Heater matrix

[Fliss]

Help: Mitsi Shogun 3.2D-ID LWB 2002. My heater hasn't been working properly for quite a while! When the temp is at max the vents blow out only luke warm air and if I turn up the blower the air gets colder. I've had 2 new thermostats which havn't made any difference. Diagnostic test says everything ok but temp only getting to 70degrees - should be 80+? Mitsi garage say it's not the head gasket but could be heater matrix. How much of a job is it to change or test the heater matrix?

[flashyx54]

done l200 warrior matrix b4 , bugger of a job (dash out ) . just redoing my defenders matrix ya problem could be same as mine . a build up of deposits in matrix will reduce the conductivness of the heat and thus prevent disapation of heat (big words there for me )also known as shit in the pipe work . try a radiator flush (halfords ) and leave it for a bit (day or so ) then drain ya system . re fill wit 50/50 anti freeze an water . id also be tempted to flush the pipes in the matrix to make sure there aint an airlock just like your rads at home get if ya cant find em let me know i hav a shogun booked in next week in my garage , ill get some picks and tips and email them to ya

if ya matrix was buggered it would be leakin in to ya cab

[Fliss]

I've had the matrix pipes flushed to try and shift any crud that might have been deposited but this hasn't made any difference. Local garage and Mitsi garage both say matrix is knackered, the vehicles only 6 yrs old surely they should last a bit longer than this? Local garage isn't prepared to change matrix as too costly and it will probably f**k everything else up in the process ( dash stuff and computer stuff?!?) they say take it to mitsi so if it all goes pear shaped they will have to sort it without ongoing costs to me but i dread to think what they would charge and do I really think they can do it ( arguing the toss over 3 thermostats that weren't broken in the first place!) It's a bit odd that the vents on the dash are barely working, the rear heater in the boot is blowing cold and the vents running along the roof aren't doing anything. I don't get it surely if the matrix was knackered I'd still get something blowing from the roof vents - Mitsi didn't have an answer. Urrgh I'm bloody cold!

[nigelbilly]

to me it sounds like you have an air lock in the system
front of motor up on ramps rad cap off and leave running for 30mins
heaters on full power should solve your probs

[markbass]

if you are sure it a blocked matrix a tip ma local trader give me was the following

disconect the 2 heater matrix pipes fill up the matrix with an industrial strenght descaler {plumbers merchants}leave it overnight flush it out in the morning make sure all the descaler is out reconect pipes job done

i know he has done this on loads of cars with blocked heater matrixes but i couldnt tell you if it does any damage to the pipes or matrix

im sure the descaler he used was one for boilers