Important! : New Dash Problem

[Crocko2]

So having ballsed up the wiring to the clocks and heater matrix, I have now discovered that when the cars running there is what appears to be a coolant leak from below the centre of the dash...
When unbolting the dash from under the engine bay, I was a little hasty and removed 3 bolts, including the one that the Haynes manual says "do not remove". I replaced the bolt and thought I had the heater aligned properly, but it would appear not. The hoses seem to be connected up ok.
I'm wondering if a seal of some sort has popped out? There were a few bits of broken plastic in the footwell when I wrestled the dash out.
Fortunately it's still out so can look about quite easily, but it's tricky when you don't know what you are looking for.
Is there anything connected to the back of the matrix I may have missed?

[Crocko2]

As an aside to the above, I am seriously considering ditching the original heating matrix...

Blank of the hoses or maybe replace with a smaller, lighter unit?

[MartinObviously]

Originally Posted by Crocko2

As an aside to the above, I am seriously considering ditching the original heating matrix...

Blank of the hoses or maybe replace with a smaller, lighter unit?

Not sure what you've done, sounds like you've cracked the matrix itself.

absolutely do not block the hoses, fit a small matrix if you must.

[Crocko2]

Originally Posted by MartinObviously

Not sure what you've done, sounds like you've cracked the matrix itself.

absolutely do not block the hoses, fit a small matrix if you must.

What'll happen if I blanked the hoses?
Any recommendations on a replacement, smaller version?
Ive seen a few saxos that run with no dash, heater etc. I get there will be mist issues but other than that, why not remove it to save weight?

[MartinObviously]

Originally Posted by Crocko2

What'll happen if I blanked the hoses?
Any recommendations on a replacement, smaller version?
Ive seen a few saxos that run with no dash, heater etc. I get there will be mist issues but other than that, why not remove it to save weight?

The heater matrix is always open, there is no heater valve. It forms part of the engine cooling system. If you blank it off, you actually lose some thermal effiency from small parts of the engine, which can cause localised overheating

the TU is pretty good but it still happens.

older XU engines like what you get in the 306 are really bad, maybe 20-30 mins of track driving with a blanked matrix will kill one of them.

Not sure about replacements, I know demon tweeks do mini matrixes.