Jaipee

Top banana!!, Just saved me all the trouble and time to take out the dash. Perfect instructions,easy to follow. Best of all no leaks and plenty of warm air again. Cheers fella, hope other people read this before taking their dash out 👌😀

On 12/18/2009 at 2:05 PM, baysidebluebnr34 said:

Hi Everyone,

I have had my Lexus IS200 for 18 mths now, it has been a nice car so far. Yesterday when driving I started to hear a water sound coming from the dash, then sure enough the smell of radiator water. Doing the right thing I stoped by a car shop to have a qoute, needless to say $$$$ouch just for the labour. I was once in the auto trade myself and wasn't happy to be screwed, so DIY.

I looked online but found little info on how to change it, and the info I did find told of stories of having to remove the dash etc. NOT TRUE!!

It took me 5 mins to remove and 45 mins to install. Here is how you do it:

Tools required:

phillps head screw driver

Torch or some form of light

Pliers

Hacksaw

Hose the same dia as the heater hose

4 hose clamps

Proceedure:

Removal

1. In the engine bay, Losen/remove both hose clamps on heater hoses.

2. Disconnect Both heater hoses (if they are stuck on try to twist them).

3. In the cabin, Remove the pannel below the stering wheel (three screws), then dissconnect fog lights, dimmer, air temp senor and unlatch bonnet cable.

4. Remove the 3 screws (these hold the heater and the heater pipes in place).

5. Slide the heater out, as it is broken anyway just yank the pipes out, they will bend very easy.

note: you may want to have some rages on hand to catch any water that comes out of the matrix or pipes.

Install

1. On the new Matrix, cut the frist pipe (higher pipe on matrix). Make the cut in beetween the two mounting positions on the straight section. Be gentle and take your time.

2. On the new Matrix, cut the second pipe (lower pipe on matrix). Make the cut before the mounting position on the straight section. Be gentle and take your time.

3. Cut two lenghts of hose and install both on the matrix side of the pipe. Be gentle when installing.

4. Place losely two hose clamps on each hose, fasten the clamp close to the matrix. Keep in mind the positioning of the clamps for easy access later.

5. Gently side the matrix into place. You may need to rotate the pipes to clear everthing for a smooth entry.

6. Once in place, re-latch (screw up) the frist mount and tighten.

7. Starting with the lower pipe (it goes throught the top hole in the firewall), once though the top hole insert it into the hose to connect it to the matrix.

8. Once in the right position tighten both mount for that pipe and also second hose clamp.

9. repeat above step but though the lower hole in the firewall.

10. In the engine bay, reconnect hoses and hose clamps.

11. Top up water.

12. In cabin, re-install pannel below steering wheel.

13. Start car, top up water again

Note: it is allways a good Idea to check no water is leaking from the re-installed pipes and matrix

Done.

Top banana!!, Just saved me all the trouble and time to take out the dash. Perfect instructions,easy to follow. Best of all no leaks and plenty of warm air again. Cheers fella, hope other people read this before taking their dash out 👌😀