Recirculating Air.

[davejcb]

I| have a w reg passat TDI SE with the climatronic system. My windows are steaming up, no matter what i have the settings on. Could someone explain how the auto mode works.

Ive cleaned out the drain holes, and checked for damp, the air vents dont seem to be damp, which would indicate a damaged heater matrix.
My thought is the re-circ flap is stuck shut so i'm not getting fresh air in, does anyone know where it is so i can check?

Or any other suggestions would be welcome.

Cheers in advance

[KeithS]

I| have a w reg passat TDI SE with the climatronic system. My windows are steaming up, no matter what i have the settings on. Could someone explain how the auto mode works.

Ive cleaned out the drain holes, and checked for damp, the air vents dont seem to be damp, which would indicate a damaged heater matrix.
My thought is the re-circ flap is stuck shut so i'm not getting fresh air in, does anyone know where it is so i can check?

Or any other suggestions would be welcome.

Cheers in advance

You can normally hear the flap clunk as it opens/closes. I believe in cold weather its closed until the car has warmed up enough to heat air taken from outside. Switching between recirc and auto mode should also open/close the flap, you should be able to hear it.

In winter I have climate control set in auto mode all the time - keeps the air dryer thus stopping condensation on the (cold) windows.

[davejcb]

You can normally hear the flap clunk as it opens/closes. I believe in cold weather its closed until the car has warmed up enough to heat air taken from outside. Switching between recirc and auto mode should also open/close the flap, you should be able to hear it.

In winter I have climate control set in auto mode all the time - keeps the air dryer thus stopping condensation on the (cold) windows.

Thanks Keith.

I cannot hear a flap opening / closing, i'll have to get my head in the footwell, see if i can hear anything

[terrymars]

Hi i laso have a passatt 03 TDI with steaming up problems, i have removed the glove compartment but cannot locate the recirculating flap. However i have also read in the Haynes manual that if you disconnect this flap or replace the unit you have to take the car to a VW dealer to have the Climate Control unit re-set. Seems like VW have got us over a barrell with this problem!!!

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Terry

[caldirun]

I| have a w reg passat TDI SE with the climatronic system. My windows are steaming up, no matter what i have the settings on. Could someone explain how the auto mode works.

Ive cleaned out the drain holes, and checked for damp, the air vents dont seem to be damp, which would indicate a damaged heater matrix.
My thought is the re-circ flap is stuck shut so i'm not getting fresh air in, does anyone know where it is so i can check?

Or any other suggestions would be welcome.

Cheers in advance

The flap actuator motor is on the left hand side of the heater/ac unit trapped against the left hand innerwing below the dashboard. If you remove the glovebox and look up you will see a plastic grid with a foam covered flap above it. To cure the problem you will need to take out the dashboard and cross member, pull the heater/ac unit forward (may need to disconnect the ac system and heater) and buy and fit a new motor V71. A quick fix would be to remove the pollen filter and wedge the flap down to draw external air all the time, depends what you want, an expensive job done or clear windows and slow heating of interior.

[terrymars]

Wow, seems like i will not be looking to replace that then. Since posting yesterday i have removed the pollen filter which was reasonably clean (supposed to have been changed 6 months ago when serviced according to invoice) the windows do not appear to be steaming up. Would a dirty pollen filter cause the windows to steam?

You also mention removing the pollen filter and wedging the flap open, can you see the flap with the filter removed and if so i assume you will be able to see the flap opening and closing?

[caldirun]

You also mention removing the pollen filter and wedging the flap open, can you see the flap with the filter removed and if so i assume you will be able to see the flap opening and closing?

I said remove the filter so you can see the flap and poke something in to hold it in the fresh air position. If you select recirc and look into the vent below where you have taken the filter out you should see the flap move when you select fresh air. If it does not move, very likely, then you may have to take out the filter housing to get in the push it down so it sits on the grid to stop interior air being pulled through. Mine was stuck in the fresh air position so I left it alone.

[terrymars]

Thanks for that, I will have a look into it this weekend!!!

[Mike McKinstry]

i have a recirc flap motor fault code on the climatronic control module and am wondering if this is the reason the aircon will not work-if there is a fault code does this prevent the compressor starting up?

[caldirun]

i have a recirc flap motor fault code on the climatronic control module and am wondering if this is the reason the aircon will not work-if there is a fault code does this prevent the compressor starting up?

The V71 recirc fault will not stop the compressor running, check for 12V on the clutch supply wire, if you have had a cambelt change it is probably not been reconnected!