Low Engine Temperature Issue

[Alhambra]

1. From a 10 deg C "cold start" it takes 10 or 12 miles for the temp gauge of my wifes Alhambra to rise above the lowest display... 50 deg C

 

takes another 10 or so miles to reach a ma xof 70, but most times sits on 60.... as a result the heaters are very poor at producing heat. Its a 1.9 TDi, Seat Alhambra.

 

I assume the engines coolant thermostat need replacing?

 

I have found what i think is it, located between the engine & battery, held in by 2 or 3 bolts?

 

Where on-line is a good place to buy these parts? ..... or can they be bought "on-line"?

 

2. Also, the AUX heater seems not to be working, but at 10 deg C its too warm to activate... right?

 

3. Also, the front windscreen is very slow to demist or de-frost when we had frost a feww weeks back... what is a typicla resistance value for a front windscreen?

[NikpV]

even when our aux heater was not working when the engine had got up to temperature it never had a problem maintaining it :lol:

 

but at 10 deg C its too warm to activate...

 

some variation but certainly at the top end ....

[Guest MATT jr]

our booster heater isnt working at the moment, and the outside temperature (according to the car) is around 2 to 4 C. our engine is currently not reaching 90C, you have to run it for about 45mins before you get there.

 

it barely gets above 50 - 60C when you have the "heat blowers" on.

 

could be the thermostat, but a non working booster heater will give you similar problems in cold weather.

 

 

 

MJR

[raymac]

1. From a 10 deg C "cold start" it takes 10 or 12 miles for the temp gauge of my wifes Alhambra to rise above the lowest display... 50 deg C

 

takes another 10 or so miles to reach a ma xof 70, but most times sits on 60.... as a result the heaters are very poor at producing heat. Its a 1.9 TDi, Seat Alhambra.

 

I assume the engines coolant thermostat need replacing?

 

I have found what i think is it, located between the engine & battery, held in by 2 or 3 bolts?

 

Where on-line is a good place to buy these parts? ..... or can they be bought "on-line"?

 

2. Also, the AUX heater seems not to be working, but at 10 deg C its too warm to activate... right?

 

3. Also, the front windscreen is very slow to demist or de-frost when we had frost a feww weeks back... what is a typicla resistance value for a front windscreen?

I would be inclined to think that if you get the aux heater fixed then your problems will be solved,mine kicks in at 10c, i replaced my plug about 2 months ago and although a bit tempremental it works most of the time and warms the gal nicely :rolleyes:

[Alhambra]

I ordered a "kit" today, been the time of yea rit is I won't have it til next wednesday

 

 

[Guest MATT jr]

thats cheap enough then!

 

where did you get that from?

 

MJR

[Alhambra]

from a local "Auto Factors" ..... something like Halfords..... kinda.

[Alhambra]

Update:

 

I connect my laptop tonight, these are the errors reported:

 

Sunday, 31 December 2006, 21:19:04

 

VAG-COM Version: Release 409.1-S

 

 

 

Control Module Part Number: 7M3 815 071

 

Component and/or Version: HEIZG. B/D5W 0001

 

Software Coding:

 

Work Shop Code:

 

2 Faults Found:

 

01492 - Function Lock-Out

 

35-00 - -

 

01409 - Repeated Flame-Out

 

35-00 - -

 

I "CLEARED ALL CODES" but the aux heater still didn't work....... is doing that the same as Resetting?

 

Also my s/w ain't activated, where can it be activated & how much?

[NikpV]

I would assume that the function lockout means that after a number of flame out errors then the aux heater unit won't even try and start, when you connected after attempting to start the car what errors did you get with the aux heater - assuming its cold enough to fire up ??

[jvernon]

Update:

I "CLEARED ALL CODES"

 

Are you sure that you've actually cleared all the codes? Sometimes with my when I use VAG-COM, when do an automatic scan of all modules then try to clear all codes, it doesn't actually remove them from memory - it just removes them from the screen for some unknown reason. You then have to go into the module itself and THEN clear the fault codes. I don't know if you've actually gone into the module seperately to get the fault codes that you have found, but if you haven't I'd recommend trying this method :wub: If you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about - probably the easiest way to check if it's really cleared the codes is to do another full scan.

 

Regards,

James

[Guest MATT jr]

flame out codes can be caused by a *stops to think of the technical wording* knackered glow plug!

 

replace and reset, and it should workie againie

 

MJR

[Alhambra]

Outside temp was 7 Deg C & could not hear it "fire" up.

 

I did "clear all errors" within the Aux Burner ecu section, No:18.

 

I shutdown the VAG s/w & turne doff the engine, the restarted both... there were no errors after that....so maybe the temp should be below 5 Deg C ..... what sensor monitors the required temp?

 

when i do an auto scan, it does several ecus & then it tells me that the s/w ain't activated.

 

I assume the burner is located outside the vechile & can be easily removed?

 

i looked at the FAQ but the picture don't work.

 

BTW: A few weeks back my wif enoticed ALOT of white smoke during the start ups but that no longe rhappens.... glow plug issue then?

[Guest MATT jr]

the glow plug is the only wear and tear item in the device, and it is the problem 95% of the time

 

MJR

[Alhambra]

2. Also, the AUX heater seems not to be working, but at 10 deg C its too warm to activate... right?

 

Worked today for a few min's, lots of blue/white smoke out of it..... then it stopped smoking, could feel cold air blowing out its exhaust

 

Also, alot of un-burnt diesel on the exhaust pipe.... guess its time to strip it?

[Guest MATT jr]

im seeing double! youve posted that somewhere else....but yes, seems like u need to do, what u gotta do!

 

MJR

[jkspoff]

Where is this glow plug, and how easy is it to replace, easy access ? As mine works occasionally, but not all the time it should. :unsure: Will I need VAG com to reset it once the new plug is installed ?

[Guest MATT jr]

FAQs

 

VAGCOM is needed to reset the unit.

 

where abouts are you?

 

MJR

[Alhambra]

This evening, between 7.00pm & 8.30pm I investigate the aux heater of my wifes Alhambra using the pit in my double garage.

 

Inital testing produced massive amounts of dense blue/grey smoke.

 

Unsure how to remove the unit, apart from reading that there was no need to open the coolant pipes, I open the most obiviously bolts I saw around it.

 

These were 10mm x 3 & 8mm x 1. The unit didn't came off so I had to prise the bracket away from the chassis, as it was stuck on by the body sealer.

 

From there I was able to allow the unit to "hang" out of the coolant pipe to work on it.

 

Removing 4 torx screws from the front most black cover, where the diesel is fed in thro I was able to gain some access to the internals. The i removed the 4 torx screws from the front end cover, wolla..... there was glow plugs, very easily accessible.

 

13mm spanner & 17mm spanner required in order to remove the plug. When i took it out it measured 1 ohmn but the tip was corroded.... using emery paper i cleaned up the tip.

 

I noticed too that when i removed the glow plug it was very "wet" & several drops of diesel came out of the hole.

 

deciding to try clean the chamber i sprayed in Carb Cleaner via the glow plug hole. Turning then unit upside down I sprayed it into the exhaust pipe..... when i turned it the correct way a load of dark coloured fluid came out. I also spary carb cleaner onto the inlet section, the 3 openings were very dirty.

 

I re-assembled the unit & tested it before re-fitting. Starting the car it ticked over for a min or so, the the aux heater started..... a gentle puff of white smoke appeared, followed awhile later by the "jet engine" sound.... never heard that before.... with alot of white smoke.... no more dense blue/grey stuff.

 

the rear heaters now work a treat.

 

conclusion: the chamber was full of diesel & the tip was corroded & the inlet opening were clogged with crud.... no part required.... imo

[Alhambra]

got the new stat today, will fit at the weekend.

 

now that i've gotten the aux heater working the wif eis complaining baout "ALL THE SMOKE" billowing from it..... ffs!!!

[Alhambra]

Today I changed the thermostat of my wifes Alhambra.... took me 4 hours in total. ;)

 

1st hour, i removed & re-installed what i thought should be the thermostat housing, located between the head & the battery... its got a temp sensor in it... most other cars i've ever worked on had it located there.... stoopid VW :rolleyes:

 

2nd hour was spent locating the "real location" of the thermostat..... behind the alternator, held in by two 10mm bolts ...top one is easy to acces sbut the lower one is not.

 

in order to remove this housing you will need to:

 

1. slacken the tensioner & remove the aux belt

 

2. open the two long 13mm bolts that holds the alternator in place

 

3. open the nuts & catch the fluid...approx 1 gallon

 

of course this is hind sight talking.... i actually removed the lower bolt by a "flexi" extension & alot of cursing...... then i lost the 10mm bolt behind the bracket that holds all the aux items onto the engine.....

 

3rd hour.... retreiving the 10mm bolt that was behind the bracket that hold all the aux parts.... eventually remove the front drivers side wheel & got in at the back of the bracket with a long piece of wire & pulled it towards the edge.... then a long nose pliers to lift it out..... fitting the new stat was very easy once the alternator was removed.

 

4th hour: re-fitting all the 'bits & bobs'... filling with PINK coolant & letting the car idle for a few min's in order to bleed the system... then a TEST DRIVE..... within 4 miles the temp gauge was at 80 .. the aux heater didn't need to activate

 

I had one big scare, the car developed a mis fire & was bearly able to move in 2nd gear..... i plugged in the laptop & got this error:

 

Saturday, 06 January 2007, 18:01:09

 

VAG-COM Version: Release 409.1-S

 

Control Module Part Number: 038 906 019 FC

 

Component and/or Version: 1,9l R4 EDC G001SG 1562

 

Software Coding: 00002

 

Work Shop Code: WSC 00020

 

1 Fault Found:

 

18077 - Valve for Pump-Jet: Cylinder 4 (N243): Electrical Malfunction P1669 - 35-00

 

I know now what is means BUT at the time it took a bit of figuring out..... do you know how i fixed it.

 

BTW the car is runing 100% perfect now, temp gauge sits at 90 deg C after a 6 mile spin

 

PS: If any of you have a TDi engine that takes 10/15/20 miles ot heat up i'd advise replacing your engines thermostat....

[Alhambra]

Just back from a 5mile round the block trip, after 2 miles the temp was 60 deg c, after 3 it was 80. It stablised at 90 soon afterwards.

 

The external temp was 10 deg C so i was expecting the aux heater not to be active BUT when i stopped the car the aux heater was "whinining away" .... even though the cabin heater was only set to 20 deg C, the cabin was like a sauna... a new experience for this car.

[sanjsanj]

Saturday, 06 January 2007, 18:01:09

 

VAG-COM Version: Release 409.1-S

 

Control Module Part Number: 038 906 019 FC

 

Component and/or Version: 1,9l R4 EDC G001SG 1562

 

Software Coding: 00002

 

Work Shop Code: WSC 00020

 

1 Fault Found:

 

18077 - Valve for Pump-Jet: Cylinder 4 (N243): Electrical Malfunction P1669 - 35-00

I know now what is means BUT at the time it took a bit of figuring out..... do you know how i fixed it.

 

BTW the car is runing 100% perfect now, temp gauge sits at 90 deg C after a 6 mile spin

PS: If any of you have a TDi engine that takes 10/15/20 miles ot heat up i'd advise replacing your engines thermostat....

[sanjsanj]

whats happpened to the edit button?

[Alhambra]

the thermostat was stuck open, therefore allowing coolant to flow continously thro the rad... also the aux heater was not working until last monday so the cabin rarely got warm.

 

 

now its like asauna