VW Virtus Cold Start Issues Point to Faulty PTC Heater

Having some experience with VW models, I encountered a very similar issue with my 2016 VW Polo. The symptoms matched exactly what youre describing, rough cold starts and increased fuel consumption. The temperature control system was acting up, and after a diagnostic check, it turned out the electric auxiliary heater (PTC heater) was indeed the culprit. The heating system would malfunction during cold starts, causing the engine to compensate and use more fuel. I took it to a workshop where they confirmed the PTC heater had failed. The complete repair, including parts and labor, cost me 350€. The fix made a noticeable difference, smoother cold starts and fuel consumption returned to normal levels. To better assist with your specific case, could you share: Current mileage on your Virtus, The exact error code from the diagnostic scan, Whether your heater is producing enough warm air, Any other electrical issues youve noticed The heating system issues in VW models from this era are fairly well documented, and knowing these details would help determine if youre facing the same problem I did.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My Virtus has 11046km km and just had its last service two weeks ago. After reading your response, I checked the heater output and noticed the warm air isnt reaching normal temperatures. The error code shows P0597 which points to the HVAC system heating element. I havent noticed other electrical faults, but the cold air issue is getting worse during morning starts. The service center previously cleared the code but the problem returned after a few days. Did your repair involve just the PTC heater replacement or were other components changed too?

Thanks for those details, your situation sounds almost identical to what I experienced with my Polo. When my PTC heater failed, clearing the P0597 code was also just a temporary fix before it came back. In my case, the repair involved replacing the complete PTC heater unit, not just individual components. The blower motor was tested but found to be working fine. The workshop also checked the wiring harness connected to the heating element since these can sometimes get damaged. The low mileage on your Virtus is interesting, mine failed around 15000km, but these heating element failures can happen regardless of mileage, especially in the HVAC system of these VW models. The fact that your warm air output is decreasing matches the classic symptoms of a failing PTC heater. One thing to watch for, if you leave this unfixed, the constant error code reappearance and rough running can potentially stress other components in the heating system. When my PTC heater was replaced, the cold start issues disappeared completely and the heating performance returned to normal. For reference, have you noticed if the problem gets worse in particularly cold or damp weather? This was a clear indicator in my case that pointed directly to the heater repair being necessary.

Thanks for the helpful responses. Just wanted to update on what happened with my Virtus heating system issues. Took it to the dealer yesterday and they confirmed what was suggested here, the PTC heater had failed. Since my car is still under warranty, they replaced the entire heating element assembly at no cost. The blower motor and other HVAC system components checked out fine. After the repair, there's been a huge improvement. The engine starts smoothly even in cold weather, fuel consumption is back to normal, and the heat not working issue is completely resolved. No more error codes showing up either. For anyone else facing similar problems, the P0597 code combined with poor heating performance and rough cold starts seems to be a clear indicator of PTC heater failure in these models. Getting it fixed promptly definitely prevented any additional electrical fault issues from developing. Really appreciate all the advice that helped diagnose this correctly.