Heater problem, in winter as expected.

symoan

Active Member
May 19, 2017
5
0
Seem to be having a problem with my heater in the car. Engine gets upto temperature fine and stays at about 90. But the heaters only blow mildly warm air when on "hi". I've removed the thermostat to make sure it works and it does, also bled the coolant system. Any suggestions on what I should try next? Its not ideal now we're getting into winter.


Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
Maybe check that the pollen filter is not choked and also check that the shutter/flap that directs the air through the heater matrix (radiator) is moving fully to its correct position.

Does that car have Auto or Manual AC?
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
One thing to the OP, you have had the thermostat out, is that a 1.2 16V petrol engine, if so, getting the air out of that cooling system can be very tricky, I think that the common way to do that is to remove the ECT sensor and continue to pour in coolant until the liquid runs out that hole free of bubbles then while still pouring liquid in refit that sensor.

I have been there done that on the later version of that 1.4 16 Petrol engine in a late 2009 Ibiza!
 

symoan

Active Member
May 19, 2017
5
0
Cheers for the quick responses guys. Its a 1.9tdi model.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

R3k1355

Active Member
Oct 30, 2014
1,778
247
Yorkshire
Have you read live data to check what temperature the ECU is seeing?

My thermostat went, dash gauge read 90 but actually the engine was barely making 60 deg.
Dash gauge has such a huge dead zone you'd never know.
 

symoan

Active Member
May 19, 2017
5
0
Yeah, checked the live data. Seems to be reading the same as the gauge. Going to replace the thermostat tomorrow, see if that cures it.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

symoan

Active Member
May 19, 2017
5
0
Maybe check that the pollen filter is not choked and also check that the shutter/flap that directs the air through the heater matrix (radiator) is moving fully to its correct position.

Does that car have Auto or Manual AC?
How do I check the pollen filter? It has climate control, not the little twisty knobs like an old car has.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
Cheers for the quick responses guys. Its a 1.9tdi model.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

I could be wrong, but I think your reply, at least the engine type, blows my bleeding air idea out of the water - sorry!

Edit:- an unintentional pun there, sorry!
 
Last edited:

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
How do I check the pollen filter? It has climate control, not the little twisty knobs like an old car has.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

In the front end of the passenger foot well, a ribbed cover maybe 12" by 2" , it is released by sliding two clamps towards the centre of the cover, the cover in these cars, I seem to remember runs across the foot well - if you are lucky and have a flexible trim cover under the glove box, you will need to remove that first, my wife's Sept 2002 Polo , bought new, did not have trim there!
 

symoan

Active Member
May 19, 2017
5
0
So confused here, replaced the thermostat and still have the same problem. With the thermostat out, I let the engine temp get upto 90 and I only get warm air, I know the flap is moving as i can hear it and you can feel a change in temperature slightly. I've bled the system, and left the cap off for half an hour whilst running to remove all the air. When i feel the hoses going into the matrix one is hot and the other is only luke warm......hhhhheeeeellllpppppp

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

mgrays

Active Member
Dec 9, 2006
371
18
Aberdeen
Is there not an issue on the thermocouple at the top of the heater pack in the dash going wrong on these cars? I am sure that about 5 years ago my heating became less efficient. So it now is set to 24C to achieve 20C. There was a posting about pulling the top thermocouple but having to break it to get it out.. so the poster could not confirm it was the problem but it was the solution! This thermocouple sets the room temperature and I suspect is off in my car..

I would get car up to temp (hard on a diesel in this weather!) and then feel the coolant hoses as they go through the bulkhead in the engine compartment. If they are flowing heat then it is an issue for the heater control system as it permanently flows heat through the heater matrix. So then make sure flaps moving. I did have one car where the controls became bent so that the flap did not full close off the cold air so it could not get up to the full heating output.

When doing the pollen filter put a sheet of newspaper under it as a lot of leaves/sticks/dust etc fall out onto your cleanish floor!
 
Progressive Parts, performance parts and tuning specialists