I decided 2day to get my old and leaking heater matrix out 2day thought it wouldnt be 2 bad 2do(how very wrong i was)
i started by taking out the lower part of the dash thinking i could get it out that way (errr no joy) ended up taking the steering colum out and dropping the pedal box.my car looks like a bombs hit it
Anyway when i got it out i couldnt see where it was leaking from .is there anywhere else that could cause engine coolant/water to come down the bulk head and into the footwell,cheers

 

The matrix is easy to get out, with just the lower dash removed, that's how I do them, just withdraw whole heater box, grind off the rivetts holding the lower dash support bracket behind ash tray area, pull straight out, screw bracket back in afterwards.
Are you sure it's coolant getting inside the car and not just water, a very common place to leak is along the bonnet release cable where it goes through the bulkhead, the panel that goes across the front infront of the heater motor fuse box etc has a drain outlet directly onto this cable, whose grommets rots away, so water come sin adn drips off the brake pedal onto the floor, that's why drivers side floor always rots!!
tabetha

 

i believe its the matrix cause the heaters dont get very warm and the car was using a fair bit of water. i know that could mean headgasket but i thaought id see if it was the matrix first

 

Should have just taken the heater out the circuit, by taking pipes off and joining together, would tell you right away if matrix is leaking, could well be esp if original one though.
Cold running is down to the stat or a blocked heater etc, I use WAHLER stats and found them to be MUCH better, I use 88C, am looking for a 93-95C stat though.
tabetha

 

just done mine, its easier if you unbolt the heater, move it out slightly for better access
cheers shaun

 

wanted to do that but couldnt see where it was bolted to

 

One bolt either side at front of heater box facing down, don't even need to take off as the heater box is slotted so simply slides rearwards when nuts are loosened.
tabetha