2010 Golf TDI - Auxiliary heater?

[egibbs]

Hi, been reading about the aux heater some TDIs have, but I can't seem to make it work on my 2010 Golf - do the Golfs have it, or is it only Jettas? I turned the fan and temp up to max, put the vent selector on defrost, turned on the heated seats and rear defroster, but the air still blows cold and the ice doesn't melt. And yes, this post is related to the fact that it is currently 18 degrees with 40 Mph winds blowing snow and I have to leave for work at 6 AM tomorrow...:-O

 

[jnecr]

Maybe somebody can move this to the MKVI forum instead of the Picture forum?

So, I doubted heavily that there was an auxiliary heater in my Golf, but now that it's cold I believe there is. My old Jetta wouldn't put out warm air until about 15 minutes of driving. The Golf will put out luke warm air almost as soon as I start driving.

I've read on here somewhere that it will only turn on if the engine speed is above 1200RPM. I'm not sure if that's the exact number but it's certainly close. The heater won't come on at idle from my experience, you actually have to be driving. Of course, that doesn't help you if you have ice on your windshield... Try keeping the revs up around 1300-1400 while you try defrosting and see if that helps. Also, don't turn the air on full blast, I found putting the fan on "2" brings luke warm air, anything over that it's too much air over the heat exchanger to really get the air hot...

 

[ptherock]

just throwing this out there, but, you wouldnt happen to be eric gibbs from hillsborough nj would you?

 

[Joe_Meehan]

Do you mean other than the coolant glow plugs?

 

[danham]

The other tip that can help is put the heating system on recirc so it isn't taking big gulps of cold outside air and trying to heat those. I got lukewarm air within 3-5 minutes at 14F.

-dan

 

[coppertop666]

Yea keeping the rpm above 1200 and putting the system in recirculation seems to make it work a little better IMO. It will not be enough heat to melt any ice on the windshield though - just good for taking the edge off before the car warms up enough to get real heat

 

[Pelican18TQA4]

The aux heater, which is found in all U.S. '09-'10 TDIs, won't defrost a windshield, but it will help to defrost a human! The temp knob doesn't have to be cranked all the way to 80, by the way. I too would recommend no more than 2 on the fan speed because, as someone posted previously, anything higher and the air isn't exposed to the heater element long enough to warm up. Not sure about the '10 cars, but on the '09 Jettas, you can hear the relay clicking on/off. I think the heater does work at idle, but only if the vehicle electrical load allows it. I know that I've had lukewarm air coming out of the vents before I've even backed out of my driveway and I only let the engine idle for maybe 30-60 seconds at most before driving off.

 

[coppertop666]

it does work at idle like you stated but cycles on and off (hear the relay clicking from the dash like your 09) so it doesnt seem to be as warm as it is above 1200 rpm where I think it no longer cycles. I should have stated that in my previous post

 

[jnecr]

Yeah, I can hear the relay clicking in my Golf as well...

 

[egibbs]

just throwing this out there, but, you wouldnt happen to be eric gibbs from hillsborough nj would you?

Nope - Ed Gibbs from West Milford NJ.

 

[ptherock]

i didn't think so, as the person i asked about isn't the kind of person to be buying a new car, but i figured it wouldn't hurt!

 

[jayb79]

How can i tell if this is in my 2010 wagon? Is there a giant fuse somewere?

 

[aenea]

It has a giant 100 amp fuse in the engine compartment fuse box.

How can i tell if this is in my 2010 wagon? Is there a giant fuse somewere?

 

[S_Sanders]

If you set the system on defrost, make sure the A/C does not come on before the engine gets warm! The last thing you want to do is cool the air.

 

[40X40]

If you set the system on defrost, make sure the A/C does not come on before the engine gets warm! The last thing you want to do is cool the air.

RTFM. The AC does not come on just because you select the defrost setting in these cars.

Bill

 

[jnecr]

RTFM. The AC does not come on just because you select the defrost setting in these cars.

Bill

Yes, it does.

 

[danham]

Yes, it does.

Not really.

Turn the knob to defrost and the AC light comes on. But if it is cold enough out to need the aux heating element (around 39F or less IIRC), the compressor does not kick in.

I've found that you can turn the knob to about 11 o'clock and get defroster action without tripping the light, BTW.

-dan

 

[jnecr]

Yeah, anywhere but directly on the Defrost will not trigger the light.

I've never left the light on long enough to figure out if the compressor actually cycled on. I just assumed it would, I'll have to check that out...

 

[Pelican18TQA4]

If the ambient temp is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the A/C compressor will not come on. This is not new and VWs/Audis have been this way for a long time now. Yes, the A/C light will come on when you select the windshield position on the HVAC controls, but the A/C won't actually be on unless the temp is 40 degrees F or above. Of note, earlier MkV's did not automatically activate the A/C with the windshield position selected. Not sure when VW changed the behavior, but I know that the two '07 MkV's that I regularly encounter do not behave this way.

 

[danham]

Most car AC systems have an interlock to prevent the compressor from engaging if the ambient air temp is too low. Running the compressor at low outside temps can cause ice to form and in extreme cases destroy the compressor, and they ain't cheap to replace.

-dan

 

[FOG]

Most car AC systems have an interlock to prevent the compressor from engaging if the ambient air temp is too low. Running the compressor at low outside temps can cause ice to form and in extreme cases destroy the compressor, and they ain't cheap to replace.

-dan

Danham, Its not a interlock its a deicing switch in the evap. or a low press switch on the low side of the sys.. This keeps the evap. from iceing up when its hot with high humidity. The switchs keep the compressor from comming on when its cold but if you have the heat on and the rec. on and a/c on too the compressor will come on even if its 0 out.
Walt

 

[danham]

Good point that "interlock" is the wrong term for it -- I oversimplfiied.

But are you sure about the compressor coming on at zero? I've looked at the clutch under cold conditions and it is not engaged. And what does recirc have to do with it?

Thanks,

-dan

 

[FOG]

Good point that "interlock" is the wrong term for it -- I oversimplfiied.

But are you sure about the compressor coming on at zero? I've looked at the clutch under cold conditions and it is not engaged. And what does recirc have to do with it?
Thanks,
-dan

Dan, If the sys. has a deicing switch in the evap. and the recirc. is on the heat/ac box in the car get hot and the switch will close and turn on the ac comp. This is the way the sys. works in the Dif. mode is on Auto. or Mamual Heat/AC. Manual you have to turn on the AC and the recirc.. Auto sys., just the recirc. With recirc. on the air in the car gos into the evap. 1st and then into the heater core and out the Def. vents.

If the sys. has a low presser switch it will take long but it can close the switch.

The deicing switch will open at or below 35F +/- 2des. and low presser switch will open at below 35lbs. psi. +/- 2lbs.. R-134a or the old R-12 on the low side, The temp. and psi. are about the same.
As you can see the the hot air in the car will close the switchs. The presser switch just takes longer.
Walt