I apologise in advance if this is a daft question, but my MK2 really pongs when the heater kicks out hot air. It doesn't even need to be on, just in the hot position. Its not engine smell, I like that, its not really damp/musty either, just very unpleasant. Is there anything you can do to prevent this kind of thing? Aside from ramming magic trees in the vents? Cheers for any help
is it kinda chemically? if so as above new matrix. if you dont wash em good when you fit they smell and you get a load o smoke out the vents for a few weeks. it will eventually get better
no no, it doesn't need a new matrix, we mean has it had one recent if the heater smells sweet and the screen instantly steams up when you set it to screen demist that means you need a new matrix
like 3mths eventually its the preserving oil being burnt off - leaves a nice oily residue on the inside of your window as an added bonus!
Sorry crossed wires on my part. On the way back from the chippy just there were the clouds of smoke from the vents and the screen does mist instantly. Thought/hoped that would be down to the chilly weather tho. Didn't know it was oil that gets sprayed on the screen, wandered why it puts up a fight to come off! Thanks guys
Wipe your finger on the screen, and give it a quick lick. (trust me!) If it tastes extremely sweet, then it`s coolant that`s steaming out of the vents/misting the screen. ie; you need a new matrix. If it doesn`t taste sweet at all, then it`ll be the residue from the protectant on the new matrix. ie; it`s had a new one recently. TBH, though, I`ve never seen a new matrix steam out of the vents or steam the wnidscreen (slight smell, yes, and a slightly oily not-that-obvious-unless-you-wipe-the-screen film), so it sounds more to me like your matrix is on it`s way out, I`m afraid...
You can smell the sweetness, just don't let a child lick your finger ....... Ethylene glycol poisoning nasty stuff coolant...
the smoke you get off a new matrix is almost liek an electrical fire kinda thing, its dry smoke wheras a blown matrix would be wet steam. my screen never misted up with the stuff, so all signs point to blown matrix oh and the steam will only taste sweet if it actually has coolant in it, if its not been well looked after it'll taste like stagnant rusty water
OK thanks for the input guys. Just one last thing, a quick Google reveals that it would be advisable to fit a MK3 matrix? That a wise idea chaps? Thanks again
The Mk3 item has superseded the Mk2 one anyway, so even if you ask for a Mk2 it`ll be a Mk3 one you get (their visually identical).
in the meantime just bypass the heater matrix by joining the two pipes at the bulkhead. wont have any warm air but you wont be loosing coolant either driving it
Chaps, looking to fit this tomorrow as I have this week off work. Any tips you can share to avoid schoolboy errors on my part? Cheers!
Lots of tips in here. Print it out and read it through a few times before you start, may save you several problems.
you might want to consider looking at this at the same time , alot of them are failing http://www.clubgti.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218985&highlight=demister
Modern antifreeze isn't sweet, too many kids and pets died from drinking either from the bottle or a puddle in the drive. If you want to take the oil off your matrix, use a full can of brake cleaner before you fit it- that'll remove most of it if not all.
Does this happen after you spray the windscreen jets? You might find the smell of that humms like a mofo and gets thrown into the cabbing when the heater blower is on. I have tried all sort of winscreen washes but it still stinks! NOT pleasant
