Brrrrr- lousy heater

[crankedup]

Our Skoda Fabia 1.9tdi is an excellent car in most respects except :

The heater is fairly hopeless, it needs to run for 20 miles before it even starts to blow warm air enough to heat the cabin. Even on an long run of 60 miles + we have to keep the blower going to maintain what heat is available. In contrast our Sons 2.5 tdi tranni has an great heater, so is it an common niggle on the Fabia or is there an lurking small fault? Thanks for any ideas.

[Steve_D]

My vote would go first for a stuck open thermostat.
Second would be an airlock in the heater.
Third the heater is blocked.
For 2 & 3 Find the heater return pipe in the engine bay (would go back to either the water pump or bottom hose) and disconnect it to confirm there is a flow. If it coughs and splutters and then runs smooth you have found your air lock. If it does not run or only a weak flow then put the garden hose on it to try and back flush any sediment out of it.

Steve

[crankedup]

Thanks Steve, I know that the oil burners rarely have as good as heater as petrol engined cars but my heater is beyond a joke. Anyway at least I know what to look for now to try and make improvements.

[Steve_D]

A test for the thermostat is to start it from cold (today will be cold enough). Hold the top hose to feel the temperature. If the stat is stuck open the temperature in the hose will gradually rise. If the stat is working OK it should gently begin to warm (because the stat has a small bypass hole) then suddenly get hot when the stat opens.

Steve