[Bammo]

The heater core in the '85 Drover let go on the farm the other night too - in -2 degrees! Brrr - hot coolant splashing on the legs didn't make up for the coldness. Managed to bypass the hoses in the engine bay and keep going but I need to replace that.

Has anyone done this and is it a big job? In newer cars I think you need to remove the dash to do this but is that necessary for the suzuki?

[Gwagensteve]

Yes, you'll need to remove the dash. Won't take more than an hour to get out and less to put back.

[BAZZOOK]

Did one in the Jim. Took 6 hrs. Turd of a job

[Gwagensteve]

It would be in a Jimny. It's no big deal in a sierra/driver.

[Bammo]

Tips for sourcing a replacement? Not particularly easy to find them new on eBay...

[BlueSuzy]

Bammo wrote:

Tips for sourcing a replacement? Not particularly easy to find them new on eBay...

I got mine from Lowrangeoffroad.

A genuine one from Maruti India might be another good optionbut will need to find a supplier/someone that will deal with you.

Or another second hand one, Always risky.

[Marn]

There are a lot of parts out of India on ebay. I have brought a few and had no worries

[dewets]

So I'm also into the process replacing the heater matrix on a 2009 Jimny.

Local agents said no heater matrix available. Spares guy's first response when I gave him a part no was: Oboslete part... Nuff said Fred!

Google turned up a guy in the UK who manufactures replacement COPPER heater cores for various vehicles... Aha! I've got a son and daughter who lives there, so heater was ordered for the sum of GBPound 69... (AU$120.00). Ordered and had delivered to son. Then the water pump started leaking... Local stealership wanted ZAR2200.00 (AU$215.00) for one. Non-Zook branded Aisin from local parts dealer was ZAR490.00 (AU$49.00), but on back-order.. and 'don't know when we'll have stock'

Google turned up Aisin water pump in Germany for Eu23.00. (Equiv ZAR360.00, AU$ 35.00). So ordered and had delivered to my son, who sent parcel with heater and water pump out to me. Got them yesterday after 6 weeks. Import duties, freight all added, I got both parts for less than stealers wanted just for the water pump...

Next week Jimny the Puddle Jumper will get new heater and water pump. Piccies will follow for souls who'd want to follow the goings-on of keeping a Zook Zookified and running.

And I'm particularly NOT look forward to disabling airbags, remove airbag sensor unit, stripping out dash, etc. But SWAMBO insists HER Jimny needs to be heated in winter time...

[dewets]

Feedback on the saga of the cold Jimny:

We replaced the water pump and heater matrix.
Water pump was easy peasy.

To get the heater matrix replaced was a bit more involved:
My mechanic brother with some 50 years experience looked things 'under' and was of the opinion that we leave the a/c unit in place, as the heater and a/c units are two seperate 'boxes' that is held together by 3 bolts/screws.

Airbags disabled and sensor unit removed.
Steering wheel airbag unit removed, steering wheel removed, removed steering column stalk switches (wipers, lights, indicators) and left them dangling by the wires.
Removed steering column bolts, and allowed column to 'hang' about.
Unplugged various wiring harness plugs under dashboard, removed fasteners holding heater and a/c units together, removed fasteners from heater unit. Unclipped control cables from heater unit.

Removed 3 screws on top of dashboard, removed 4 bolts (2 ea @ LH and RH side).
Two guys then lifted the dashboard up, and the heater unit was slid out to the RH side.

The heater matrix is held in place by 2 clips held down with self tapper screws, and once that was undone, the old unit slid right out, and the new unit slid right in.
The new unit I got from the UK is an all copper construction, and well manufactured with decent solder joints.

The actual replacement was like 2 minutes, but to get there was about 3 hours labour.

Refitting was a breeze, and some 6mm hex nuts with decent flat washers was fitted in place of the stupid philips head screws use on some places.

Airbag sensor unit was refitted AFTER everything else, and now the Jimny is snug as a bug in a rug in wintertime, and the a/c unit keeps us cool in summer.

Sorry, no pics as the pictaker was kept busy with fiddling and fettling, fitting, etc.