Bleeding the Heater matrix.

[Grizzly]

Hi all,

I had the bright idea of making sure the heater Matrix / Fans etc worked correctly before i fitted the dash properly, so i fitted the radiator and filled up with water but no matter how much i run the car the matrix stays cold??

I have tried the Heater valve in both position's (Open and closed) and in the open position 2 or 3" of the Matrix pipe does start to get warm which makes me thing there is an air lock or blockage.

I was just wondering if this sort of aggravation is common on the 2 seater (S4 Sprint) because my +2 didn't require any messing about??

Is there a trick to it? or do i just keep playing with it until it starts working?

[billwill]

I don't recall any problems, when I've drained my S3 and refilled it, maybe your heater valve is not opening.

You could try: close the valve then take the heater pipe off the valve, rig an old 2-litre plastic drinks bottle by cutting the bottom off, then use it as a tall funnel, wrap a clothe/sponge around the neck & jam it in the rad filler hole. Then put a lot of coolant mixture in the funnel . It should fill the heater and start coming out of the top heater pipe.

[Grizzly]

I'll give that a go cheers.

[Grizzly]

Got a hot heater

Checked the Valve was opening (which it was) then did your 2lt bottle trick and removed the top Matrix hose so it could run into a bottle for a minute, connected it back up and worked first time

Can you believe i spent two hours trying to get coolant through this morning, just goes to show its easy when you know how.

Thanks Bill

[mbell]

On my plus 2 the heater hose is at a higher point that the thermostat hosuing so I tend to get an air lock there. When filling a spent a lot of time pumping the hose and trying to push it a little lower so the air can escape to the thermostat housing.

Suspect it could be similar problem on the elan and hence the need to pull the hose to release the air lock..