Freelander 1 Need help ASAP Please

Hi ya Guys,, any machanics on here who can supply and fit a Heater Matrix ASAP Please
I am based in South Wigston Leiecster

I was on way back from nottingham after visiting family .. just got back into Leicester and the Car starts to over heat a faction. didnt think much to it.. then waiting at the traffic lights some smoke/steam came from under car.. pulled over sharpish.got every body out the car,,,

heatmatrix dropped its load.. passenger footwell sopping wet..
exspantion tank empty... called AA out.. they did a tempory fix.. bypassed the matrix just to get me home..which was approx 2miles away..advised NOT drive car any longer untill the heater matrix has been replaced... and a chimical test been done on the coolant system and engine to make sure nothing has been damaged...
we have to Autistic children and need the car on road ASAP .. any machanic in or near leicester that can help us Please... i am desprit...

So in the other thread when you were repeatedly told to just bypass the matrix.......

Anyway, if the matrix is now bypassed and you didnt massively overheat it and the car is in generally good condition otherwise, it will be fine as it is. Top up the coolant and bleed it properly and keep a very close eye on the level. If it isnt losing any, you are fine and if it is losing, you are screwed.

dave21478 said:

So in the other thread when you were repeatedly told to just bypass the matrix.......

Anyway, if the matrix is now bypassed and you didnt massively overheat it and the car is in generally good condition otherwise, it will be fine as it is. Top up the coolant and bleed it properly and keep a very close eye on the level. If it isnt losing any, you are fine and if it is losing, you are screwed.

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I would have bypassed it myself.. but didnt have the correct tools to get the hoses off myself..
even the AA guy struggled to get them off with the correct tools he had..so i would have had no chance in doing it myself

dave21478 said:

So in the other thread when you were repeatedly told to just bypass the matrix.......

Anyway, if the matrix is now bypassed and you didnt massively overheat it and the car is in generally good condition otherwise, it will be fine as it is. Top up the coolant and bleed it properly and keep a very close eye on the level. If it isnt losing any, you are fine and if it is losing, you are screwed.

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As for over heating... the needle didnt even get close to the RED before it dropped its load..went a quarter of the way passed the halve mark..

So it didnt overheat.

Like I say - run it and keep an eye on the coolant level. If its fine, its fine and you can change the matrix at a later date. If it loses coolant you have been unlucky and its potentially done the head gasket. No point in spunking out feck-knows how much changing the matrix if you have to pay for a new HG as well - probably be better financial sense to sack it off and get something reliable.

dave21478 said:

So it didnt overheat.

Like I say - run it and keep an eye on the coolant level. If its fine, its fine and you can change the matrix at a later date. If it loses coolant you have been unlucky and its potentially done the head gasket. No point in spunking out feck-knows how much changing the matrix if you have to pay for a new HG as well - probably be better financial sense to sack it off and get something reliable.

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Well I was advised by the AA NOT to drive it about..only to a nearest garage..which is just over a mile..
the needle didnt go into the RED.,.. bonus i didnt crack the block. or anything like..
im getting it booked in tomorrow.. plus i will find out what else if anything has been done.. then i can weigh up my options..

as Dave has said u should be fine , however pop it down to a garage and get them to test it out , to see if you've done any damage

I had to replace my heater matrix and u have to take the entire dashboard out to do it, not a hard job but long one

it all depends if ur mechanically minded and able to change the matrix urself , if not may cost a few quid

if the garage says everything else is ok u can drive without the heater matrix with no problem , if the bypass etc has been done correctly

at least u will get peace of mind

Of course the AA said not to drive it - they are more interested in arse-covering and liability than actually helping you. If he hadnt said that and you drove it, never checked the water and killed the gasket you would be straight onto the AA with a complaint.

Take it to the garage and waste your money if you want. I am getting bored of saying this - if it is not losing water, it is ok. You dont need a garage to tell you that. Be sensible, dont drive it to Blackpool for your holidays and check the water when you get there.....on your local everyday journeys check the level before you leave and every time you park.
Sure, a garage might use a sniff-tester to find exhaust gasses in the coolant...after all they have to do something to justify the money they will surely charge you, but can you take a guess what they would do if they dont have that equipment? yep - they would drive it and kee....a f**k it, you know the rest by now.

dave21478 said:

Of course the AA said not to drive it - they are more interested in arse-covering and liability than actually helping you. If he hadnt said that and you drove it, never checked the water and killed the gasket you would be straight onto the AA with a complaint.

Take it to the garage and waste your money if you want. I am getting bored of saying this - if it is not losing water, it is ok. You dont need a garage to tell you that. Be sensible, dont drive it to Blackpool for your holidays and check the water when you get there.....on your local everyday journeys check the level before you leave and every time you park.
Sure, a garage might use a sniff-tester to find exhaust gasses in the coolant...after all they have to do something to justify the money they will surely charge you, but can you take a guess what they would do if they dont have that equipment? yep - they would drive it and kee....a f**k it, you know the rest by now.

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ur not wrong there with regards to the AA

think the op just wants peace of mind , not being rude to him. it depends on his level of mechanical knowledge

don't know what model etc it is,

agree that if it didn't boil over and the matrix has been bypassed, water level all topped up and air out can't see a problem

now what was u saying about water levels, lol

Ive had the pleasure of replacing a heater matrix, started with steam coming up onto the windscreen and damp carpet , was right fun taking the dashboard out but all good experience, got the chance to put a non scratched dashboard along with decent carpets in at the same time

hope u get on ok curby and not being rude with regards to ur mechanical knowledge and understand u just want peace of mind so you have the vehicle back .

over time and through this site u will indeed increase ur understanding and gain a lot of knowledge, plenty of us here to always help

good luck mate and plse let us know how u get on ,

And another thing - do you know for absolute certain that this garage is trustworthy?
Faced with a k-series freelander with cooling system problems an awful lot of garages will just automatically say "yep, head gasket will have gone - they all do that - design flaw blah blah blah...." and change the gasket whether it needs it or not - thats an easy few hundred quid for them and depending on their level of competence maybe only another 10-15k miles before it fails again.

dave21478 said:

And another thing - do you know for absolute certain that this garage is trustworthy?
Faced with a k-series freelander with cooling system problems an awful lot of garages will just automatically say "yep, head gasket will have gone - they all do that - design flaw blah blah blah...." and change the gasket whether it needs it or not - thats an easy few hundred quid for them and depending on their level of competence maybe only another 10-15k miles before it fails again.

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didn't realise it was a petrol and yeh plenty of garages that always jump to conclusions and saying oh yeh seen that fault before and dishing out a big bill for something that may not require doing

did the op say the hg had already been done ??

i nearly got stung by a garage when I first owned the hippo and then found this site which has been a saviour too me, that's some 5 years ago

they said I needed a complete vcu and bearings, found it was just the front y shaped bearing that had failed and didn't need to replace the entire prop, engineering company fixed it all for me

1) It will be fine without the heater matrix.
2) It will be fine without the heater matrix.
3) It will be fine without the heater matrix.
4) Check your coolant daily.
5) Goto :1

B34R said:

1) It will be fine without the heater matrix.
2) It will be fine without the heater matrix.
3) It will be fine without the heater matrix.
4) Check your coolant daily.
5) Goto :1

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Nicely said

The only concern I'd check - what did he join the heater pipes with?
Is it something solid or something temporary that won't last long?

Can you get a picture of how they've done it and we'll pass judgement.

B34R said:

1) It will be fine without the heater matrix.
2) It will be fine without the heater matrix.
3) It will be fine without the heater matrix.
4) Check your coolant daily.
5) Goto :1

Click to expand...

B34R said:

The only concern I'd check - what did he join the heater pipes with?
Is it something solid or something temporary that won't last long?

Can you get a picture of how they've done it and we'll pass judgement.

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or it isn't kinked up at the end , yes also agree would be good to see a pic and how they've done it

in the old days on some engines like the mini engine you had a valve and there was a toggle on the dash to pull and this stopped the water going into the internal heater as said this time of year you do not need it but get it done before winter and as you said they did a sniff test to see if the engine was ok and it was so not need to get it done immediately

dave21478 said:

Of course the AA said not to drive it - they are more interested in arse-covering and liability than actually helping you. If he hadnt said that and you drove it, never checked the water and killed the gasket you would be straight onto the AA with a complaint.

Take it to the garage and waste your money if you want. I am getting bored of saying this - if it is not losing water, it is ok. You dont need a garage to tell you that. Be sensible, dont drive it to Blackpool for your holidays and check the water when you get there.....on your local everyday journeys check the level before you leave and every time you park.
Sure, a garage might use a sniff-tester to find exhaust gasses in the coolant...after all they have to do something to justify the money they will surely charge you, but can you take a guess what they would do if they dont have that equipment? yep - they would drive it and kee....a f**k it, you know the rest by now.

Click to expand...

Yeah I understand the AA want to cover their backs etc ... I have known the AA and other recovery rescue to not to give the appropiate advice and then the clients complaining about misguidance.
Yes I know alot of people have said to Bypass the heater matrix etc .. I KNOW NAFF ALL about cars besides topping up water levels. oil change etc...just basic stuff but when it comes to messing with the coolant system I wanted to cover my back and get 2nd, 3rd or 4th Opinion on the matter .. last thing I wanted is go on somebodies advice on the forum 1st time i sign up and telling to bypass it .. who i have only spoken the once..
and mess it all up and possibly balls the engine up completely.. its NO REFLECTION to people on here,,.,I am still Learning about this car/beast .. No Please dont take offence to it .. not tring to Offend anybody giving me advice..


As for the fault. it was down to a burst pipe,.. YES I had to bite the bullet an call a machanic out, as the one I WAS USING refused to answar his phone.. avoid replying to TXT msg.. etc ..So this repair and YES the system has NOW BEEN BYPASSED and seems to be holding pressure better than before..

I got the feeling when the guy who did the HEAD GASKET May have Nipped the pipe when clamping it back on .. Pass..and also with the pipe being OLD and warn it was just the matter of time before she burst...

As for getting a Picture of the joiner,, I will do it once I get the chance to... as the car is cooling down ..
all seems good.. needle went above the halve a few times.. but nothing to be that worried about as its still getting through the system.. Fan kicked in accordingly ..

So PLEASE Guys I know you dont mean to have to repeat your self to me. I am Very much a Newbie I am learning about her..
I have learning difficulties aswell... where it may take some of you ONCE to be told something.. I have to read something over and Over and Over again...I am not saying this for you take pitty... All I ask is for your understanding and Patients with me ..