Heater core delete.

[tired vet]

My son purchased an 02 Jetta TDI in Arizona, we live in MICHIGAN. He's moved back and now realizes he doesn't have heat. (It's winter). Asked me to help, upon opening the hood I quickly realized that the heater core had been deleted from the coolant system. I have no clue where to start to find the correct hoses and couplings to reintroduce the heater core. Any help would be great.

 

[jmodge]

If it's anything like mine, it's deleted because it leaks. However, you can go on Idparts website and find everything you need and the part numbers. Has the EGR cooler been deleted? That would make a difference what hoses are used.

 

[tired vet]

EGR cooler hasn't been deleted. Thank you for the info. At least gives me a place to start. I will flush test the core also.

 

[Vince Waldon]

The usual reason for a heater core delete is that the heater core has sprung a leak.

Not an expensive part but a lot of labour, as the A/C has to be discharged and then the entire dash has to be removed from the car to access the heater box itself.

Some say they hang the heater core on the assembly line and then build the entire car around it.

Might be worth pressuring-testing the heater core first, and then quotes on heater core replacement, if warrented... in case you decide it's cheaper to sell the car and start over.

Where I live it's a $2500-ish job.

 

[jmodge]

I would definitely put 16lbs to the core before investing in hoses. Since the cooler is there, all stock part numbers will apply.

 

[John Wesley Hardin]

My son purchased an 02 Jetta TDI in Arizona, we live in MICHIGAN. He's moved back and now realizes he doesn't have heat. (It's winter). Asked me to help, upon opening the hood I quickly realized that the heater core had been deleted from the coolant system. I have no clue where to start to find the correct hoses and couplings to reintroduce the heater core. Any help would be great.

Get a Mr. Buddy heater that runs on a one pound propane tank . put it in a metal milk crate. Set it on the passenger side floor as a temporary fix. Redneck remedy for now. out of pocket 60-80 dollars when you fix the car use the heater in your garage or deer stand

 

[jmodge]

Get a Mr. Buddy heater that runs on a one pound propane tank . put it in a metal milk crate. Set it on the passenger side floor as a temporary fix. Redneck remedy for now. out of pocket 60-80 dollars when you fix the car use the heater in your garage or deer stand

JDub, I like that idea. I have one of those, haven't used it in years. I may pull my seat and make something secure for it. Temporarily permanent, or vice versa. I'll take a pic when I'm done, now I can save that California Golf for summer months.

 

[Prairieview]

I falled down really hard on some ice the other day......hit my 'ead....and, NOW, dat John boy is starting to make real sense!!!!!

Twing-twang.

 

[csstevej]

The usual reason for a heater core delete is that the heater core has sprung a leak.

Not an expensive part but a lot of labour, as the A/C has to be discharged and then the entire dash has to be removed from the car to access the heater box itself.

Some say they hang the heater core on the assembly line and then build the entire car around it.

Might be worth pressuring-testing the heater core first, and then quotes on heater core replacement, if warrented... in case you decide it's cheaper to sell the car and start over.

Where I live it's a $2500-ish job.

You don’t have to pull the hvac box or need to discharge the a/c system.
I’ve done two so far and now working on my third one as my DD with 350,xxx miles decided to completely fog up the windshield.
You need to remove the four nuts holding the hvac box , loosen what clamps that hold lines to the expansion valve.
Loosen the crash bar and everything else that’s required to give acess to the hvac box.
When everything is loose you can pry the box aft and get enough clearance to remove the heater core and install a new one. Then reassemble.
Last one took me 11 hrs from start to finish in my neighbors barn during an ice storm.

 

[Sting]

Sooooo... seeing this post, I have questions.

My car is a 2003 Jetta Wagon. I have not had any problems (touching wood etc )... Coolant has been changed regularly with timing belt andwater pump changes. I also run the heat all times of the year, even for just a few minutes to keep the coolant etc fresh inside. I did this with my '86 BMW E30, and the only problem I ever had with it was a pinhole in the inlet pipe after 33 years.

Anything extra I can do to keep it going/preventative maintenance? Never seen any foam getting blown out in 4 years either.

It seems to work very well, even since my AC compressor got removed a couple of years ago after seizing (so I know I have no need to discharge it)... Is there a decent write up or video for this? I'm just curious in the event I might need to.

 

[oilhammer]

The coolant is always flowing through the core, regardless of where the temp knob is turned.

I can count on one hand how many failed heater cores on A4 cars I've run across, but foam coming off doors is probably in the hundreds.

Used to just replace the HVAC box, but they've jumped up in price significantly in the last couple years (as in, more than doubled). So now it becomes a case of taking it apart and rebuilding it. I'm in the process of doing one now, so that the next one I do I'll have one ready.

 

[Sting]

The coolant is always flowing through the core, regardless of where the temp knob is turned.

I can count on one hand how many failed heater cores on A4 cars I've run across, but foam coming off doors is probably in the hundreds.

Used to just replace the HVAC box, but they've jumped up in price significantly in the last couple years (as in, more than doubled). So now it becomes a case of taking it apart and rebuilding it. I'm in the process of doing one now, so that the next one I do I'll have one ready.

Thank you! So, with the rebuild... I started watching a couple of videos about the doors... is is that pretty much just using aluminum tape on the doors to cover up the holes?

 

[oilhammer]

I use a peel-n-stick black foam from the craft store. More akin to what they had originally, keeps everything nice and quiet inside.

 

[Sting]

I use a peel-n-stick black foam from the craft store. More akin to what they had originally, keeps everything nice and quiet inside.

I watched a couple videos... seems everyone else is using the aluminum tape. So far, not an issue for me, unless it had been previously dealt with before my ownership.

The coolant is always flowing through the core, regardless of where the temp knob is turned.

I've always had the impression something kept it from going through. I always keep my heat off during warm up and it's always been faster with it off than turned up. So what is keeping the core from warming up?

 

[oilhammer]

There are no valves or anything associated with the heater flow through the core. The flow to the core comes out the end of the head (the hot part), through the EGR cooler, then into the heater core. As soon as you start the engine, the coolant is flowing through that circuit. When (if) the coolant gets hot enough, the thermostat will open and let coolant flow through the radiator.

These cars use a fairly common layout for HVAC design, although there are some cars that do use some sort of valve to limit coolant flow through the core. These don't. And the ones that do, often just shut the flow off when the temp knob is turned to full COLD, to help make the A/C work better on really hot days, by not allowing hot coolant to enter the cabin at all.

 

[jayb79]

My simple heater core fix was done about 12 years ago. I removed the o-ring from the coolant reservoir and the system doesn't build any pressure, no more foggy windshield. This will only work on a stock power setup, although I have upgraded to larger injectors about 9 years ago and never had a problem as long as the fuel request stays stock (no Every mod allowed).

 

[turbocharged798]

The coolant is always flowing through the core, regardless of where the temp knob is turned.

I can count on one hand how many failed heater cores on A4 cars I've run across, but foam coming off doors is probably in the hundreds.

Used to just replace the HVAC box, but they've jumped up in price significantly in the last couple years (as in, more than doubled). So now it becomes a case of taking it apart and rebuilding it. I'm in the process of doing one now, so that the next one I do I'll have one ready.

IDK heater core failures seem to be rampant around here. They always leak at the seam where the plastic end cap is crimped onto the finned part.

I usually just use metal HVAC tape to replace the foam. Dunno if it effects the noise but stuff is pretty durable.

 

[John Wesley Hardin]

JDub, I like that idea. I have one of those, haven't used it in years. I may pull my seat and make something secure for it. Temporarily permanent, or vice versa. I'll take a pic when I'm done, now I can save that California Golf for summer months.

Those things are great . Its portable heat you can take anywhere. You can do a multitude of things with those . Even run them on a 20lb propane tank. You have to look on youtube for all the benefits. They have a high and low detent , or fixed position for heat. To conserve fuel take the knob out of the fixed position and turn it down a little. Look on youtube

I falled down really hard on some ice the other day......hit my 'ead....and, NOW, dat John boy is starting to make real sense!!!!!

Twing-twang.

I shore do appreciate yo ability to recognize talent there Praire Poo glad I could help!

 

[ZippyNH]

Those things are great . Its portable heat you can take anywhere. You can do a multitude of things with those . Even run them on a 20lb propane tank. You have to look on youtube for all the benefits. They have a high and low detent , or fixed position for heat. To conserve fuel take the knob out of the fixed position and turn it down a little. Look on youtube

I shore do appreciate yo ability to recognize talent there Praire Poo glad I could help!

No reason to use propane...
Just plumb up a heater core and an extra fan just like an aftermarket AC system....
Could probably use one from a classic car place as it's prebuilt.... typically hung under the pax dashboard.
Might want to plumb up a bypass or on/off valve to adjust the heat output....
Like I said, no need to introduce the danger of propane or the moisture it makes as it burns.... can't even imagine how bad the windows would get with ice on the inside freezing from condensation after every drive....you would be SCRAPING the insides before ever drive after the headliners and seats got damp too

 

[ninedee_golf_tdi]

I've used the plastic plugs pushed and glued into the door holes. I haven't heard any complaints.

 

[csstevej]

Yeah I have 3 kits left that I got from Brian ( Alpha senior ) before he passed…..
They work great.