If in summer it is impossible to imagine driving without an air conditioner, then in winter it is even worse to be in a car without an interior heater. A minor malfunction can cause the entire system to fail. And a small leak from the radiator of the stove will be the reason for disassembling the entire block.
The role of the stove can hardly be overestimated; in winter it is the most important element of all car systems. On Renault Megane, as on most modern cars, the stove is made in the form of a block installed in the middle of the dashboard. The unit is equipped with an electric fan rotating at different speeds. There is also a radiator, which is included in the cooling system through a special tap connected by a pull rod to the on-off lever. Sometimes an electric motor is located on the crane, which easily opens and closes the damper.
Removing the stove is necessary in several cases. The most common breakdown is the appearance of a leak in the radiator. The second most popular is fan failure. It makes no sense to repair it, you just need to change it to a new one. The third reason, less popular, is the breakage of the baffles that control the air flow. On Renault Megan, the air can be directed to the legs of the driver with the passenger, and to the torso, and to the face. You can also turn on the air flow to the windshield to defrost it faster in winter.
Removing the stove for repair
First, disconnect the battery, as you will have to work under the dashboard, and there are a lot of wiring harnesses. From the body to the motor there are two pipes, they can be seen from below. These pipes must be pinched to restrict the access of the coolant to the stove radiator. To gain access to the lower casing of the heater, you will need to remove the cover from the hatch. In the middle there is a dashboard shield, it is fastened with latches. When removing, be careful not to damage them.
If your car has climate control or air conditioning, then the mode switch must be set to the position that corresponds to the lowest cooling temperature. Then remove the cover and carefully disconnect all air ducts coming from the stove unit. For convenience, you will need to remove the switches from the brake light and gas pedal. Move the pads with wires going to the limit switches to the side so that they do not interfere too much. When removing the heater, you will have to disconnect two pipes going from the tap to the radiator. Be careful, place a dry cloth on the floor and place a container underneath to collect the coolant.
Installing the stove
This method is good in that it is not required to completely drain the liquid from the system. Only partially, at the place of repair, namely from the heater radiator. After repairs, you need to collect everything in the reverse order of removal. The last steps are to remove the clamps from the pipes and install the battery. We'll have to add coolant and bleed the system. To do this, fully open the stove tap, fill in coolant and screw the cap on the expansion tank.
Then start the engine and let it run for 5-8 minutes. Check the system for leaks and leaks. On Renault Megan, the cooling system is of a sealed type, it works under low pressure. Air locks that may form go away on their own as the engine warms up. To be sure, you can crimp the pipes with your hands to speed up the process. And remember that it is required to replace all rubber seals when carrying out repairs, it is better not to use the old ones.
