Heater Air escaping into Engine bay

Hi all, I have searched the forums but cant find an answer.

On my 90, When I put the heater fan on all the air escapes between the two water pipes in the engine bay going into heater matrix. What can I use to seal round these pipes so the air goes into the cab and not wasted as I'm very cold at mo......I was thinking of a bit of expanding foam but thought this would go everywhere knowing my luck

Or do I have to buy a new heater?????

Thanks in Advance

Mine was like that, short from pulling it apart and replacing all the foam, i just jammed some small bits of foam between the gaps also re did the intake from the wing to the fan. Did the trick.

Bite the bullet and take the heater out.
Much easier to see what you need to do.
Do it properly and it will last.
Bodge it and do it again next winter.
Your call.

Between the heater unit and the bulkhead is a piece of soft foam cut in a most peculiar shape which perishes over time. I cut a new piece to roughly the same shape out of old packaging foam which is quite dense. Undo the two bolts into the bulkhead at the top of the heater unit and the two bolts in the passenger footwell that hold the unit in place. This may give you the movement you need to pull the old foam bits out and squeeze the new bits in. If you haven't got enough room yet then take off the wing air intake and loosen the plastic heater intake box.

There is always the problem that bits of old foam will get into the air intakes on the bulkhead side of the heater and block airways so as said above its best to disconnect the pipework, cables and all and do it properly. Taht way you can see what shape a piece of foam to cut. Make it oversized as when you tighten it all up it will form a good seal. You'll be gobsmacked how good an old defender heater can be.

Good Luck and Happy New Year to all, I pick up lots of good things from you all.

Forgot to say don't forget there is a ring of foam between the air intake box in the wing and the heater matrix unit so don't forget to renew that as well so you get the full airflow to the heater

i used gaffa tape for mine, its done nearly 2 years so far.

Yes I have the same problem - I had the heater on full blast and I went to check that the new inlet manifold plug was OK and could feel air from somewhere else to discover it was coming from the heater.

Within the box there is the matrix and and it should be sealed into place so air goes through it, out the heater through the bulkhead etc...

You can fill the area around the pipes and that will stop it or you can take it apart and do it properly - I will be doing this over the next few days.