Citroen XM Forum

I think you are cheating with the v6 Mathew with the speed that the engine heats up!

If i start my 2.1td several days before I intend to go anywhere then there is a chance it will have warmed up when I set off!

davetherave wrote: If i start my 2.1td several days before I intend to go anywhere then there is a chance it will have warmed up when I set off!

Ahh, the downside of DERV Dave. With great thermal efficiency comes a poor heater.

Just think yourself lucky it's not an HDi. Those took so long to warm up in the winter most HDi Xantias had auxiliary water heaters to speed things along a tad...

I don't recall a 2.1TD being that bad though Dave. perhaps your thermostat has gone on extended leave? Shame is they're a bit of a devil to swap...

Good point Dave!! So there is one other benefit to using more fuel! Best regards, Matthew T.

Mine demistes in no time at all push the button for the front demister it turns the aircon on and within 5 mins the screen is clear turn off the aircon but leave the fromt demister on and the ice melts in no time at all.

Regards,
Norman

The thermostats fine. I really need to sort the air conditioning out and it will clear it quicker!

Easy way to get the heater matrix out anyone? Leaking, is it likely pipes or matrix?

The Matrix and pipes are in the driver's footwell, remove the transmission tunnel cover by your left leg and the matrix is just to the left of the parking brake against the firewall, if you look you will be able to see if water is running out of the heater box or from the union that connects the pipes, this is sealed with two 'O' rings and imo is unlikely to start leaking, it may leak if disturbed but the matrix is the most likely failure point.
Matrix are cheap enough and swapping them out is fairly straightforward and quick if fiddly.

D

Good few of us have done this job, and there are several threads on here about it.

Recent summary of successful matrix replacement is here:
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=8739&start=10#p106733

That complete thread (just two pages) is worth a read.

What you will need is:
- replacement heater matrix (Nissens brand recommended, eg from Mister Auto)
- new O-rings: qty 4, 21x2mm, Viton quality preferred (eg from Polymax, Hampshire) Buy a few more, in case of mishap.
- Hylomar Blue joint sealant (or similar)

And a good bit of patience. It is a fiddly job, but quite do-able.

On the one here (S2 RHD) I had to make a few sawcuts into the plastic matrix casing (lower corner, nearest to you as you contort in the footwell) and bend the sections back, to allow the old one out and new one in. The cuts were glued-filled afterwards.

Take especial care to make sure that the pipes and plate are properly seated/aligned into the matrix ports before tightening down.

Let us know how you get on.