[Biturbos4] B5 S4 heater core clogged

[jlagnese at massed.net]

Is there an air bubble in it? Has the coolant been low at some point recently?
----- Original Message -----
From: Brandon Rogers <brogers at terrix.com>
To: Ti Kan <ti at amb.org>
Cc: biturbos4 at audifans.com, quattro at audifans.com
Sent: Thu, 26 Dec 2013 12:27:29 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: [Biturbos4] B5 S4 heater core clogged

Hey Ti- 
My mechanic - who works on a lot of B5 S4s does the flush. They highly prefer it over heater core removal. I've not heard of them leaking. That said personally I'd skip pressurized air and stick with flowing water. They did it to mine this summer. My car has similar symptoms - the heat is not hot - I get decent heat out of the center dash vents - especially if I hit the recirc button. Side dash cents are not as good. All others are cold. Wondering/thinking i have issues besides the HC....

Good luck 

Brandon

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 26, 2013, at 10:13 AM, "Ti Kan" <ti at amb.org> wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> The heater core on my 2001 S4 appears to be clogged, there is
> very little heat out of any vent even with the engine fully hot
> and the climate control temp set to HI. The blower is working
> properly, all air flaps seem to work too.
> 
> Replacing the heater core is a BIG job on this car, involving
> the removal of the center console, entire dashboard, and many
> things beneath it. I don't have the time or the confidence
> that I could do this myself, and paying a shop to do it will
> be serious $$$.
> 
> I read that a heater core can often be un-clogged by backflushing
> with either compressed air or water. My mechanic is reserved
> about this method, saying that there is high chance that it
> would cause the heater core to spring a leak into the cabin,
> which would _force_ a replacement of the heater core.
> 
> What is your opinion about this? Should I try to backflush it?
> If so which is better, compressed air or water? Just how sturdy
> are these heater cores? According to the family album the same
> heater core is used on all B3, B4 and B5 Audis as well as the
> B5 Passat.
> 
> -Ti
> 
> 
> 
> 
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