B5 S4 heater core clogged

[Huw Powell]

Hi Ti,

The VW recomended declogging chemical is Shout, believe it or not.

Fill it up, let it soak for a bit, rinse it out, then spray a can full 
of brake cleaner through and rinse again.  Something like that, anyway.

This procedure it hit or miss, though, it doesn't always work.

- Huw

On 12/26/2013 12:03 PM, Ti Kan 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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