05PassatTDI
Veteran Member
I also noticed the smell the 1st time I used the heat. Here's my saga at the dealership:
- 1st visit: noticed the smell and claimed it was from the factory windshield washer fluid so they changed the fluid. They also said they pressure tested the coolant system and there was no loss of pressure
- 2nd visit: was told that "there is nothing else that can be done but keep on driving the vehicle" until the 1st maintenance and they will look at it again (this meant I would have to smell this for the whole winter). I then asked for the service manager and drove him around for 20 minutes so he could experience this smell himself. After that, the service manager asked me to leave the car with him and he would call VW Canada for recommendation. Well, VW Canada recommended taking the dashboard apart and inspect the heater core.
- 3rd visit (because they had to order a spare heater core): they found a small leak and and replaced the heater core. The heat smells good/normal now. It appears the "worst for wears" are greasy fingerprints and creasy spots from the mechanic's uniform on my new beige leather seats
I used some leather cleaner/conditioner to scrub it and it appeared to come off last night.
- 4th visit (in the near future): the steering angle sensor for the ESP was damaged through the process and needs to be replaced (part on order) so I am driving around without ESP but that should not be a problem...
I thought I would post this just in case someone gets a "we pressure tested the coolant system and found no leak" response from a dealership
- 1st visit: noticed the smell and claimed it was from the factory windshield washer fluid so they changed the fluid. They also said they pressure tested the coolant system and there was no loss of pressure
- 2nd visit: was told that "there is nothing else that can be done but keep on driving the vehicle" until the 1st maintenance and they will look at it again (this meant I would have to smell this for the whole winter). I then asked for the service manager and drove him around for 20 minutes so he could experience this smell himself. After that, the service manager asked me to leave the car with him and he would call VW Canada for recommendation. Well, VW Canada recommended taking the dashboard apart and inspect the heater core.
- 3rd visit (because they had to order a spare heater core): they found a small leak and and replaced the heater core. The heat smells good/normal now. It appears the "worst for wears" are greasy fingerprints and creasy spots from the mechanic's uniform on my new beige leather seats
- 4th visit (in the near future): the steering angle sensor for the ESP was damaged through the process and needs to be replaced (part on order) so I am driving around without ESP but that should not be a problem...
I thought I would post this just in case someone gets a "we pressure tested the coolant system and found no leak" response from a dealership