UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

hello

i have a 1996 1.4 16v polo. its covered 120000 miles and the heating doesnt work! the blower works really well still but it is soooooo slightly, luke warm, basically cold lol. we'v tried all that we can think of: changed the thermostat and ran without it. still no heating. we have checked for air locks (including the matrix) and still nothing. we have emptied the coolant and it was clean and clear no blockages! im running out of ideas! its so cold at the moment and on top of that th whole car steams up like a beauty! even the windscreen takes ages 2 de-mist. I've checked the whole fuse box and they are all fine oh yea and i'v fitted a new water pump. i am now stumped, even the haynes book of lies cant help much can anyone help me? or n e suggestions?

thanks alot gates16v

on my 98 mk4 the matrix is leaking slightly in the dash board which is a common problem on mk4s apparently,,for now ive just bypassed it in the engine bay so i have no heating either but a new matrix should fix it i hope,,,hope that helps.

A wild guess here, but have you removed the exhaust manifold pipe which helps heat up the engine in cold weather by collecting hot air from the exhaust
?

thanks for your reply rich, im guna get out there now probably and wip the matrix off to have a look at it. if i need a new 1 i'll bypass it using some of my connectors of my golf until i get a new 1. thanks very much m8, i'll let you know how it goes!

16v

alrite mint, im guna have a look at that, it doesnt sound like a stupid suggestion! i only got the car recently so havent a clue whats been done to it. i'll check that aswell and let you guys know whats hapnin. thanks alot

16v

i had simialr problem and i had the pipe that uses exhaust fumes it had a little hole in made a massive difference

vdubyabush, which pipe do you mean? the pipe coming of the manifold heat shield? the flexible one? i think it connects up 2 the air filter pipes.

???

cheers 16v

ye mate thats the pipe the flexibile one sorta as u look in its at the front

apparently,,,that pipe helps the car warm up from cold which would help the heaters warm up quicker,,,the matrix is what im putting my money on.

hi guys, thanks for all your suggestions. im guna go 4 a drive today and check for leaks in the matrix aswell as checking all the coolant hoses are warm. im guna take that flexible pipe of also and inspect it. i'll let you guys know once i'v done it.

thanks alot 16v

if you've got no heat in the car its def not that pipe on the induction system (flexi pipe some ones been on about?) if you've got heating troubles inside the car take a good look at the heater matrix smaller vesion of the rad under the dash if theres no leaks which I recon theres not (If leaking there would be heat and water as well+ loss of collant from header tank)
The only thing to ask is both rad hoses real hot? if one is and one isant the termosta is gone new one is only pennys easy to change and is in the plastic block on the right hand side of the engine above the 'box. if both a hot the matrix is blocked where some one be4 you has used a stop leak.
best off getting a new one or you could try a strong coolant system flush

i havnt had any heaten problems but i know when the catalyst goes the car runs complety diff an runs like a bag of s**t an affects airflow through the car as i have experienced recently.

the car will run rough with a gone cat as the back pressure is screwed as the cat more than likely blocked = to much pressure
just get rid of the tabby car runs sweet and faster

yea but then it drains the petrol, im goin 2 be puttin on a cherrybomb in a couple of weeks, does any1 have an idea 2 whether or not there sore on petrol, r they easier than K&N coz i have just that in at the minut an its fairly sore

cherrybomb back box?shouldn't be to badhaving the cat away wont use more juice as long as the lamda is still there the same is used.
very loud bx the cherry bomb not yet seen it on a polo so good on ya