VW Up Heater Failure: Possible Valve Blockage Issue

Had the same issue on a 2013 VW Polo TSI. The symptoms were identical, poor heating performance despite normal engine coolant levels. The water valve was indeed the culprit, but the problem was more complex than just a valve blockage. The electrical connection to the coolant control valve had corroded, causing intermittent valve operation. This led to inconsistent coolant flow through the heater core. The repair required: Testing the valve control circuit, Replacing the corroded wiring connector, Installing a new coolant control valve, Bleeding the cooling system It was a serious issue that needed immediate attention since the faulty valve could have led to engine cooling problems. The coolant leak risk was also present due to the compromised valve seal. Before visiting a mechanic, check if the car heater works better at higher engine RPMs. This can help diagnose if its truly a valve issue versus an air pocket in the cooling system. Also, listen for clicking sounds from the valve area when turning the heat on and off, this indicates the valve is at least attempting to operate. The repair is definitely a job for a professional workshop with proper diagnostic equipment to test the valve control system.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have been wondering about the repair cost myself since I will probably need to get mine fixed. After getting this same issue fixed on my Up, the heating now works perfectly. Did you remember roughly how much you paid for the complete repair? Also curious if any other automotive valve issues came up after fixing the initial problem? Sometimes when the engine coolant system has one issue, others can follow. The engine overheating warnings completely disappeared in my case, but always good to hear about longer-term experiences with these repairs.

After getting my VW Polo fixed, I paid 95€ for the water valve repair which mainly involved fixing the cable connection. The car heating has worked flawlessly since then. The damaged connector was causing the valve to malfunction, but once replaced, the engine coolant flow returned to normal. No other valve issues have appeared in the year since the repair. The engine maintains proper temperature, and the heater responds quickly. The mechanic did a thorough check of the entire cooling system during the repair, which probably helped prevent any follow-up problems. This type of repair often solves the root cause completely when done properly. Since the faulty valve connection was causing the poor heating performance, fixing it usually prevents related issues from developing. The key is getting it diagnosed and repaired before it can affect other components in the cooling system.

I took my VW Up to a trusted mechanic last week after reading the helpful advice here. The total repair came to 280€, which included replacing the automotive valve and fixing some related wiring issues. The mechanic found that the valve blockage was worse than expected, with mineral buildup affecting the entire valve assembly. The repair process took about 3 hours, but the results were worth it. The engine coolant now flows properly, and the heating works perfectly again. The mechanic also flushed the cooling system to prevent future blockages, which was a smart preventive measure. Its been a week since the fix, and the difference is remarkable. No more error codes, and the heating responds immediately. The engine temperature stays consistent now, even during long drives. Much better experience than my previous repair attempts, and the cost was reasonable considering the work involved.