MatraSport Forum

Can someone kindly give me some guigence or a useful link to take out and install the drivers side heater matrix. looks a nightmare. my feet keep getting wet so really need to sort it out. :P

thanks for any help.

Yes you are in for some major work ???
Do you have a manual? You will need to drop the steering  & remove the lower dash screws so the dash will hinge up. I will see what I can find to help you.
for starters see http://www.matrasport.dk/forum/index.php/topic,724.0.html
clever clogs Renaultbiler has a good description.
You may want to consider rad seal!

Hi Thanks for that. i cannot find a manual anywhere >:(

rad weld is only a temp fix. not too happy putting it in the car really.

Hi yellow5r,
I have been down this route on my year 2000 - 2.2dti espace, as the link from BrianM shows.
By far the worst part of this task is the disconnection of the bulkhead hoses, which are supposedly "quick-release". I dropped the engine to gain access to these connections, and it would appear to me to be the only way to do the job.
The removal of the Dashboard is not too bad, if, as I did, you strip it down to to its component parts, and not try to move it as one unit as was described to me.
It took me the best part of 3 months to do my Heater Matrix swap, working at the weekends, and dropping the engine to replace the timing belt at the same time.
I have a series of photos that may be of help, if you are going to tackle the Task.
I also have a pot of Dashboard screws leftover from the Task, I never did find out where they came from, and the car seems to be happy without them.
Best of luck.
Regards
Ross

Hi Ross if you can load some pics it would help me out. thanks

Hi yellowt5r,

I have attached a photo of the heater pipes as they emerge from the engine bulkhead.
The photo shows the bleed screw and just behind the "quick release" pipe connections.
It is the pipe connections that are very nearly impossible to release with the engine in place.
Hope this helps.
I have more photos of  of the engine bay, if you need them.
Regards
Ross

Thank you Ross.

Your Espace is a newer model than mine, but this may be helpful to someone. I had a coolant leak into the drivers foot-well, and eventually worked out that it was only a 20-minute job to replace the O rings where the coolant pipes connect to the heater matrix. If later models use similar "quick connect" fittings, and if the leak is coming from the joint (wrap a cloth round it for a day or so to find out if the cloth gets wet), this may be worth trying.

On my right-hand-drive J636 the connector (inside the cabin, not in the engine compartment) of twin metal pipes to the heater matrix is hard to see, but easy to reach after removing the trim around the steering column. Clamp the hoses inside the engine compartment and put an old towel under and around the connector before you undo it, to save draining the whole cooling circuit. My O rings are 17 x 2.5 mm and were free -- from my local tractor and farm equipment shop (they are nearest) who said they were not worth printing an invoice for.

sadly its not the O rings. Its Coming from the black box surrounding the matrix so must be cracked. im going to get this job done now as ive had enough of it. just how much needs to come out? has anyone got a pic of one dash removed for this job. just to give me an idea.

i have read you need a special pipe release tool. does anyone have a link so i can see what i need to buy.

thanks

I did remove a dash from a scrapper a few yrs ago. I dont think you need to cpmpletely remove it, It should hinge up to allow you access to remove the offending heater
Have a search for 'Renault Dialogys' it is the repair manual for all renaults & comes as three disks. You will need a torrent downloader as it will be split up into many parts as it is several gig in size.
Have a look on ebay for the tool It may be this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-Tools-3895-Engine-Cooling-System-Hose-Clip-Remover-Renault-Espace-Auto-/160806537733?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item2570d10a05

As long as you buy new heater matrixes with separate pipes (dont think you can buy any other version no more) its not nessesary to touch the dash assembly itself, only remove glove compartment and below, and covers around the steering wheel +++.
Then you can see the matrixes and can remove the old ones by cutting off their plastic pipes first, then remove the matrixes. Then insert new ones and connect pipe assembly after the matrixes are in position.

I will have to replace my left side heater matrix and have few questions.

1.   As I have understood the steering wheel has to be removed what kind of precaution shall be taken in order not to trigger the airbag system? Can this be done   without the equipment mention in section 88?  (http://www.matrasport.dk/Cars/Espace/vault/JE/MR315ESPACE8_PRE072000_ELECTRICS.pdf)?
2.   In the tread a special tool is also mention in order to disconnect bulkhead hoses. Is this tool necessary for all models or is only a problem on the diesel versions (I have 2.0 16V petrol)?
Regards

Lars 

No need to take steering wheel off.
Some handyman-creativity will fix the hose connectors aswell.