Oily Footwell

[davet]

I have a 1998 xsara sx 1.6I. Over the past 2 or 3 months, ive noticed that both driver and passenger footwells are getting a nice coating oil oily feeling stuff. should i be concerened, or is this a quick fix? :rolleyes: :unsure:

[Jonno]

I have a 1998 xsara sx 1.6I. Over the past 2 or 3 months, ive noticed that both driver and passenger footwells are getting a nice coating oil oily feeling stuff. should i be concerened, or is this a quick fix? :rolleyes: :unsure:

 

Have you checked the coolant level lately?? may be a leaking heater matrix or air con fluid??

[davet]

Have you checked the coolant level lately?? may be a leaking heater matrix or air con fluid??

 

i can rule out air con unit, i ont have air con. my first thought was matrix aswell. whats easiest way to check matrix? (can you tell im a car biff?)

[Jonno]

i can rule out air con unit, i ont have air con. my first thought was matrix aswell. whats easiest way to check matrix? (can you tell im a car biff?)

 

Probably the easiest way to see if it is leaking is to feel around the plastic shrouds at floor level where the air ducting outlets are from the heater - if they are wet then I would say it is the matrix leaking. Also it would be coupled with a need to top up the radiator expansion tank frequently, (drivers side in the engine compartment not too far from the windscreen washer top up)

There are kits available with a hand air pump that screw on to the expansion tank and are used to pressure up the coolant system for such checks - garages usually have them.

[davet]

i can rule out air con unit, i ont have air con. my first thought was matrix aswell. whats easiest way to check matrix? (can you tell im a car biff?)

 

cheers jonno, ill ckeck that when the car is home, and let you know. is the expansion tank the yellow tank attaached to the rad?

[davet]

Probably the easiest way to see if it is leaking is to feel around the plastic shrouds at floor level where the air ducting outlets are from the heater - if they are wet then I would say it is the matrix leaking. Also it would be coupled with a need to top up the radiator expansion tank frequently, (drivers side in the engine compartment not too far from the windscreen washer top up)

There are kits available with a hand air pump that screw on to the expansion tank and are used to pressure up the coolant system for such checks - garages usually have them.

 

if it is the matrix, how much would i be looking at spending on this to have it fixed?

[Jonno]

if it is the matrix, how much would i be looking at spending on this to have it fixed?

 

Apologies for not replying sooner, shiftwork doesn't half get in the way of social life !!

 

I don't know what sort of job it is to do, I would imagine it's a bit of a clat (as most things Citroen tend to be)

Have you a friendly mechanic mate who could have a go at it? Get a price for the matrix from GSF (GermanSwedishFrench) they have various branches over the UK and compare to main dealer prices!

Oh, and yes, the expansion tank is connected to the rad Davet.

 

Looking in the Haynes Manual it gives the replacement of the heater components a four spanner difficulty rating - no suprises there then. Plus a four spanner rating to get the fascia panel off too.

Good luck with it. Maybe its an 'O' ring on the connections that is leaking? unfortunately its a stripdown to get to it I shouldn't wonder.

[davet]

i give up lol. gonna just get a new car. garage will take this hunk of crap as full deposit :(. i accidently forgot to tell them about this problem before they agreed to take it.