I have no heating in my mk2 golf gti 8v 1991 !! I have no heating in my car and it is freezing on long journies. I have cleaned out the radiator with RAD flush and replaced the coolant but no luck. The heater blows cold!! The heater matrix system requires some attention. Is this a big job, does the dash need to come out? Anyone have any ideas on how I might resolve my heater problems ? Many thanks. S.
Have you tried buying new bypass valves from GSF? They stock them now. A lot of time they are replaced with 22mm copper pipe, this is generally OK but there is a risk of scalding so I'd get the real thing. To locate the valves follow the pipes into the bulkhead and you'll see two cylindrical units with a thin pipe running inbetween them.
Hi there, my other half has changed heater matrix's before and says there not that big of a job!! just make sure you bleed the cooling system properly afterwards!! And those by-pass pipes also stop your car from warming up as it decreases pressure in the heater matrix to stop them exploding!! but providing you buy a new heater matrix you shouldn't have to worry bout that happening! Hope this helps!?
Check the diverter is working its behind the centre console at the bottom, if you stick your hand behind there and move the controls on the dash you will find them, push the bottom diverter as far left as you can with your hand then check for heat, apparently a cog can fall off down there and cause this
Bypass valves defo, Ui drove my car for 6 months into december before i changed them, should have done it straight away. Hindsight hey.
you dont need them vw only fitted them because the early heater matrix where rubbish if you have fitted a new heater matrix just bin them if thay don't not work very early mk2 didn't have them this was part of a recall to stop vw from getting sued when the heater matrix burst and scolded the owner
hi there,iam new to the club.i have heat but no air hardly comes out of any vent even on full.and all my windows steam up, iam losing water too could my heater matrix be leaking? lately my car has been running abit hot to??????????????????????????????
While I have used the 22mm copper pipe fix, I really wouldn't recommend it, I have heard of a few heater matrices popping. I know of one incidence which resulted in pretty nasty burns. Remember you're dealing with old heater matrices. Maybe try a scrap yard? I bought some from GSF less than 12 months ago.
It's very rare for the heater matrix to burst, but it'll get more common as they age - particularly if you end up with a head gasket problem pressurising the system more than it should. If I were you I'd replace the matrix and then bin the relief valve. But as said I've had a billion Mk2s with the valve bypass, the old matrix, and not one has blown the matrix - yet. If you only carry disliked colleagues or no-one in the passenger seat then just leave it - if it's the missus you might want to replace it. Or make any passenger wear wellies.
another thing to check is that the hot air flap inside the matrix is actually moving, if you take the centre console, the driver side undertray and the plastic trim piece of the side of the heater box you should see the 3 control cables & flaps, move both sliders and you should see all 3 shift about the place.
how long does it take for you golfs to start pumping out warm/hot air, mine takes atleast 10 minutes of driving. where as my mates old sh*ter of an L reg mondeo it litrally 20 seconds of running!!!
Probably due to the Mondeo having a more modern/efficient heating system. My Mk2 GTI takes around the same as yours in this freezing weather
the better the condition of the matrix the quicker it warms up, also it depends on how hot your engine runs, some warm up quicker than others. Since fitting a new matrix it heats up much quicker, also a new one can get proper baking hot whereas an old one may only be warm.
