Hello.

Just recently a chattering noise suddenly developed, which appears to be coming from somewhere behind the left side to middle of the dashboard/facia panel.  It just sounds like something is loose or has come adrift.   As a precaution I've had they car safety checked to ensure everything is Ok with the suspension/steering  and exhaust system.  Nothing found.   Also, I've noticed that when I get in the car this cold weather, and since this chattering noise started, the windows are not demisting properly, when the aircon is set on Auto  (normally they demist very quickly), and I can't feel much blow coming from the facia air vents.   I therefore have to use the blower on manual settings to demist.   So, could anyone please give me any info as to how to remove the facia panel, so I can have a look behind.

 

Many thanks, George.

 

Not sure what the chattering is, but the cooling side of the air con won't work if the air temperature is below (I believe) 5C. Reason is that the condensation collection tray could ice up.

The best thing you could do is get a look at the car with VCDS diagnostics (or get someone who knows how to drive it to have a look).  There are quite a few servo motors which control the various flap motors.  When they fail they seem to lose the ability to set to a reliable position - so the noise you hear is the servo hunting forward and backward.  It sounds like you might have one of those failing.

 

If the motor is really struggling it will throw a fault, but it might be just about working and just taking forever, and in that case you need to use the "measuring blocks" in VCDS for the climate control to see which motor is hunting.

 

You basically find the measuring block for each motor (they are labelled onscreen) and set each manual position and watch the values - it shows you the requested value and the actual.  If the actual keeps hunting either side and never settles down properly then that motor is having trouble.  You can try resetting the motor positions by doing "basic settings" - this makes them go through their whole range and try to calibrate.  It can help sometimes.

 

The V85 flap had gone on my car, but that is more driver's footwell area:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/292789-footwelldefroster-flap-positioning-motor-v85-where-is-it/?p=3510486

 

There are a few on the passenger side - one on top of the gear tunnel I believe is temperature control, and the others are very hard to get to.

 

But as i say, best to have a look with VCDS as they are all quite tricky to change and not something you want to go into blind.

Edited 24 January, 201412 yr by jimbof