Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

[Circa1990]

Anytime we get a big snow, my lower grille starts to pack with snow,
Everything will be fine until I start it up the next time and the blower for the heater wont run at all.
Second time this has happened to me, last time I had to go to the carwash and spray it and let it thaw out.
But they are all closed right now and I don't have a garage

Anybody else have this problem?
Is there a non ghetto solution to maybe blocking the lower grille off? I'm not very creative
Or could this be a different issue than stated?

[Ponto]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

That is different, never heard of it happening!

Could toss cardboard in behind the grill?

[Circa1990]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

Yeah, I was hoping I wouldn't have to pull the front bumper, but that might be the case.

[Ponto]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

Yeah, I was hoping I wouldn't have to pull the front bumper, but that might be the case.

Ah you should be able to get it in there without pulling the bumper. But that is still very odd.

[CGY_GTI]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

Time for a trip to the dealership I think... I've never heard of this before. I don't think you have to pull the bumper to put something behind the lower grille... Just take off the plastic panel that goes under the engine and you should be able to get behind it.

[100%VAGitarian]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

there is a vw technical bullitin floating around for the mk5's about a "snow deflection grille" that fits in your cowl. i'm sure it would apply to the mk6. strangest thing, but it fixes your problem.

[Circa1990]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

Time for a trip to the dealership I think... I've never heard of this before. I don't think you have to pull the bumper to put something behind the lower grille... Just take off the plastic panel that goes under the engine and you should be able to get behind it.

Yeah I might have to go see.
That does sound much easier

there is a vw technical bullitin floating around for the mk5's about a "snow deflection grille" that fits in your cowl. i'm sure it would apply to the mk6. strangest thing, but it fixes your problem.

That's kind of what I was hoping for. I'll have to check with the dealership.

[resolute]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

There is this reported on
http://www.vwproblems.com/tsbs/GTI/2010/

Date Reported
AUGUST 16 2010
NHTSA Reference
#10035185
TSB Reference
#TB-80-10-03
Description: VOLKSWAGEN: HVAC BLOWER ONLY OPERATES ON HIGH SPEED (US ONLY). FRESH AIR BLOWER RUNS ONLY AT HIGHEST LEVEL. BECAUSE OF PERMANENT FROST AND SNOWFALL FINE SNOW CAN GET INTO THE FRESH AIR BLOWER VIA THE AIR INTAKE. *PE

Repair Information for NHTSA #10035185

Of course, they want to charge you for the repair information. Nevertheless, you have the TSB number to ask the dealer about. I know it says (US Only) but that probably means North America.

[Circa1990]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

There is this reported on
http://www.vwproblems.com/tsbs/GTI/2010/

Date Reported
AUGUST 16 2010
NHTSA Reference
#10035185
TSB Reference
#TB-80-10-03
Description: VOLKSWAGEN: HVAC BLOWER ONLY OPERATES ON HIGH SPEED (US ONLY). FRESH AIR BLOWER RUNS ONLY AT HIGHEST LEVEL. BECAUSE OF PERMANENT FROST AND SNOWFALL FINE SNOW CAN GET INTO THE FRESH AIR BLOWER VIA THE AIR INTAKE. *PE

Repair Information for NHTSA #10035185

Of course, they want to charge you for the repair information. Nevertheless, you have the TSB number to ask the dealer about. I know it says (US Only) but that probably means North America.

Hmm sounds slightly different as my blower will not run at all, even at highest setting.

Slight update: I decided to take the heat gun to parts of the grille and exposed the outside temp sensor, and got it completely dry.
Not sure how they could possibly be related but, after drying the sensor and turning my blower from off to max a few times, it started working again.

Nevertheless, I have an appointment already with the dealership so they will check it out, maybe moisture causing a short or something??

[Benjamin]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

Lower front grill and the heater fan have little if anything in common. The blower fan circuit to my understanding has no wiring or sensors involved in the lower front grill area. The ambient temp sensor is more for the dash then anything else as the engine reads coolant temp for most of its readings. I would say the problem is either in the resistor or relay, could be the fan.

Best way to check pull the resistor and check for 12v in and then see what power is going out. If no power is getting to the resistor go back to the relay and fuse, but typically the resisitors/fan die in vw's.

[Circa1990]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

Forgot to post back.
Apparently powdery snow is getting in to the fresh air inlet on the rain tray under the hood and vaporizing and when the car gets shut off, this in turn freezes and prevents the fan from moving.
Soo basically I'm supposed to brush the car off before I start it, or the blower at least. And probably not kill snowdrifts

[Lars]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

Forgot to post back.
Apparently powdery snow is getting in to the fresh air inlet on the rain tray under the hood and vaporizing and when the car gets shut off, this in turn freezes and prevents the fan from moving.
Soo basically I'm supposed to brush the car off before I start it, or the blower at least. And probably not kill snowdrifts

Shouldn't the cabin filter catch that

[100%VAGitarian]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

there is a vw technical bullitin floating around for the mk5's about a "snow deflection grille" that fits in your cowl. i'm sure it would apply to the mk6. strangest thing, but it fixes your problem.

the dealer doesn't know about this? mk5-6 didn't really change so i'm sure it would apply. it's designed to do what your problem is. ease up the amount of snow that can be induced. you could probably make one out of some door screen and it would solve the problem.

[Circa1990]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

the dealer doesn't know about this? mk5-6 didn't really change so i'm sure it would apply. it's designed to do what your problem is. ease up the amount of snow that can be induced. you could probably make one out of some door screen and it would solve the problem.

I asked them about it and they had no idea what I was talking about

[RobertPlant]

Re: Mk6 GTI heater/ blower issues

I've seen this a couple times. Snow and moisture gets down into the HVAC system and usually kills the blower resistor. Ive seen a couple get so bad that the cabin filter was literally a sheet of ice. Because the cabin filter sits underneath the passenger foot well, it lets all the snow and crap build up in there and kill it.