When I removed the engine I saw what was inside the heating hoses coming from the engine bay, it was not beautiful. I suspected that these hoses were jammed but I had to look deeper.
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I start by disconnecting the inlet and outlet hoses, this is on the left side of the center console
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Here are the disconnected hoses, without too many damages around with the cooling liquid
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Then the radiator simply slides out like a drawer
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Here it is with its valve
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I take some pictures to remember how everything is put together
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I tried to deblock it myself but I eventually has to take it to a professional. Here is how the pro gave it back to me
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So I use some paint to make it nice again
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Then I start reassembling…
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Here is the radiator in its final location…
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… but when I start the engine I immediately see a leak between the valve and the radiator, so I removed everything again
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I replaced the valve gasket but obviously its thickness is wrong
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Here is a new gasket which should give better results
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I put the radiator back in and this time everything is ok…
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… no leak and I have heat into the car
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Here is how I organized the garage during winter…
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… both SMs were in the “workshop” section of the garage
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During this winter I also installed a (new) protective plate under the car, it was missing, as for many DS and SM