VW Tiguan Parking Heater Fault, Fix Guide & Costs

I had a similar issue with my VW Touran 2006 diesel last winter. The heating system started acting up and the auxiliary heater stopped working completely. Being somewhat experienced with VW diesels, I first checked the basic stuff like coolant levels and temperature sensor connections. After unsuccessful attempts to diagnose it myself, I took it to a workshop. They found a defective glow plug in the auxiliary heater unit. The repair involved replacing the glow plug and running a diagnostic check of the entire heating system to ensure no other components were affected. Total cost was 440€ including parts and labor. Before suggesting specific fixes for your Tiguan, it would help to know: Which error code is displayed? Does the main car heater work normally? Have you noticed any changes in fuel consumption? Is there any unusual smell when trying to activate the parking heater? These details would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced. Auxiliary heater problems can sometimes be linked to other components in the ventilation system, so its worth checking everything thoroughly.

Thanks for sharing those details. My Tiguan just had its annual service last month and has 72735km on the clock. The main climate control works fine, but when activating the parking heater, error code P2463 appears. No unusual smells, but fuel consumption increased slightly. The coolant level is normal and there are no visible leaks in the heat control system. Did your workshop mention how long the glow plug repair took? I need to plan ahead if its a similar issue, especially since its getting colder and the car heater is essential right now.

A glow plug replacement on my Touran took about 3 hours at the workshop. Sounds like your symptoms closely match what I experienced, particularly with the increased fuel consumption, this happened to me too when the glow plug started failing. The error code P2463 often points to issues in the heating system control unit or auxiliary components. My workshop explained that when the glow plug fails, the entire heater core has to work harder, which explains the higher fuel usage. Since your main climate control works fine, this further supports the likelihood of an auxiliary heater issue rather than a broader ventilation system problem. This is actually good news, as it usually means a more straightforward repair. If you want to minimize workshop time, ask them to check the glow plug first. In my case, once they replaced it, they ran a system diagnostic to clear the error codes and verify the heating system was functioning correctly. The whole process including diagnostics took about 4 hours total. Worth noting that your km reading is actually lower than mine was when this issue occurred, so other causes could be at play. Make sure the workshop checks for any coolant leaks around the heater core area while theyre at it.

Thanks for all this helpful information. The fact your repair took just 4 hours total is reassuring. I just called the workshop and made an appointment for next week. They quoted around 500€ for a complete auxiliary heater inspection and potential glow plug replacement, which seems in line with what you paid. They also mentioned theyll do a full blower motor and temperature sensor check since these components work together with the car heater system. I checked the fuel consumption again and noticed its about 0.8L/100km higher than usual. Hopefully fixing the auxiliary heater will bring this back to normal. The climate control still works perfectly which is keeping me going until the repair. Will update once its fixed in case anyone else runs into similar issues with their VW parking heater system. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and repair costs.