One Month and counting with my Golf

[immtx]

My Golf finally hit 1000 miles Saturday night, so far I am loving it. I especially love having a sun roof which is the one feature that I have always wanted in a car. It has been great to drive, love the heated seats and Kessy. The only problem that I have been having is with my heater, when you first turn it on is won't blow hot air, you have to turn the to the temp dial up and back down before it will start blowing hot air, I plan on taking her to the dealership next weekend to get it checked out. So far no cons other than the problem with the heater. I only wish we would get some snow and ice so I can learn how it will handle in those conditions.

[Conrad -JSW]

That doesn't sound like a problem with the heater, sounds normal to me.

Be careful what you wish for with the snow and ice!

[rhino1829]

As Conrad said, that sounds normal with the heater. Here in PA, it's been somewhat cold (not the cold winter temps we usually have) and it does take a little bit to start pumping heat out. I find that if you turn the temp all the way to high until the engine comes up to temp, this helps with the situation. Also the aux heater strip in the dash vents should get some heat out before the engine comes to temp. As for the snow and ice, definitely be careful for what you wish for. Had a nice little snow storm here a few weeks ago...about 4 inches, and the car handled well...just have to take your time. Have just over 2200 on mine since December! Hows your mileage so far? I'm seeing around 41 - 42 mpg with a mix of stop and go in town and some highway.

[whiplash willy]

Does this happen when the car is up to temp, or only when it is cold. Diesels take a bit longer to come up to temp then gassers.

[xeno555]

The fluid is bypassed from the heater core until the temperature switch is adjusted. I think the reason is so that the fresh air vent can supply unheated air.

[amstel78]

Originally Posted by rhino1829

As Conrad said, that sounds normal with the heater. Here in PA, it's been somewhat cold (not the cold winter temps we usually have) and it does take a little bit to start pumping heat out. I find that if you turn the temp all the way to high until the engine comes up to temp, this helps with the situation. Also the aux heater strip in the dash vents should get some heat out before the engine comes to temp. As for the snow and ice, definitely be careful for what you wish for. Had a nice little snow storm here a few weeks ago...about 4 inches, and the car handled well...just have to take your time. Have just over 2200 on mine since December! Hows your mileage so far? I'm seeing around 41 - 42 mpg with a mix of stop and go in town and some highway.

Tell me more about the auxiliary heater strip? I didn't know my TDI came with an ancillary heater. And it's been cold in NEPA and it does take a while for the hot air to start blowing.

[immtx]

It happens even when the engine is at temp. I asked my step dad about it he has a 2012 passast TDI and a 2010 Jetta TDI even he thinks that there is something wrong with the heater. As for mileage I have been seeing around 36 during the week and around 40 on the weekend. During the week I experience more stop and go traffic than on my way home, than on my way home.

[chittychittybangbang]

Originally Posted by amstel78

Tell me more about the auxiliary heater strip? I didn't know my TDI came with an ancillary heater. And it's been cold in NEPA and it does take a while for the hot air to start blowing.

If climate control is not on econ mode and it's cold enough, an electric heater will come on. It's pretty weak so don't expect warm air, just not frigid air.

[speedracer1407]

Originally Posted by chittychittybangbang

If climate control is not on econ mode and it's cold enough, an electric heater will come on. It's pretty weak so don't expect warm air, just not frigid air.

Not in my experience! And the process to activating the auxiliary heater is very specific.

Turn the temperature all the way up and set the vent position to "face" because there doesn't seem to be any electric aux heating elements in the floor vent. Set the fan speed to "1." Yep, it'll blow chilly air for about 30 seconds, but after that, it warms up quick, and gets quite toasty within a just a couple minutes.

This is especially noticeable on frigid days after a cold start, which is almost always the case here in Chicago (this weird mild winter not withstanding), as the main heater core takes ages to warm up.

A typical cold-start trip on a really cold day has my upper vents blowing very warm air on my hands by the time I get to Lake Shore Drive (less than a mile away), while the engine doesn't come up to temperature for another 10 minutes. Once the engine is warm, I switch to the floor vents or a mix.

I went almost all of last winter not even knowing of this feature, and it makes a really big difference.

[amstel78]

Originally Posted by speedracer1407

Not in my experience! And the process to activating the auxiliary heater is very specific.

Turn the temperature all the way up and set the vent position to "face" because there doesn't seem to be any electric aux heating elements in the floor vent. Set the fan speed to "1." Yep, it'll blow chilly air for about 30 seconds, but after that, it warms up quick, and gets quite toasty within a just a couple minutes.

This is especially noticeable on frigid days after a cold start, which is almost always the case here in Chicago (this weird mild winter not withstanding), as the main heater core takes ages to warm up.

A typical cold-start trip on a really cold day has my upper vents blowing very warm air on my hands by the time I get to Lake Shore Drive (less than a mile away), while the engine doesn't come up to temperature for another 10 minutes. Once the engine is warm, I switch to the floor vents or a mix.

I went almost all of last winter not even knowing of this feature, and it makes a really big difference.

I did that this morning as soon as I started the car and left the house. Lo and behold, after a few seconds, warm air started to come out of the dash vents.

I've read however that the heater relay makes a clicking noise when turning on and off; I heard no such noise. Does yours make a clicking noise?