Defender heater improvement

The heater in my 90 is crap

I have another heater box to rebuild

Can you buy the seals for inside or can someone recommend a product to seal round the matrix and on the door

Is there a more efficient matrix that fits in the heater box?

Thanks

When I saw the cost of a genuine seal, I made my own with a camping/roll mat.

I used neoprene tape form ebay when I rebuilt mine recently. it comes in various widths and thicknesses.

Try this one…

https://www.allisport.com/product-category/performance-products/heater-matrix/

Not fitted one myself but it’s on my list of desired upgrades.

Those heater matrixes can have the added affect of overcooling. You may find the temp dropping off in traffic.

Best options. Insulate the cab properly. Fix the 10000s of air leaks.

Derv heater - £100 of ebay, 2kw.

Bilge blower in addition to the regular blower.

Heated seats.

Bilge blower crap, made no difference on mine.
New fan motor as it is almost certain thats yours is on its way out, the bearing design is pure crap and dates back to the series days using an oiltite bush.
Camping mats/neoprene for seals in the box and the box to bulkhead.
Heated seats.
Insulated seat box.
New vent flap seals.
Good working stat.
Flushed matrix.
After all that it will still be shti!

I reckon best long term solution is the chinese diesel heater idea as mentioned above by bankz5152.

Thanks for the replys a £250 matrix isn't realy an option atm ,il try flushing the existing one

I saw online someone has fitted a passat matrix which is 25 percent bigger but had to chop and weld the heater box

Perhaps get an ex military winterisation kit for your lightweight, a second heater box fitted in the cab between the front seats and extra insulation, result was cooked troops.

chrisstdt said:

Thanks for the replys a £250 matrix isn't realy an option atm ,il try flushing the existing one

I saw online someone has fitted a passat matrix which is 25 percent bigger but had to chop and weld the heater box

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What engine is it?

lynall said:

What engine is it?

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300 tdi

In cold weather like now I blank off the lower half of the radiator with a section of Correx right against the rad itself [200tdi] held in place with a springy bit of plastic against the grill. Those rad muffs fitted to the grill you can get are rubbish as air just goes underneath to the rad.

tottot said:

In cold weather like now I blank off the lower half of the radiator with a section of Correx right against the rad itself [200tdi] held in place with a springy bit of plastic against the grill. Those rad muffs fitted to the grill you can get are rubbish as air just goes underneath to the rad.

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It's pretty bloody cold in Scotland atm !

I must admit to having a bit of cardboard over the grille ,hadn't thought about putting something against the rad

Unusualy cold here on welsh coast, half an inch of ice on landys screen the other day. Found in my shed an old can of deicer, its rather rusty but still workes. Try your card against the rad. Works a lot better than on the grill.

chrisstdt said:

300 tdi

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200 and 300 are so cold running unless you can spank them down a motorway.
Td5 not much better.
In this weather my d3 is not up to full operating temp when I get to work, which is exactly five miles, and thats with the fbh running.

lynall said:

200 and 300 are so cold running unless you can spank them down a motorway.
Td5 not much better.
In this weather my d3 is not up to full operating temp when I get to work, which is exactly five miles, and thats with the fbh running.

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I live in hope of making the heater better !

chrisstdt said:

I live in hope of making the heater better !

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I reckon it must be possible as other cars of the same era had useful heaters, though the defenders awful vent dash layout does not help especially with no face vents.

With the basic improvements like others have done in post's above, mine works well and it warms up a lot quicker than my Focus. [200tdi]
If all else fails get a 19j engine.

One of the easiest things to do is to swap the plastic bits that direct the air to your feet so they direct air up towards you

It does help but in my case it's like warm air!

My 90 pick up has a working heater, its just enough to keep the screen clear but thats about all its good for ! A good warm coat is a must. Haha

mpd2378 said:

My 90 pick up has a working heater, its just enough to keep the screen clear but thats about all its good for ! A good warm coat is a must. Haha

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In that case it's not working. [ much ]