Freelander 1 Hippo I can NO LONGER USE

I have recently had the Head gasket and other stuff done..

now the heater matrix needs replacing.. from what i have read..cost in the excess of 300-500.. which i can not afford... so i now i have a FREELANDER I can longer use.. Great... I thoughts and feeling upset doesnt even come close to being ripped off.. .a family with 3 disabled people who a car is our life line.. can no longer use.. wish i aint brought this pile of crap...

Bypass the matrix to get you back on the road. Changing the matrix is a diy job, just takes time.

If the matrix is your only problem now (I've seen your list...), you can bypass it in the engine bay and run without. Not sure where but now it's warmish the lack of heater shouldn't be too bad until you can get it sorted.

Longdog was a faster dog...

I would do it myself.. But ain't gotta a clue even where to start.. Nor do I have a right tools

Anybody know how I can bypass the h/matrix

I think you disconnect the two pipes from the heater's inlet and out let which is on the firewall in the engine bay. Then join the two rubber hoses together securely. Someone else may advise on what to join it with but I'd guess a short piece of straight pipe would suffice.

To replace the heater matrix - there is a video guide on Youtube =
There are others, that's just the first I found.

Thats great thank you.. Don't think I'm brave enough to atemp that my self.. At least I get what you mean by in by passing it tho.. Just need to find a joiner.. To do it. Then would u need to rebuild the system to bypass it.

I may be able to help you Curby, if you don't mind a couple of junctions jump up the M1?

Where snouts are you located. I dared use the car unless it's been bypassed.. I'm in south Wigston.
Don't mind contributing toward your fuel cost..
How many have actually bypassed the heater matrix and it's safely worked with no issues

There is no danger bypassing the heater. Use a bit of suitable sized copper pipe from a diy shop.

If the car is a lemon, bypass it and flog it through an auction while the weather is hot.

I was told because it's got air-con I am unable to bypass it as it will mess the sensors etc.. Anybody else done it with air con and not had any issues ??not sure if the mechanic is Just saying this to make more money or what..??

The matrix is just a small radiator - water goes in, water comes out. Bypassing it doesnt cause any negative effects for the engine. Very obviously, the heater wont work - will this affect the air-con? I dont see how it possibly could, and so what if it does? its not going to do harm.

Your mechanic is talking crap. The heater matrix can be bypassed without a problem. There's only 1 sensor in the heater and that is used by the AC system to monitor the temperature of the evaporator. This won't be affected by bypassing the heater as the two systems are completely separate.
Take up the offer of help bypass the heater and get mobile again. Then if you are worried about long term reliability, sell it for whatever you can get.

Just to mirror what everyone else has said, its really easy to do. Pull the two heater pipes off the firewall of the car, put a piece of rigid pipe into one of them and then put the other hose onto the other end of the pipe. Fit a couple of jubilee clips over the top to secure the pipes and rebleed if neccessary. Shouldnt take long at all, maybe 15-20 minutes if you already have the right sized hose and clamps and will cost under a tenner.
If you get stuck give me a shout, i'm only in loughborough.

Hi ya guys..
Thanks for the comments.. I have sorted it Now thank you for the advice you given.. Krisboats. Thanks for the offer.. I have been given loads of help. I've tempory sorted it.
But see how this little fix goes. Bypassing is the next resort if all else fails. .keep you all posted. Been driving the car all today. Not had any issues yet... Touch wood.
Still early days.

CuRbY said:

Hi ya guys..
Thanks for the comments.. I have sorted it Now thank you for the advice you given.. Krisboats. Thanks for the offer.. I have been given loads of help. I've tempory sorted it.
But see how this little fix goes. Bypassing is the next resort if all else fails. .keep you all posted. Been driving the car all today. Not had any issues yet... Touch wood.
Still early days.

Click to expand...

Please tell us how you fixed it. Not Kseal I hope or you might have bigger issues soon.

No i replace one of the pipes near the rad...
seem to have had a pin hole in it .. as it was leaking while cooling down..

Good to hear. Hope it goes well for you. They are nice cars to drive but maybe not the most reliable.

i dont understand why people are so againest this K seal stuff... i a machanic i know.. not the one who done the work on the hippo..
some other one.. he used it on his landy and not any issues at all.. ?? I know there are mixed motions about it ..
but never have i seen or read any proof it does any harm ..