Slow to heat up

[QMVWT6]

Is it just our 2019 T6 or does everyone's van take ages to heat up? It heats up quicker if driving, but sitting and waiting for warm air to come out of the vents takes ages. I drove to our local supermarket, 5 minutes away, then sat in the van waiting for my wife to finish the shopping, 35 minutes. The van still had not come off cold and only a very slightly warm airflow was coming out of the vents. OAT was -2c.

We had an Audi A3 TFSI that took around 15 to 20 minutes before warm air would come into the cab, Audi said it was normal because of the efficient engine!

 

[Loz]

I guess it depends on whether you have the engine preheater installed.
Do you have a webasto or eberspacher sticker on your driver's door reveal?

Ours has one and it comes on automatically when the temperature is 5deg or lower.
Without it, I expect it would take ages to warm up even with recirc on.

 

[Ali-G]

We had an Audi A3 TFSI that took around 15 to 20 minutes before warm air would come into the cab,

Petrol engines do warm up quicker than Diesel engines.

 

[Dieseldonkey]

As @Loz says, the auxiliary coolant heater makes a big difference. My temp needle starts to lift in about 4 miles if the temperature outside is sub 5 degrees. It takes longer to to lift if its above 5 degrees.

Did notice however the fleet of BMW diesels that I used to drive, warmed up considerably quicker than VAG engines. Maybe different cooling circuit or thermostat settings.

 

[Higgidav]

I would say it’s normal. I can drive for about 20mins on B roads before mine moves.

 

[rover220]

My t6 highline warms fairly quick. I believe it has an electric heating element to help warm up times.

 

[jimc91]

make sure you are using the recirculation button, trying to heat fresh air in this cold snap is harder than reheating the air already in the van

 

[Oldrat]

It’s all in the name of efficiency.
Keeping that heat in the engine unit to get up to the most efficient state as quickly as possible

 

[Ali-G]

Just taken the dog out and my van was blowing warm air after about 2 miles.

 

[Fluff34567]

My t6 highline warms fairly quick. I believe it has an electric heating element to help warm up times.

No element that I know of, either an aux coolant heater if you have the sticker on the door or nothing at all.

 

[Pete C]

Takes a good while to warm up if pootling around or idling, but quite quick if we get straight on the motorway.

Pete

 

[Chippie1]

Was quite impressed how quickly it warms up my last van 2009 caddy used to take ages 8mile to work straight on dual carriageway and didn’t warm up until I got there

 

[QMVWT6]

So a common issue then. No mine doesn't seem to have a preheater as there are no labels visible anywhere.

 

[Big Al]

It will take forever to warm at idle. It`s pointless sitting in it waiting for it to warm up when you`re going to drive it and it will only take a few miles to start to feel the benefit. Most of the combustion heat is turned to power so that`s why it takes longer to heat up.

 

[T6Paul]

I just get in and drive, it seems to get warm as quick as any other car I've had in the past, but its the heated seats that seem slow, it usually takes 10 mins until I get a warm bum!

 

[Fluff34567]

Yes agree with you there!

 

[Loz]

My t6 highline warms fairly quick. I believe it has an electric heating element to help warm up times.

I don't think is has. Mrs Loz’s mini does though.
The issue is getting the screen clear enough to get driving and warm it up.
If I know I will be taking Loz Jr. To the station in the cali, I use the remote to start the aux heater as I get up and the screen is at least de-iced when I get out. If it was a daily driver, I would have definitely ordered the heated windscreen.

@QMVWT6 maybe invest in a plug in heater on top of the dash?

 

[mmi]

its the heated seats that seem slow, it usually takes 10 mins until I get a warm bum!

Seriously - 10 minutes??? Measured this morning and again in the afternoon - 2 mins when it's comfortably warm, at 4 minutes starts to boil xxxx and have to turn it off, or at least step down the power. Current draw is almost 7 Amps at full power.

 

[T6Paul]

Seriously - 10 minutes??? Measured this morning and again in the afternoon - 2 mins when it's comfortably warm, at 4 minutes starts to boil xxxx and have to turn it off, or at least step down the power. Current draw is almost 7 Amps at full power.

Yes, 10 mins to get warm then less than 5 mins later it gets too hot and needs to be turned off! I wonder if there is a fault?.. How could I check?

 

[mmi]

Yes, 10 mins to get warm then less than 5 mins later it gets too hot and needs to be turned off! I wonder if there is a fault?.. How could I check?

I don't know if there are several heating elements in parallel - then one failed would slow down the heating? @Robert @Dilbert

[Guide] Heating Seat Failure And Repair

My drivers seat heating has stopped working. After quick check with resistance meter I have discovered very high resistance (few kΩ) in the drivers cushion element, backrest element was still okay (few Ω) Next thing was to carry out some research and establish faulty component part number. It...

www.t6forum.com

Anyways, measuring the current (or resistance) would give some ideas. Either a traditional multimeter, or by almighty VCDS/OBDeleven via OBD diagnostics port.