Previa Heater Matrix

May 8, 2004

Just bought a 93 Previa GX for £2400. The heater pipes to the matrix in the dash have been cut and pipes joined to bypass. I can only assume the matrix sprung a leak and the pipes were joined as repair without new matrix.

How involved is fitting a new matrix? Is it a dash out job or simply done from the front under the bonnet?

Thanks.

July 6, 2004

:thumbsup:

I also bought a 1993 previa with the same problem and was not told about it by the seller. in the end i had to remove the matrix which is a sod of a job. you can buy a Haynes manual for the car which is American, this is ok though because it covers the European model. it says in the book that afrter removeing the small bracket from the matrix that you can slip it out under the glove box. I found this to be imposible and tried all ways i could, i tried to remove the glove box but this was not possible without being a midget with child like hands to unscrew the fixings at the rear of it. the onlt soloution was to cut a slot through the glove box and draw the matrix out. the matrix is as long as the space between the side of the car and the housing it is in. you have to cut the 90 degree bends off the matrix that pass through the bulk head then it will pull out along the slot you have cut in the glove box. once out my matrix only had a couple of small holes in it so i used that metal putty you can buy and pluged the holes as it is made of copper. i then passed the pipes through the bulk head and put the matrix back in, connected the pipes with jubulee clips, put the rods and cover back, fiberglassed the glove box from underneth, and finally filled the system with deionised water. i dropted 2 bottles of rad weld in and ran it. the leak had gone and now my kids are warm for a change and they don't need to wear a coat in the car.....

if you need and more help just drop me a line

dez

July 7, 2004

Thanks for input Dez.

I ended up paying a mechanic to do it for me. He removed most of the dashboard to gain access, but even then had to cut the copper pipes to withdraw matrix! Bought a recon unit for £150.00 and paid the mechanic £150.00 cash to do it. Seeing as Toyota were quoting £370 for a new one, thought that wasn't bad! Also had to fork out £350.00 for a new condensor to be supplied/fitted/gassed, which I thought was a good deal, especially as he did it on the drive in little under an hour one sunny Friday! Also had to replace a boot strut which set me back £70.00 (RWW Model). So all told cost me £3120 for what is an immaculate example - not a rip or tear anywhere.

(Yes, I know the back wheels are on the wrong way round!)

I too wasn't told of these faults, my downfall, I accepted the palming off I got from the pretty girl! Fool!!!

Robin

July 16, 2004

Looks good :) :thumbsup:

September 9, 2005

Hi.

Found your posts on the matrix removal problem - I have it too!. I was hoping to send Derren Bell an email asking if I could call to talk through the job as I want to tackle it this weekend. However, as I'm not a bronze or higher member I can't.

In the meantime, perhaps someone could advise me on the following. I have had a quick look at the possibility of removing the matrix in the way Derren descibed. However, not sure as to what is under the plastic cover attached to the bulkhead, immediately below the glove box? Also, will I have to remove this too?

How is the glove box removed? I have access to some small hands (my 9 yr old!) and therefore, it may be possible to remove as opposed to cut a slot out of it?

I hope someone may be able to help on this job - want to sell the car but not with no heater!

So hope to hear from someone on this matter. Derren, if you are reading this, perhaps you could email on paulwatkins "at" uk2.net and I could arrange to call you to discuss.

Thanx

Paul