Hi

 

Many thanks for solving an issue for me yesterday, but I have another now, not a good start so far but I am sure it will get better.

 

I got my Fabia last week, and when I took it for test drive, I checked everything and the heater was working just fine.

 

For the last couple of days I have noticed it is only blowing cold, the car temperature gauge goes to about the middle of the gauge, the water level appears correct and I have tried to clear any potential air locks, but I still don't have heat.

 

Any other suggestions or has anybody had a similar problem?

 

Thanks

 

 

Martin

 

 

 

Stuck flap motor in the distribution box, should throw a code on VCDS.

Thanks for the information, that does not sound so good, looks like I may be making a trip back to the garage I bought it from then.

 

 

Martin

Just checked again on the way to work this morning and I ran the heater on full and turned the dial a few times between hot and cold, also turned on the internal circulation and even put the air con on for a while as well.

 

The net result of this is that I can now feel some luke warm air, there is a difference now between the coldest setting and the warmest, although it is not actually hot.

 

Does this sound like some form of air lock? and if so, how do I sort this on a Fabia.

 

 

Thanks

 

 

Martin

Just checked again on the way to work this morning and I ran the heater on full and turned the dial a few times between hot and cold, also turned on the internal circulation and even put the air con on for a while as well.

The net result of this is that I can now feel some luke warm air, there is a difference now between the coldest setting and the warmest, although it is not actually hot.

Does this sound like some form of air lock? and if so, how do I sort this on a Fabia.

Thanks

Martin

How long is the journey you are making? You are giving it adequate time to warm up aren't you?

JRJG

Hi

 

My journey is about half an hour or so and I have made longer journeys and the heating just does not get hot, although it did when I test drove the car the week before.

 

I just wonder if they filled up the header tank or something causing an airlock.

 

 

Martin

Could try taking out the pollen filter and seeing if there's any crap behind it. Just don't think of it as a guaranteed 5 minute job. Can be a tad fiddly.

I had a battle with the pollen filter yesterday and it was filthy and full of crap.

 

I cleaned it all out and replaced the filter, after a long fight that is, and I think it is back properly after another go this morning as when I tried last night it was much nosier than before.

 

I also tried to check if there was an air lock, turned the fan to hot, took the cap of header tank and let it run and squeezed the pipes, bubbles were at the top of the tank, so not sure if that is a sign I am doing something right or not, but still only luke warm.

 

Having it serviced tomorrow so may ask them to have a look.

 

 

Martin

I also tried to check if there was an air lock, turned the fan to hot, took the cap of header tank and let it run and squeezed the pipes, bubbles were at the top of the tank, so not sure if that is a sign I am doing something right or not, but still only luke warm.

 

The heater doesn't work like that, it's permanently on and controlled by a motorised flap in the air distribution unit.

 

I could have sworn I already told you that!

You did sepulchrave but as the heater started giving some luke warm air it made me think it may be something simpler and maybe cheaper.

Anyway, gave the car it's first motorway run with me and I suddenly realised I was getting hot. I now have the heater back, so very pleased.

Martin

When you slow down does it get colder again by any chance...?

Not yet, but I will check tomorrow as I have a similar journey, what would that mean?

 

Thanks

That the thermostat has been removed or is faulty.

A faulty thermostat is another thing I was thinking about, I will have a look on the forum to see how easy it is to do by myself, if not, I may get it sorted tomorrow when I have it serviced, I always worry about being ripped off though, so if I can do it myself, I will.

 

Thanks for another idea though.

It's a 1 star job really, two easy to access bolts at the front of the engine.

Thanks for that then, I will get it serviced tomorrow and then find some more information about changing the thermostat myself from here to get it sorted.

 

Thanks again.

If the temperature gauge is getting up to halfway in a reasonable time, then I'd think that the thermostat is still working. In winter, I try to keep the fan off for the first mile or two, then when I switch it on the air is warmish > and getting hot. This could be back to what has been suggested already, ie the flap motors not moving to the correct position, if it works okay for a day or two then stops again, and can be sorted for another day or two by demanding HOT>COLD>HOT etc a few times, then it does point to temperature flap motor trouble.

It's really common failure on Fabia mk1 for the heater control to have a mind of it's own.

 

My Fabia has and does still suffer from this too.

 

 

The most common problem that causes this is a failed heater flap motor.  a little electric motor in a box which moves a flap to blend the amount of cold/warm air mix.  It's situated behind the dash,  accessible by removing the glove box completely and grazing all your knuckles.

 

 

The electric motor sometimes needs the vagcom device plugged in to reset the flap positions,   to allow the electric motor to identify the operating ranges.  I've found it's impossible to get the flap to work properly without using vagcom to calibrate the flaps first.....   pain in the backside if u don't have easy access to vagcom.

 

 

On my car I replaced the motor once,  but it now appears if the actual temperature dial doesn't work,  or doesn't send the corresponding position back to the motor, because we checked this on vagcom,   looking at the requested DATA versus the Actual Data given by the temp dial.

So in my case I need a new complete fascia,  which isn't cheap for a new part.

 

I'd suggest u take the car back to garage and leave it with them to resolve.   It's a very annoying niggly fault with fabias

From past experience, blockage in water pipes caused by rad seal , popped all pipes of including the small return pipe to the expansion water tank , pushed a jet washer through one end and wooosh all this brown gunk came flying out , so jetted all pipes, took the two pipes that come of the heater matrix which is located just behind the egr valve (aluminium pipes) stuck a jet through that and gave the car a detox , lots of hot air now don't forget to let all the air out the system hope this helps