I think I've had enough!

**p38arover** · 26th November 2006, 08:37 PM

Yesterday I noticed that the carpet on the RHS transmission tunnel was stained - a quick check showed it was coolant.

"Flamin' heck," thought I, "the blasted heater O-rings again. I only did them a few months ago."

So I put some paper towel on the tunnel and driover to work. When I gio home the paper was saturated. At least it explains where the coolant has been going to.

So today I stripped the car dash out as much as needed to get a l-o-o-ong allen key (about 400mm long) in to tighten the capscrew holding the clamp plate. Hmm, the screw is tight. Then I wrapped some paper towel ariound a stick and wiped the botton of the heater pipes and clamp plate. No coolant. Hmmm.

Further checking leads me to believe the heater matrix has failed. That's about $750 for the matrix. If the dash has to come out to replace it, that's about 12 hours work (or more). A page on the RangeRovers.net website says 12 hours to remove and another 10 to put it back in. I can't afford to pay a dealer to do that work. It would cost more than the car is worth.

I'm really getting to the point where I've had enough and should sell it and buy a newish sedan. Maybe I should strip the P38A and sell the parts. All the panels are straight.

Ron

**incisor** · 26th November 2006, 08:47 PM

not good mate...

best of luck with it mate.....

**Milton477** · 26th November 2006, 08:53 PM

My deepest sympathies with your plight. I spent many years driving my P38 with paper towels stuffed in under the heater matrix to stem the tide. Check the petrol & fill the coolant became the routine.

I moved from the UK to Australia to get away from it.

**Bytemrk** · 26th November 2006, 08:59 PM

Sorry to hear about your dramas Ron,

I've never done a heater core on a P38... but after helping a mate do one in a classic Rangie... I'd believe the 12 quote... plus some

.

We rapidly worked out the athe first part they start with with a Range Rover is the heater core..... then they build the rest of the car around it....it was a bugger of a job that took an entire weekend.

Mark

**p38arover** · 26th November 2006, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by Milton477

My deepest sympathies with your plight. I spent many years driving my P38 with paper towels stuffed in under the heater matrix to stem the tide. Check the petrol & fill the coolant became the routine.

I moved from the UK to Australia to get away from it.

I'm tempted to drill a small hole in the bottom of the place where the heater core is and to fit a drain which can go through the floor or into a bottle.

Ron

**barney** · 26th November 2006, 09:13 PM

if you can survive without a heater, you can probably just bypass the matrix by joining the hoses together.
o.k. so you wont have a heater, but on the positive side, you'll only miss it for a few months each year, and thermal socks are cheap. that time of year you dress warm anyway.
my commiserations Ron.

p.m. on the way

**Ace** · 26th November 2006, 09:14 PM

Sorry to hear of your troubles ron, its dissheartening when stuff keeps going wrong, whether it be the car or anything else. Would be a shame to get rid of it, you have spend alot of time and money getting it right.

I would be willing to help you out labour wise if possible if you decided to fix it. Matt

**DEFENDERZOOK** · 26th November 2006, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by barney

if you can survive without a heater, you can probably just bypass the matrix by joining the hoses together.
o.k. so you wont have a heater, but on the positive side, you'll only miss it for a few months each year, and thermal socks are cheap. that time of year you dress warm anyway.
my commiserations Ron.

p.m. on the way

i dont think the heater is for him.....he dont feel the cold.......

LoadedDisco · 26th November 2006, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by p38arover

I'm tempted to drill a small hole in the bottom of the place where the heater core is and to fit a drain which can go through the floor or into a bottle.

Ron

Better still make the drain and run it through a small hose and pump and pump it back into the coolant system.

**abaddonxi** · 26th November 2006, 09:37 PM

That's too bad Ron, sounds like a couple of long days work.

Guess you're wishing you kept the County.

Cheers
Simon.

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