Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8096
Davecars: Disco-mikey has already confirmed in an other post that it is a full dash out job.
Nissen is the make of the matrix, not a car brand.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
14th Dec 2022 9:23 am
Madrilleno
Member Since: 13 Oct 2014
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 1742
There is a way of doing it without the whole dash out.
Cut the pipes going to the matrix and slide it out.
You now need to cut the pipes on the new matrix to match the length.
The pipes are not strong enough to stand being clamped on their own, so you need a piece of rigid pipe with an OD to match the ID of the matrix pipes. This cannot be steel, copper or stainless (because of galvavnic corrosion) - so you're looking at either aluminium or UPVC. Polycarbonate probably won't stand hot water over a sustained period, HDPE probably isn't stong enough.
You also need a piece of flexible piping with an ID equal or close to the OD of the matrix feed pipe.
Insert the inner support tube into the matrix supply pipes, put the outer flexible pipe on the supply pipe and assemble. The tricky bit is making sure the inner support pipe stays in position. If you have the tools, and the internal pipe is slightly oversize, it is possible to swage the matrix feed pipe to hold it, but practice on the spare bits you have first.
Now slide the external pipe over the joint and clamp using worm drive clips or similar.
Use heat resistant flexible sealant where appropriate.
Click image to enlarge
There are two rules for success,
1. Never tell everything you know.
Last edited by Madrilleno on 15th Dec 2022 10:51 am. Edited 1 time in total
14th Dec 2022 9:59 am
davecars
Member Since: 04 Feb 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 166
Hi
Great idea madrilleno,
I’m of the opinion I will try and flush the matrix for now, if that fails I will attempt to replace the unit later when weather permits, (wife is getting a 12v heated blanket for Christmas 😀), when posts say whole dash out (excuse my obvious question) does that mean driver and passenger air bags, steering wheel and instrument binnacle or is it complete middle section, satnav, heaters, gear selector, (D4 2010), if anyone has done this please let me know, thanks.Discovery 3 SE gone but not forgotten.
Discovery 4 HSE (Mrs S)
Discovery 3 GS project, great, but manual, Gone.
Discovery 4 XS
15th Dec 2022 10:43 am
Madrilleno
Member Since: 13 Oct 2014
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 1742
By all means have a go at flushing, but it's unlikely to fix the matrix. On mine I fould that the coolant had set to a gelatinous red compound. Even steam didn't shift it - you can't get to the deepest bits to get behind it. I suppose if you found the right solvent and left it for long enough it might break down, but with the galleries through the matrix being very small, it would take ages to break it down.There are two rules for success,
1. Never tell everything you know.
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13635
Hi
Hope u don’t mind me adding this but often think back to when I use to clear out heater matrix plates in boilers and often had good success when flushing with incorporating a magna clean and wonder if it could also work with flat plates in the discoveries
Assume the same happens where all the junk sits at the end of the flat plate seeing it can’t cross flow due to the hose locations , therefore extremely difficult getting the bits out
Just a passing thought and hope u didn’t mind me mentioning it and if it could possibly work, might give this a go in the spring time on mine and report back to see if it collects any bits that are in the matrix by rigging up something up incorporating the magna clean and an external filter
Fingers crossed u get it working again without to much hassle
15th Dec 2022 3:17 pm
BradC
Member Since: 29 Apr 2019
Location: Perth
Posts: 118
Madrilleno wrote:
By all means have a go at flushing, but it's unlikely to fix the matrix. On mine I fould that the coolant had set to a gelatinous red compound. Even steam didn't shift it - you can't get to the deepest bits to get behind it.
That's where I found the water hammer eventually pushed it through. I spent over an hour back and forward before I got it to run clean, but it did work. The problem as I see all the conventional flush processes is the length of the pipework reduces the inertia in the water. Doesn't matter what the "pulse gun" or pressure washer does, by the time the water reaches the matrix it's all one mess of water and bubbles which takes the path of least resistance (the drivers side). Having a repeated single slug of water moving at a decent speed eventually pushed the grunge out of the furthest galleries until it cleared it out. Time consuming and manual labour, but quicker than replacing the core.
15th Dec 2022 3:40 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13635
Hi BradC
That’s great news u got it cleared out and indeed as u say it being able to get the water at the end to try and shift the blockage and getting it out of the flat plate
Have heard of brick cleaner being used , alas didn’t know what the end results were though
Last edited by gstuart on 15th Dec 2022 4:04 pm. Edited 1 time in total
15th Dec 2022 3:58 pm
BradC
Member Since: 29 Apr 2019
Location: Perth
Posts: 118
Brick cleaner is traditionally Hydrochloric acid. It'd certainly clean the Aluminium core of aluminium, but likely leave the grunge behind.
Anyway, my "brute force and ignorance" method worked for me. It may not work for anyone else.
15th Dec 2022 4:03 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13635
Indeed and also makes it even more difficult with the pipes being at the same end so can’t get a good cross flow
Awesome news mate that u got urs cleared out
15th Dec 2022 4:06 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8096
gstuart wrote:
..........
Have heard of brick cleaner being used , alas didn’t know what the end results were though
Probably "bricked" it
What are the chances of swapping the feed and return pipes at the side of the engine so that the "flow" or lack of it is in the opposite direction?It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
15th Dec 2022 5:42 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13635
^^^
Sounds a good idea , alas don’t know if there any check valves in the system to prevent it from running in the different port
Wonder if running it with the pipes crossed if air could be prevented from escaping , but nothing to loose that’s for sure if it’s not working
15th Dec 2022 7:38 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8096
You would only be running the matrix in reverse, I had no problems flushing mine with tap water in both directions, alas it was not a blocked matrix that was my problem(see my other post). The only thing you would need to try it is one longer hose. It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
15th Dec 2022 7:48 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13635
That’s very true ,
Just seen ur other update and that’s fantastic news that’s it’s now been completely fixed , the other day when I saw u mentioning that valve I did try and find out how it worked but couldn’t find anything in any manuals etc
Didn’t realise that valve controlled the flow into ur heater matrix because urs had stopped working
Bet it’s heaven now having some heat and remember driving a van with no heat and indeed was miserable
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