Heat Only on Driver Side - clogged heater core

[ABS]

Wow! I agree 100% I hope someone can get their hands on a clogged heater core. When I requested mine, the service adviser told me that VW is requesting any with this issue be sent back to their lab for evaluation. they did let me look at it, and I tried to blow through it, but like I said on an earlier post, it was like blowing through a cocktail straw. in addition the heater core on these cars is tiny, compared to others I have replaced on "older" cars. Admittedly I haven't replaced one since my old Ford Bronco days, but still I was amazed at how compact this core is. Anyway, hopefully after they've "evaluated" enough of these, they'll discontinue the "return to lab" protocol and someone may be able to get their hands on one.

 

[sdeck]

Heat transfer is limited by surface area and temperature differential. My guess is the old ones were big because the passages were wide (probably to permit passage of casting debris). The new heater cores must have the same-ish surface area, therefore thinner passages to get more of them into the smaller footprint = same surface area. smaller passages = more clogging. (Maybe dump some Lipitor in the coolant reservoir) Of course this is all logical guessing and estimation, but you get the idea.

 

[titleist1]

Both mirrors responding to the driver's side function is a setting in the MFI under SETTINGS>CONVENIENCE>MIRRORS. I find it quite handy.

Remember that this setting is stored PER KEY, so be sure to check both keys. Settings are recalled based on which key unlocks the car.

Thanks for this mirror control heads up, i will definitely check this out.

I had it at the dealer today and they confirmed the heater core issue but the parts are on backorder because the issue has been widespread (their words). I am at 35k so still within the warranty so no issue there. They were not sure when the parts would be in but have todays mileage documented so even if I am over 36k there will be no issue. I noticed the parts description on the write up included an actuator along with the core being ordered.

I hadn't read the above response regarding the mirror control in the mfi so the dealer still had that on their list to check and they made no mention of the mfi control and also have a mirror control switch on back order. I will see if the mfi setting fixes it and let them know not to order the switch if it does.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I would find it very unlikely that any dealership is actually familiar with the MFI settings. My guess is that they'll replace the mirror controller and nothing will change.

 

[titleist1]

MFI mirror setting checked out and it has now been adjusted to 'individual'. Thanks for the heads up. I didn't even think to look for something like that in the owners manual. And I do read through the manual for things when i can't figure them out - like to see if I was missing some control for the heater issue.

Thats one bad part about getting old and not changing the settings on the mfi screens after the first week of owning the car. if i browsed through that setting when the car was new i certainly forgot that control was there. The battery went dead a couple months ago, I wonder if that reset it it to 'both' somehow when it charged back up because i have adjusted both mirrors since the first week of owning it without noticing the issue.

Actually i am surprised the dealership didn't know to check for that before ordering a new switch. With all the PHD (Press Here Dummy) checklists for support and service you'd think that would be high on the list of troubleshooting steps before they got to the 'order a new switch' step. Certainly if they tested the switch they would have seen it was functioning correctly. I called to let them know not to order the switch and the customer service person seemed surprised the service tech didn't pick up on that config setting. Not a big deal to me either way.

 

[Not_Agn]

Not saying the dealer didn't replace my heater core the first time, but it sounds fishy to have vw tell them to put yet a 2nd heater core in? I couldn't have put 50 miles on it? New heater core plugged already?

 

[sdeck]

The issue could be either debris or manufacturing issues. Maybe some of the original cores were simply made too narrow either by accident or poor design. That could certainly show up in 50 miles.

 

[Not_Agn]

If it's plugged again in 50 miles they had better refund my $228 coolant flush!

 

[Steve93015]

My car is a 2012, with 88,000 miles on it. Should I feel lucky that my heater core didn't fail sooner? I don't think I'll feel lucky trying to have VW pick up the cost of this repair.

 

[Not_Agn]

Got another call from the dealer. Heater core is forecasted for Feb 10. Keeping loaner car.

 

[Cincy_TDI]

My heat is holding strong, so far. I checked VCDS and have a flapper valve error. The one behind the glove box. Hopefully my core holds out.

Wonder how bad it is to replace on my own if needed.. I am over 40k so out of warranty...

 

[tdiatlast]

I don't recall reading here how serious the R&R of the heater core is. How many hours labor?
Thanks.

 

[dogger37]

My car is still at the dealer but they estimated the repair time at 8-10 hours! Waiting on the parts they are supposed to arrive Friday

 

[Cincy_TDI]

Sounds like you have to pull the entire dash to get to it if it takes that long...

 

[tdiatlast]

Haven't I seen labor ranging from $550-$800? That's not 8-10 hours.

 

[Not_Agn]

Just got my car back tonight. All is working well now. This time they replaced the heater core as well as the egr cooler. So I'm guessing the egr cooler was blocked up some?

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Just got my car back tonight. All is working well now. This time they replaced the heater core as well as the egr cooler. So I'm guessing the egr cooler was blocked up some?

If the heater core is clogging, then I would suspect that the EGR cooler and oil cooler are also clogging.

 

[Not_Agn]

I guess they wouldn't have checked into anything any further then they had to? So That will be next?

 

[dogger37]

Still don't have the car back. Heater cores are not due to the states until the 3rd week of February.

IF it turns out the EGR cooler and oil cooler are also clogged this repair will be in the thousands out of warranty and could very well be the final straw......

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I guess they wouldn't have checked into anything any further then they had to? So That will be next?

That's what I'm thinking, unfortunately.

 

[Not_Agn]

Car is going down the road. Listing for sale tomorrow.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I have a coolant filter that I never installed on my 6.0. I guess I'll have to dig it out of the shed and install it in the Passat.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Another thought here is that perhaps VW's current coolant formulation is a bit off, and the coolant is gelling up or getting thick, or perhaps precipitating out deposits that get clogged in the narrow parts of the system.

It sure would be nice to have a look inside one of these heater cores!

 

[Not_Agn]

Didn't GM's dexcool do that when it first came out?

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Didn't GM's dexcool do that when it first came out?

It sure did!

 

[ddg520]

I have a blend door issue on passenger side. Getting heat on driver side but not passenger. The sensor is bad and cost $18 and they want $80 to install it. Is it DYI?

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I have a blend door issue on passenger side. Getting heat on driver side but not passenger. The sensor is bad and cost $18 and they want $80 to install it. Is it DYI?

If you are a skilled contortionist, yes.

 

[ddg520]

dang vw engineering

Damn, so the sensor is up in the vent tunnel. Ugh I really hate paying the labor fee but losing my sensor in the tunnel and getting my arm stuck aren't options :-/

 

[phat02jetta]

Got mine back a week ago, heat worked fine for about 5 days until the linkage to the blend door popped off. The dealer fixed it the same day.

I'm at 46k and VW helped with some of the repairs that were needed:
They covered the heater core in full ($800 total)
They covered half the cost of the drivers turn signal in the mirror (LED's burned out) and half of the drivers door latch assy. ($600 total)
They covered the parts only for the blower motor intake modification to keep it from freezing up when I drive in heavy snow. ($100 parts & $200 labor for 2 hours to install it)

So I ended up owing $500 all said.

I'm hoping I'm done for a while!

 

[D-Cell_Mekanick]

The dealer changed my heater core on Friday. Seems better now.