Steam in car when fan on - Heater Maxtrix blown?

[mike65]

The heating in my car has been driving me a bit nuts with constant hot-air from passenger side causing fogging on that side of windscreen, today when I put fan on I got steam from the underside of the dashboard also on passenger side...is this the sign of heater matrix about to die? (I thought cold air was a symptom?)

Mike.

 

[Richard Moakes]

Can't say for sure on Mercedes, but the steam sounds exactly like what happened to me on another car

It sounds like you will soon be undergoing dashboard surgery :cry:

Good Luck,

Richard
1989 W124 300E

 

[mike65]

Took car out for 15 mins and no steam with fan on...no loss of coolant, no smell of anti-freeze, no wet carpet. Still blowing hot air....stumped!

Mike.

 

[Richard Moakes]

Sounds like you perhaps have multiple problems with the heating system.

Constant warm air sounds like the solenoid control valves or the control circuitry for them has failed.

Could be temperature control wheels, internal temp sensor or perhaps many other things that I am not aware of. :?

Richard

 

[mike65]

I have noticed that the dail on the pasenger side has no "resistance" when turning it, while the drivers side does - it feels like its turning something behind the scenes....

Mike.

 

[barrie]

Welcome to the club!!

I have been getting steam/smoke from my dash with the fan on and I suspect the matrix has gone. It is a major job to remove the matrix i.e. remove complete dash, remove horizontal brace that goes betwwen the door pillars and supports the steering column, remove the heater box the you can get access to the matrix!
I'm leaving mine till the spring as I can still use it as long as the engine temp doesn't rise in traffic.
Funny you should mention the dials as mine were working ok until this happenned then the direction dial became seized. It worked after freeing it off but I thought it odd at the time


Good luck,

Bazza

 

[mike65]

barry, are you loosing coolant, getting poor heating etc or is all working
properly apart from the steam issue? I had a matrix go on me years back in an Mk 3 Escort. It dumped water in the footwell shortly after the heater stopped heating....maybe the Merc 190 design is different?

Mike.

 

[barrie]

I seem to be losing a small amount of coolant but I can't see where. I presume it is evaporating when it leaks from the matrix. Heater works fine but I usually set the controls to halfway and let the car heat up gradually so not risk damaging anything. I only turn them to cold when sitting in traffic cos the heat must cause the hole to expand and thats when I get the steam

Bazza

 

[dstrong]

Sealer from JB Weld

I had a reasonable leak in the rad of my SAAB 9000 and decided to fritter a couple of pounds on some Perm-o-seal from JB weld. Marvellous stuff, I don't normally like additives but this worked a treat. It is certainly easier to do than taking the dash out!

http://www.jbweld.net/products.html

 

[Patsy]

steam

Read your handbook - its the cool air from outside coming into the hot air.

 

[mike65]

Patsy what are you refereing to? I dont think Mercedes would design a ventalation system to create steam!

On my own woes - Spotted fluid on the floor I put down a tissue and a few mins latter there was a few drops of coolant on it I think I'll be booking the barge in for later this week.

Mike.