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friedrich_schmid70

Audi A7 Heater Valve Fault Causing Cold Cabin Issues

My 2016 Audi A7 diesel (186k km) has weak heating performance lately. The error memory shows a fault code and I suspect a faulty water valve might be causing this. The car heating barely warms up the cabin, even on maximum settings. Has anyone experienced similar issues with engine coolant flow or valve blockage? Looking for recommendations before visiting another mechanic since my last experience wasnt great.

4 comment(s)

ottoshadow36

Had the exact same symptoms on a 2019 Audi A6 diesel. The engine coolant temperature was fluctuating and cabin heating was inconsistent. Initial diagnosis revealed a stuck coolant valve that wasnt regulating flow properly. The cooling system inspection showed the electronic coolant control valve had failed due to mineral deposits and corrosion on the electrical contacts. This is a known issue when regular coolant changes are delayed. The valve controls the engine coolant flow between the radiator and heater core. The fix required: Complete cooling system flush, New coolant control valve installation, Electrical connection cleaning and testing, System pressure test, Coolant refill with proper mix ratio This was a serious repair since a faulty valve can lead to engine overheating if left unchecked. The symptoms typically start with poor cabin heating before progressing to temperature management issues. Recommend getting it checked soon, the valve failure can damage other cooling system components if not addressed. Make sure they check both the valve operation and electrical connections during diagnosis.

friedrich_schmid70 (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience. The same heater core issues surfaced with my Audi A7 last winter. Got it fixed immediately when the cabin heating stopped working properly, as waiting could have led to more serious coolant leak problems down the line. Can you share what the total repair cost was in your case? Also curious if any other automotive valve issues have come up since the initial fix? My mechanic mentioned these problems can sometimes indicate wider cooling system wear.

ottoshadow36

Had a much simpler fix than initially expected. The water valve defective turned out to be caused by a loose electrical connection rather than a complete valve failure. Total repair cost was just 95 Euro to fix the cable connection and clean the contacts. Since the repair, the engine coolant flow has been perfect with no additional valve blockage issues. The cabin heating now works as intended, maintaining consistent temperature. The heater core performance is back to normal, proving it was just the electrical connection causing the problem. This shows how important proper diagnosis is, what seems like a major cooling system issue can sometimes be resolved with a straightforward electrical fix. No other cooling-related problems have surfaced in the past year since the repair. Would suggest having your mechanic thoroughly check all electrical connections if similar symptoms return. A simple connection issue can mimic more serious valve or coolant system problems.

friedrich_schmid70 (Author)

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies. Finally took my A7 to a new mechanic last week. The diagnosis confirmed a failing water valve, but luckily they caught it before any major engine coolant issues developed. The repair took about 3 hours and cost 320 Euro including parts and labor. They did a complete cooling system inspection, replaced the faulty valve, and performed a thorough flush. The cabin heating now works perfectly, warm air comes through immediately and maintains steady temperature. The mechanic was professional and showed me the old valve with visible wear. While checking the system they also noticed slight coolant leak signs near one of the hoses, which they fixed under the same service. Really glad I addressed this before winter when heating performance matters most.

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