). Different material?

As Neil says, it is an absolute pig to remove the entire dash board. £300
for the work is a bargain.

 

I specifically requested my coolant be changed at 100k (5 years from
new), had the gearbox oil done as well. The garage claimed that they do
it every major service, which I actually have no reason not to believe,
they were a bloody good local garage (we've since moved), and helped me
out quite a few times with tools etc when i was stuck. Fingers crossed
that'll delay the matrix job.

Given last nights chaos I'm not sure car will be lasting much longer
anyway, jerk in a new 3 series BMW went to overtake a car on a dual
carriageway just as I was about to overtake him, just missed him. Later
in the evening I hit one of these sticky out pedestrian refuges that
somebody had knocked the warning bollard off (pissing it down with rain,
visibility shite, but still mea culpa) I never saw it, flattened the
tyre instantly, going into National later to see if the wheel is ok[1].
Then fitting the spare the bloody car nearly rolled off the jack, only
just saved it by bunging the spare under the car, letting the car down
on the jack and starting again. Not a good day, and this is a week after
somebody ran into the back of the SOs Ka. Grim!

[1] Couple on ebay if not

 

Okay - well, many thanks to all who offered advice. We've done everything
apart from replacing the heater matrix !!! bleeding the system, flushing the
system twice with two different flush agents, sticking the garden hose
directly into the heater matrix pipes in an attempt to blow out any gunk
etc. - all to no avail (although there is a slight improvement). Now the
heater gets fairly hot -UNTIL- you turn the blower on, then it goes cold
very quickly.

The only thing left I suppose is to change the matrix, and I really don't
feel like tackling that myself (not being a mechanic!) and it seems getting
it done in a garage would be too expensive for me. A simple solution, I
thought, to get through the winter would be to use an electric (12v)
heater/blower --- does such a beastie exist ? --- If so, where to find
one - any ideas?

Thanks again,
Neil