W201 Behind the dashboard

[Rob77]

I've recently had the car fully seviced, with new front discs and complete exhaust system. The garage gave me a list of "to do" items, with the bill and I'm in the process of procuring those items.

One of them is a new heater matrix. The matrix itself is fairly cheap but installing it will involve taking out the dash.

My question, therefore, is if you were taking out the dash to do this, is there anything else behind there that you'd replace as a matter of course, simply because you're there anyway.

I'm not aware of anything else wrong, I'm just trying to avoid doing the same job more than once

 

[neilrr]

How do they know it needs replacing? Is it leaking or is this preventative?

 

[Rob77]

It has a very small leak. I referred to this in an earlier post, when I'd thought it to do with the air-con and actually I think that Dieselman suggested the heater matrix at the time.

A very small amount of fluid drops onto the passenger mat and sometimes, when the heater is on, some steam can be seen coming out. Worst though is the fact that it's nearly impossible to clear the screen, in the city, in the rain, because the air blowing on it from the heater is "oily", from the antifreeze in it.

If it were the summer, I'd hardly notice but I need a clearer screen at this time of the year and I worry too that it will get worse. I did think about using Radweld, or similar but I'd prefer the peace of mind I'd get from having it fixed properly.

So, when the dash is out, I thought I'd do any preventative or improvement work at the same time. I have in mind to replace the CD player, add an aux in (for MP3) for example but is there a common failing or poorly made thing under there that I should consider replacing (or adding)?

 

[neilrr]

So, when the dash is out, I thought I'd do any preventative or improvement work at the same time. I have in mind to replace the CD player, add an aux in (for MP3) for example but is there a common failing or poorly made thing under there that I should consider replacing (or adding)?

Not that I'm aware of. Others may know more.

 

[Gastropodus]

Although this is a long-dead thread, I think it is worth mentioning that any time you go deep behind the dash it's worth thinking about whether the bulbs that light up behind various accessories should be replaced. Very old bulbs often have a characteristic darkening throughout the interior glass.

Kurt

 

[jefrs]

This is a very old thread.

a) the bulbs are pretty easy to get at.

b) K-Seal cures small leaks ...

 

[carat 3.6]