Citroen Xantia (1993 - 2000) - 99 2.0 leaky matrix

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
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Sat 17 Oct 2009 17:22
99 2.0 leaky matrix - noisytappets
hello all,
i had a leaking heater matrix and used bars which fixed the leak but still have an unbearable chemical smell coming through air flow vents on dashboard which i presume is the anti-freeze that had leaked.It smells when i use the fan on any tempereture setting and i have let the car sit with fan on and all windows and doors open hoping the smell would wear off now leak is fixed but there seems to be no difference. Is it possible that all the ducting is coated inside with the odour from the leak or will it just take a long time for it to wear off the matrix. Now winter is on the way i need to sort it...many thanks for any replies
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Sat 17 Oct 2009 17:34
99 2.0 leaky matrix - Simon
I would have thought that it would eventually wear off, as the antifreeze dries up and burns away. It may just be a case of grinning and bearing with it.
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Sat 17 Oct 2009 18:10
99 2.0 leaky matrix - noisytappets
thanks for reply...i was hoping it would wear off within a couple off days but no luck yet, i have my 7yr old son in the car every day so even if i could bear the stench i would not expose him to it. I would be happy to get a heater to plug into cigarete lighter socket but dont know of any that would heat the whole car.
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Sat 17 Oct 2009 21:01
99 2.0 leaky matrix - RichardW
Try Forte Radiator Sealer - it's dear, but very effective at sealing a leaky Xantia matrix. a new matrix is only about £40 - take a little while to fit it though.... :-(( Mine was 'Forted' about a year / 20k ago, and no smell now. It does take a few hundred miles to seal the leak up and dry out the heater box.
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