How long does it take to remove the dash on a face lift (02 estate elite) as the matrix has gone and the garage want £650 all in :o :o :o :o :'( :'(. has any one got a how to without cutting the trim

I've never tried it but reading the 'How To' it would be impossible without removing all the dashboard which looks a nightmare..... :(

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1262554909

Yea looked at that but how long does it take to remove the dash. the matrix is about £150 so if they want £650 all in i'm thinking 10 hours work ish, and that's not main daeler.

I'm doing mine next weekend, got a matrix from autovaux for £102, i'm going to do the cutting the dash version as i really dont fancy taking the whole dash out.

Couple of points
1) I got an OEM matrix for £60.00 and that included shipping & vat from my local factor.
2) You say yours has gone, but what do you mean by gone , is it leaking or blocked ? and dont forget the O rings they can fail which will cause coolant to get inside the cabin.
Iain

I had the job done in service.. at some points it requires 2 persons to move and put back the dash..

lots of parts must be moved and some hidden screws under a pipeline behind the dash..  airbags out etc etc..  and takes a whole day .. :-/

Its leaking bad now have to top up water every day and only a short trip. water in cabin and under car. :-[

So you have a leak.
Remove the board above the foot pedals and locate the 2 pipes for the matrix, then follow them to the point where the pipes enter the matrix......is it wet and sticky, if so it could be that the O rings need replacing and the matrix needs flushing.
Also do both pipes get warm ?

Update on the matrix. The garage have had the car for a week now and have not done a thing so my brother is going to pick the elite up tomorrow afthenoon. I will have a look at it on Saturday to see if I can find out were the leak is coming from. I will do as said and take the board above the pedals out. The garage are going to by-pass the heater in the morning. I don't think they want the job anyway and two of them used to work for the main dealer. will again update on Saturday

joff wrote on 30. Jan 2011 at 18:54:

Yea looked at that but how long does it take to remove the dash. the matrix is about £150 so if they want £650 all in i'm thinking 10 hours work ish, and that's not main daeler.

You can get `em for 17 quid ;) Same across the entire range
#72655
http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/radiators-final.php?year=1997&Submit=Next&make=Vauxhall&model=Omega&sub=&eng=2.5000

and that place would be??????

joff wrote on 03. Feb 2011 at 21:25:

and that place would be??????

Post modified with link Joff ;D

I must type quicker :y

10 hours to change the matrix by removing the dash is probably about right, it took me a whole weekend a couple of years ago.
Don't be surprised if the new core doesn't fit very well, I had to make up some foam packing to seal the gaps.

New build starts with a heater core and the car is built around it???

Mike.

Thanks for that. Brother got the car back this afternoon and all the idiots had done in a week is put some sort of rad weld in the system to try and stop the leak. Will now have to flush all that out as well. now I know why I work on my cars myself. >:(

Have the mig on the drive now and the de-humid is in to dry out the carpets. Have the o'rings on order and will be here wednesday. I will have a look at the pipes by the seals this afternoon when the inside has got a bit dryer. looks like the leak has stoped with the rad weld so would think that it is the seal, any ideas welcome. :-?

p.s. both pipes are hot and heater works just get a lot of mist on the windows. Brother said itr takes longer to warm up now. Garage said they think that there was steam coming from the heater by-pass valve, but I can see no signs of leaks around the valve. as it can be seen on the DTI as it's at the front of the engine on the right low down.

How do the pipes connect to the matrix? the o seal must clamp sum how to compress it. will I need a new clamp  :question

Have a look at this piccy from the 'cheat method' how-to thread:

http://images.omegaowners.com/images/guides/replace_heater_matrix/100_0312.jpg

Where the alloy pipes meet the matrix plastickery, there's a metal clamp-piece between the two alloy pipes with a single central screw that pulls the two pipes by their flared bits, towards the necessary bit of the matrix, squishishing the o-rings as it's tightened.

Thanks Abiton. I saw that after I had posted when I was going back over everthing. Will have to order new pipe I think to go with the seal as it looks more and more like this could be the problem, still will find out soon when i get to the job this week. :y

I've got a day off at last so  i'm going to start on the leak. I have now got two new matrix pipes and o' seals. I had a look at the pre facelift Haynes manual last night at the remval of the dash just incase it is the matrix, looks like it could be a long day today, will post later with an update. Thanks for all the advice.

Good luck   :y - let us know how you get on, because I think I've the same problem. :'(

Job's done well I can't see anymore leaks at the moment. Not to bad a job just wish I was younger. Fuse box cover off, remove cover above pedals, remove vent box, carpet down a bit and you can see the matrix and torx screw. I could see that there had been a leak as there was still a drop off water on the bottom pipe(return pipe). I removed the pipe's after removing the torx screw and clamp, I pulled them from the engine bay side a little as they were home fast in the matrix and there is not a lot of room under there. New pipes in and o'seals. Had a job trying to do up the torx screw but with the aid of an allen key it is now nice and tight. 50/50 mix back in the system and let the engine warm up check for leaks with heater on full, all ok so all bits back in. about 3 hours tops. Thanks for all the help. new pipes and seals not on trade club but they gave me about 10% off. I just hope that is the end of it. :y

Well lads, what can I say,  little brother Joff has done me proud,Besides cureing the leak and drying out the footwell with a small de-humidifier it seems you don't have to believe what the garages say and go for the megabucks options......
i think the most useful requirements here are, besides the patience and experiance of others when diagnosing the faults, you also need youth or dexterity, patience ( if not, walkaway for a mo b4 the patience goes) and the experiances of others, which thankfully happened here. I am greatful to the many that offered input, and very happy with the result !!
(All in all a great deal less than the 10+ hrs and £650-£700
quoted by the local non Vaux  Garage !!!! don't think our bill got much above £50 and that included new anti-freeze !! :y)

Martin D  ( 4434MD )

Well done! A good job done and saved gettting stuffed by a garage which is always a bonus. :y

I was following this thread , well done  :y
There's nothing nicer than doing a successful job at a fraction of the quote by garage.