Forum:
Hi, I'm new to Fourtraks so please be gentle.
I drove from my home to Toulouse airport & back last night, 140 miles in total, & began to smell, what can only be described as "hot water" on the way home.
This morning I went to the local town & the gauge started to rise, & I saw what turned out to be steam coming from the passenger side footwell. Drove home gently & once home found I had "wet feet". Please tell me is this a common problem, & more to the point, is it an expensive one?
It's a 95 Rocky 2.8 TDI & I've had it about a fortnight; it's UK RHD also with 63k on the clock which the paperwork (bills, MOT's etc.) would appear to back up.
Many thanks in advance.
wet feet
by the sound of it the heater matrix behind the dash or its pipes have let go or rotted through, if its the matrix its a replace job (good luck with that) if its the pipes a bit of chemical metal will do the trick, in the mean time locate the two black hoses that run along the right hand side of the engine to the bulk head (RH when looking from the front) remove them from the bulkhead connectors and join them together with a bit of 16mm copper pipe, refil system and it SHOULD be ok to drive but you will have zero incab heating
wet feet
Thanks for the reply. I've actually just spent the last 2 hours pulling the heater assembly out from behind the dash, thinking at the same time, that there must be an easier way; but still, it's done now. I assume also that it's a case of replacing the entire unit & that i cant just replace the heat exchanger mechanism inside i.e. the metal parts, fins etc.
Once again, thanks.
'93 Fourtrak 2.8TDL
Matrix remake.
The matrix should be replaced rather than repaired. They rot!
In the UK you can get a replacement made for about £60. Try 'motor-rads' in yellow pages around the UK. Most 'good' radiator repairers will make up a new matrix but in France you might have to pay the tranch de burf.
Sportraks suffer the same
Sportraks suffer the same grief, and IIRC the matrix is identical, or can at least be made to fit. OLDMINIMAN, a regular contributor on here lives in France, and it might be worth getting in touch with him to see if he can offer any ideas...
Dave with a Sporty
Dave with a Sporty
wet feet
Hi
Definitely either the matrix or pipes.
There is a supplier in Normandy http://www.distripieces.com/, who will get almost anything, not cheap but at least you get what you order. You will hve to ring them. I understand there are some Daihatsu Dealers in the Bordeaux Area which is not too far awy for you, try JCWHITE on the forum as he has found a number of suppliers in the Dourdoigne.
I have to admit for common bits I try ebay UK for those being privately broken and only use the Normandy firm for LHD light units etc. Most Private ebayers will send to France and will be cheaper than the breakers who also advertise vehicles being broken on ebay. If , of course it is just a pipe then one of the France h Motor factors will help you out. I, like most suspect the matrix.
OLDMINIMAN
M J Young
wet feet
Thank you all for taking the time & trouble to reply. I was sitting last night racking my braincell about what to do, where to start looking, & then remembered that the guy I bought it from told me how he'd bought shedloads of bits in Germany. Looked at German ebay & saw that of the dozen or so items under "Rocky" the 1st one to end was the very unit I was looking for, & only 25€ to boot. Bought it today, on the assumption that (& after studying the photos at some length) it's only the direction of the fan that really differs & that the pipework is identical, so at worst I remove dead matrix from my housing & replace with new matrix, which I hope is in perfect working order & will last for many a long 4WD adventure.
I suppose now someone will shoot everything thing I've labouriously typed up the arse & tell me I've wasted my time..... I do hope not!
But thank you all once again.
'93 Fourtrak 2.8TDL
The Matrix
Posts seem spot on with the pipes or heater matrix, on vehicles which have been poorly maintained, i.e. have not had their coolant regularly changed and anti-freeze added, the matrix joints corrode.
Heater matrix's are machine soldered on these vehicles, the solder is broken down by the reaction from contamination within the cooling system, if it is the matrix, it is possible with care to solder it.
Another potential problem on some vehicles is the heater control valve; corrosion causes a restriction within the valve due to deposits forming, this causes the body to split.