Aux heater only working on level 10

[smurfo]

I haven't tested the aux heater since I got the 2nd hand T6.1 Coast and was camping this weekend and wanted to heat up a little inside overnight. Found out that the continuous heating only works on level 10 - and it gets super hot inside in a while and it does not seem to turn off unless you manually deactivate it. So naturally, tried levels 1 to 9 - but all of them just blow cold air. Any idea what I should be checking? Does the warranty cover this?

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I haven't tested the aux heater since I got the 2nd hand T6.1 Coast and was camping this weekend and wanted to heat up a little inside overnight. Found out that the continuous heating only works on level 10 - and it gets super hot inside in a while and it does not seem to turn off unless you manually deactivate it. So naturally, tried levels 1 to 9 - but all of them just blow cold air. Any idea what I should be checking? Does the warranty cover this?

I am wondering if you understand the controls fully? This is a good guide:

For example does neither the heat immediately and heater continuously work as expected?

 

[smurfo]

I am not confused about the controls. Heat continuosly function on level 3 or 4 should (within reasonable time frame) start to blow warm air from the B pillar and turn off once it reaches the desired temperature so I could use it overnight. It does not. It only blows cold air. The only time the heat continously function blows hot (super hot) air is at level 10. Levels 1 to 9 do not produce any warm air. I would assume this is not how it is suppossed to work..

 

[smurfo]

Allright, GPT suggest I need to visit VW, will report back once they have a look at it:

• At levels 1–9 the heater isn’t igniting, only the fan runs.
• That usually means either a combustion/heater fault (glow plug, metering pump, carbon build-up) or a sensor/control issue.
• The next step is to scan the heater control unit for fault codes and, if necessary, have the heater serviced or updated by VW or a Webasto specialist.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I am not confused about the controls. Heat continuosly function on level 3 or 4 should (within reasonable time frame) start to blow warm air from the B pillar and turn off once it reaches the desired temperature so I could use it overnight. It does not. It only blows cold air. The only time the heat continously function blows hot (super hot) air is at level 10. Levels 1 to 9 do not produce any warm air. I would assume this is not how it is suppossed to work..

Fair enough, I certainly was at least initially confused by the controls.

The other point is that the manufacturers of the heater advise running it for an hour every month - perhaps because inactivity can cause the problems you now have?

 

[smurfo]

Fair enough, I certainly was at least initially confused by the controls.

The other point is that the manufacturers of the heater advise running it for an hour every month - perhaps because inactivity can cause the problems you now have?

Might indeed be part of the problem. I also got some indications to check fuses and the intake for blockage, but that does not make much sense to me as it actually works, but would not be the first time something contra-intuitive would fix an issue, so will try and check that too.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Might indeed be part of the problem. I also got some indications to check fuses and the intake for blockage, but that does not make much sense to me as it actually works, but would not be the first time something contra-intuitive would fix an issue, so will try and check that too.

Hope that gets resolved for you @smurfo. The auxiliary heater is such a brilliant accessory. I recently started to use ‘ventilation’ mode on the van as well, which I had assumed was supplied from the same unit (excluding the heat) but although activated via the same controls it functions via the van’s separate dashboard fans.

 

[smurfo]

Hope that gets resolved for you @smurfo. The auxiliary heater is such a brilliant accessory. I recently started to use ‘ventilation’ mode on the van as well, which I had assumed was the same unit without heat but although activated via the same controls it functions via the van’s separate dashboard fans.

Yep, used it during the summer. Its a nice functionality - a little dissapointing it does not use the rear fans too as that is where you actually sleep and would be nice to have a breeze there as otherwise the air is just a little heavy and I have to sporadically vent via opening the side door (which beeps when closing even in camping mode - so not the best options and wakes up the kids).

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Yep, used it during the summer. Its a nice functionality - a little dissapointing it does not use the rear fans too as that is where you actually sleep and would be nice to have a breeze there as otherwise the air is just a little heavy and I have to sporadically vent via opening the side door (which beeps when closing even in camping mode - so not the best options and wakes up the kids).

The ‘beeping’ electronic side door seems a real pain, from other posts (I don’t have that), I find it surprising there is not a Carista type fix for that.

 

[WelshGas]

Yep, used it during the summer. Its a nice functionality - a little dissapointing it does not use the rear fans too as that is where you actually sleep and would be nice to have a breeze there as otherwise the air is just a little heavy and I have to sporadically vent via opening the side door (which beeps when closing even in camping mode - so not the best options and wakes up the kids).

Switch to Manual Mode?

 

[smurfo]

Switch to Manual Mode?

yea. i have been doing that but its heavy af. decided a usb fan and tailgate support are a better option. Although the tailgate support does not work as intended on Cali (cant close the door) the air flow overnight is pretty good.