V90 disconnect heater as matrix gone

[ns1234567]

Thanks John will email you

[capt jack]

There's a firm in Leeds that claim to be able to repair, remanufacture or refurbish heater matrix cores for cars for which spares are not readily available. They're called Northern Radiators:

Northern Radiators Ltd
Parkfield Street
Leeds
LS11 5PH
Phone Free 0800 002 9625 or 0113 243 5051
info@northernradiators.co.uk

They also have a nice clear and informative website - Google "Northern Radiators".

I've just bought a 1997 S90, and although all is good just now, I'm aware that the heater matrix is a potential issue, so I'm starting to store away info about the options - just in case!

Cheers

Jack

[ns1234567]

Jack - that's very helpful many thanks and best wishes

nick

[Jimsiss]

Originally Posted by Dippydog

I'm not sure how easy it is to get to the pipe ends where they attach at the bulkhead in the engine bay,but I'd go for disconnecting the supply/return pipes at this point and use a short piece of copper pipe and a couple of jubilee clips to join the two[short copper jointing pieces can be had from B&Q/Wickes etc. for pennies]Not tried an electric heater so don't know how effective this would be.better of course to replace matrix.

I did it that way, ran the car over winter with no heater except a 12v one which was hotter on the wires than the the heater itself, virtually no use to demist windows let alone defrost. That was a very frustrating winter.

Get it done ASAP! It's hard but not as hard as doing without it.

[ns1234567]

So the story to date - with happy ending... it all began 6 months or so ago with the low coolant light coming on far too regularly - and then noticing at the same time the smell, plus the carpets were wet and discoloured.Members of the forum had experienced very similar symptoms and all roads pointed towards loss of coolant into the footwells and most probably from the matrix .One of the most difficult problems was keeping the screen from getting covered with a “mist” which couldn’t be wiped clear - especially scary after dark as vision was seriously reduced - lots of blurred images from oncoming traffic.
Setting about locating a replacement matrix, again via the forum, thankfully led me to retired Club Director John - who had just the part ( plus a couple of boxes of extras should the repair require).Then turning to a trusted friend to take out the old one and install the new and take a couple of pics of the whole experience….definitely not for the faint hearted…….and by the way God bless the Volvo Community !
[ATTACH][ATTACH]repair 3.jpg[/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[Dippydog]

Glad you've got sorted and it's a happy ending

[barkster1971]

You did the right thing by getting your mate to do it. I did mine and aged 5 years. It is quicker to swap engines!