Audi S1 Parking Heater Failure: Fix Guide

I faced a similar issue with my 2013 Audi S3. With some experience working on car heaters and climate control systems, I can share what helped resolve my problem. The symptoms were identical, auxiliary heater failure while the main climate control system worked fine. After taking it to my regular workshop, they diagnosed a faulty glow plug in the auxiliary heater unit. The heater core and temperature sensor were fine, but the glow plug had completely failed, preventing the auxiliary heater from starting. The repair involved: Complete diagnostic scan, Removal of auxiliary heater unit, Glow plug replacement, System reset and testing Total cost was 440 Euro including parts and labor. The whole process took about 4 hours. Before suggesting specific solutions for your case, could you provide: Any error codes shown, When the problem first started, Whether you hear the blower motor trying to activate, If you notice any unusual sounds or smells when attempting to start the heater This information would help determine if your issue is similar and could save you time and money at the workshop.

Last serviced at 14836KM, and Im having similar error codes now. Thanks for the detailed explanation about the auxiliary heater repair. My heater started acting up recently and the blower motor seems quiet when trying to activate. No unusual smells, but I noticed the heating system takes much longer to warm up than before. After reading about your glow plug replacement experience, I will check that component first. The 440 Euro repair cost sounds reasonable if it solves the issue. Will update once I get it checked at a workshop.

Thanks for the update on your Audi S1 heater situation. The symptoms you describe, especially the quiet blower motor and slower warm-up time, align closely with what I experienced on my S3 before the repair. The mileage being relatively low at 14836KM suggests this might indeed be a glow plug issue rather than a more serious heater core problem. In my case, the auxiliary heater started showing similar signs around 16000KM. One thing to note from my repair experience, make sure the workshop does a full climate control system diagnostic before replacing parts. When they worked on my car, they found that while the glow plug was the main issue, the heating system also needed a minor recalibration after the repair. The slower warm-up time you mentioned is a classic sign of auxiliary heater problems. Once fixed, you should notice a significant improvement in initial heating performance, especially during cold starts. Keep us posted about the workshop findings. It would be helpful to know if your repair costs end up being similar to mine.

The symptoms on my 2015 Audi S1 match perfectly with what you described. I took it to a workshop today and guess what, it was indeed the glow plug. The ventilation system diagnostic showed no other issues with the climate control components. They did the full repair including the recalibration you mentioned, and my total came to 420 Euro, slightly less than your cost. The blower motor now activates properly and the heating system warms up much faster than before. Really glad I checked about the glow plug first instead of replacing more expensive components. The whole repair took about 3.5 hours, and the coolant leak check they did as part of the service showed everything else was fine. Thanks for saving me time and money with your detailed explanation. I will definitely keep an eye on the auxiliary heater performance going forward.