Steam from Air Con

[dbfarrell]

Hey all,

Quick one for ye. I was driving home on Friday when the windscreen started fogging up big time. So I blasted on the Air Con full, but it had no effect, weather hot or cold. So I turned it off and there was a load of steam coming out of the Air Con.

Checked the Temperature guage and it was just above mid way between hot and cold. So I kept driving (M50 closed to 1 lane so no real choice).
After a few minutes the guage went up to Hot, so I pushed on to Texaco and turned off the engine and poped the bonnet. In the coolant bottle under the bonnet, the water was boiling, so I topped up it and the Rad with cold water and left the car about 30/40 min to cool down.

Started driving, a little slower on the way home, but had to stop about 3/4 more times. So on Sat, I got some RadWeld into the Rad, left it running while doing that, then added coolant and more water. Left the car running for about 30 min while I cleaned the car. Then drove it and it seems fine.

So yesterday and today I was driving to work and the Temp guage stays closer to Cold, but I am still getting steam from the Air Con. Now not as much, but it still fogs up the windscreen. This happens with and without the Air Con on.

Car is a 96 GR with 120,000 miles on clock. Serviced about 3 months ago.

Any advice welcome.
Thanks,
Dave

[CJ]

Sounds like your heater matrix has gone fella, have a search of the forum i.e.

http://www.fto-ireland.com/forum/phpBB2 ... ght=matrix

CJ

[dbfarrell]

Thanks CJ, I will give that a try.

Dave

[The Bull]

Db,
Same problem, bit of advice try not to drive the car until u get it sorted. My heater matrix went on the blink last week, was like driving a sauna, 100% no exaggeration.
The bottom rad pipe burst as a result of the increased pressure, bear in mind that steam is coming from the engine super-heated!
good lick

[dbfarrell]

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I dont have much choice by to drive it to get to work.

Since I topped it up with coolant/water/rad weld, the steam has calmed down, its only coming out a small bit at the passenger side of the windscreen.

Hope to get it changed this weekend.

Dave

[CJ]

dbfarrell, if you drive the car with a coolant leak, you're risking serious engine damage - you have been warned!

CJ

[dbfarrell]

Hey thanks for the warning, but like I said above, I topped up the levels at the weekend and have checked them several times over the week and the levels are still the same as when I topped them up.

Its because I don't believe its a coolant leak that I asked for advice.

[CJ]

Its because I don't believe its a coolant leak that I asked for advice.

If the matrix is gone, then you have a coolant leak. Check the passenger footwell for sign of damp - its a sure sign of a bust heater matrix.

CJ