Heating????

[sidepod]

Never thought I’d be the one screaming at the van “just turn the f*****g heating on”

23 Ocean. Plenty of volts. Yellow heat icon. Whiring, momentary blast of cool air then nothing.
Remote fob doesn’t appear to do anything.

I’m trying to find a positive to this expensive heap but struggling so far!

 

[larrylamb]

Never thought I’d be the one screaming at the van “just turn the f*****g heating on”

23 Ocean. Plenty of volts. Yellow heat icon. Whiring, momentary blast of cool air then nothing.
Remote fob doesn’t appear to do anything.

I’m trying to find a positive to this expensive heap but struggling so far!

this thread might help

T6.1 Auxiliary Heater - help needed please!

Hi all, I have just taken delivery of my T6.1 4 motion and have read the instruction book on the heater and watched various videos on you tube. I have it set to the correct mode but its not performing As it should (i have had the T6 prior so i know What heat it can kick out) I have even put...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[larrylamb]

 

[m10chkcalifornia]

I think you need to channel some inner calm. This purchase obviously started badly but you are letting a little adversity destroy your peace of mind. Lots of posts and youtubes on the intricacies of the heating system. There are a number of options and settings.

Ours, once set, seems to take a few minutes to get properly going. There is an initial cool blast. Then a pause. Then heat. I presume it goes through that in order to check and initiate things. Just like booting any computer.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Never thought I’d be the one screaming at the van “just turn the f*****g heating on”

23 Ocean. Plenty of volts. Yellow heat icon. Whiring, momentary blast of cool air then nothing.
Remote fob doesn’t appear to do anything.

I’m trying to find a positive to this expensive heap but struggling so far!

Have you selected Heat Continuously and what heat level have you set @sidepod ?

 

[andyinluton]

Never thought I’d be the one screaming at the van “just turn the f*****g heating on”

23 Ocean. Plenty of volts. Yellow heat icon. Whiring, momentary blast of cool air then nothing.
Remote fob doesn’t appear to do anything.

I’m trying to find a positive to this expensive heap but struggling so far!

How cold is it where you are? unless you've turned the heating up to max there's a good chance that the internal temperature of the van is already hotter than you've set the thermostat.

 

[Californication69]

Never thought I’d be the one screaming at the van “just turn the f*****g heating on”

23 Ocean. Plenty of volts. Yellow heat icon. Whiring, momentary blast of cool air then nothing.
Remote fob doesn’t appear to do anything.

I’m trying to find a positive to this expensive heap but struggling so far!

Both of my 6.1 Ocean’s had a wobble now and again.
They would behave for 3 months.
(Only ever using heat continuously, while inside)
Then a couple of mornings in the week, press the fob for heat immediately, in the winter.
In the 4th month, I am inside and choose heat Cont.
it does nothing.
Half a tank of fuel.
Battery’s full.
Nothing.
Heater light on, on the overhead console. Then after 1 minute. It disappears.
I had to (whilst in a quiet campsite, unlock it.
Get in drivers seat.
Switch engine on.
Let it run for a minute.
Switch off
Back into camping mode.
Try again. Heat cont.
swear a bit, it’s normal.
But it wouldn’t start.
Started engine again.
1 minute.
Off.
No camp mode.
Heat cont.
waited around 5 minutes with orange light on but no heater. Then it starts up.
No rhyme or reason.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

The electrical gremlins are real.

This reflects my experience. I set the heat, it’s freezing outside and in.

I get a blast of air con from the main vents.

Then nothing.

Ages later the Webasto actually kicks in. By which time I’m asleep under 18 layers of bedding.

Between this, the Infotainment and the faff to spin the seats, I hear your pain @sidepod

That said, it’s a fun thing to pootle around in and camp with the family.

 

[pchmlk]

How cold is it where you are? unless you've turned the heating up to max there's a good chance that the internal temperature of the van is already hotter than you've set the thermostat.

Yes this.

 

[sidepod]

Well I initially assumed it was the ambient was too high although it was only showing 14 deg in the van.

Anyway, it was explained to me that , essentially, all I need was Heat Immediately which is what I was trying.
After giving up on that I tried Heat Constantly which, after three attempts worked.
Once this had proved the heater was working I tried Heat Immediately again. Same fail as before.

At this point I gave up and stomped off!

Ten minutes later I heard the sound of the heater running!

Tried Heat Immediately again this morning and it worked much quicker.

Clearly Heat On/Heat off was just too simple for the VW engineering dept.

 

[sidepod]

Spoke too soon! It just turned itself off after ten minutes! FFS!!!!!

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

It will turn on and off during use. Same as a central heating boiler at home.

 

[RockinNRollin]

There's a few things going on here; "Heat Immediately" has a built in timer which you set within the heating menu on the control panel - it's possible it was set to 10 mins. Both the Heat Immediately and Heat Continuously are thermostat linked; they go off and on to maintain the temperature. When the heating is "on" but it's dormant, i.e. between hot air sessions, you should still feel a gentle air movement from the heater vent by the door but it will be ambient temperature.

I honestly don't see the point of head immediately beyond defrosting the van in winter (via the remote) if you were using it as a commuter. It just seems an unnecessary complication. Heat continuously is the one to use for camping.

 

[soulstyledevon]

But at least you’ve still got the T4…
Right.

 

[Californication69]

And it’s a bit like family members, you love them, but they can get right up your nose.
But you’d miss them when they’re gone.
I miss my California.

 

[sidepod]

But at least you’ve still got the T4…
Right.

Oh god yes. Absolutely!!! I’m genuinely trying to like this but so far I can’t find a single thing that I think is an improvement.

Massive realisation on the drive home after collecting was that the passenger seat now can’t be reclined for in- flight dozing. One of the benefits of LHD!!

Mentally I’ve detached from the new one already.
Like a girlfriend you kind of fancy but just don’t want to get involved. Best kept at arms length.

 

[Californication69]

Mentally I’ve detached from the new one already.
Like a girlfriend you kind of fancy but just don’t want to get involved. Best kept at arms length.

Might be a grower. You’ll have to suck it and see for a few months.
Until the T7 is out, then come take a look at mine

 

[sidepod]

Might be a grower. You’ll have to suck it and see for a few months.
Until the T7 is out, then come take a look at mine

Possibly. I was thinking more WEBAC, just get it out of my sight kinda thing.

 

[larrylamb]

Oh god yes. Absolutely!!! I’m genuinely trying to like this but so far I can’t find a single thing that I think is an improvement.

Massive realisation on the drive home after collecting was that the passenger seat now can’t be reclined for in- flight dozing. One of the benefits of LHD!!

Mentally I’ve detached from the new one already.
Like a girlfriend you kind of fancy but just don’t want to get involved. Best kept at arms length.

What was your reasoning behind purchase, emissions re future trips?

 

[larrylamb]

Any pics?

 

[sidepod]

What was your reasoning behind purchase, emissions re future trips?

It’s just been one of those daft decisions. For years we’ve sat on campsites surrounded by shiny new Oceans but we’ve always been content and smug with our old 4.

A few weeks ago we started wondering what it would be like to live with a new one.
Despite reading endless doom on here about problems we went tyre kicking.

After a lot of agonising we had a f*** it moment and bought one.

The initial shock of several problems has just destroyed any excitement.

Bottom line, we just made an error of judgment.
Damage limitation/exit strategy required.

 

[m10chkcalifornia]

It’s just been one of those daft decisions. For years we’ve sat on campsites surrounded by shiny new Oceans but we’ve always been content and smug with our old 4.

A few weeks ago we started wondering what it would be like to live with a new one.
Despite reading endless doom on here about problems we went tyre kicking.

After a lot of agonising we had a f*** it moment and bought one.

The initial shock of several problems has just destroyed any excitement.

Bottom line, we just made an error of judgment.
Damage limitation/exit strategy required.

It happens sometimes! I did the same thing with a car recently. Convinced myself it was what we needed /wanted and got it home and realised I just didn't like it - and not as good as what we had. So ditched it. I took the financial hit rather than losing my mental health over it. My son claimed it was an ‘investment’ in learning what was actually important. Very philosophical. But life’s too short. You have something you really like in the T4. Stick with that. Oh And Cannot imagine that a T7 will have any less annoying ‘tech’ than a 6.1. Probably a whole lot more. Its the way all cars develop. Think of the joy when an electric parking brake starts to throw a wobbly!!

 

[soulstyledevon]

Such a shame.
The T4 is a great van.
T5.1 was probably the pinnacle of modernisation, without going to techy and still having good build quality and some value for money.
From there, Volkswagen build and pedigree fell off a cliff…

 

[larrylamb]

Maybe the RHD bit is f***ing with your head a bit. Losing that quick spin of the offside seat and usability. LHD 5.1/6 might suit you better, simpler control panel.

Worth a camp in tho before you make final decision.

 

[sidepod]

Maybe the RHD bit is f***ing with your head a bit. Losing that quick spin of the offside seat and usability. LHD 5.1/6 might suit you better, simpler control panel.

Worth a camp in tho before you make final decision.

You’re right. I’m just too angry at myself right now to think straight! We’re off across the channel in Sept so we’ll probably take the Ocean and try it for real. At least I can sit and enjoy its looks.
(Bugger, that’s another thing. The seats aren’t anywhere near as comfortable as the ones we carry in the 4 so we need to carry extra chairs).