This is where everyone should post their heater core SOLUTIONS. Not necessarily that you have an issue, although asking a question about someones solution will be permitted.

My issue: No heat at time of purchase.

Solution, Audi dealership replacing the heater core (cost $1700, do NOT recommend)
Fixed at beginning of winter, and by the end, the heat had faded.

Issue #2: Less heat, no heat at idle, slowly got worse.

Returned to dealer for diagnosis. Returned to me and stated oil in the cooling system, large amount in heater core

(explains where the 4 quarts of oil went that I lost)

Replaced the oil cooler myself about a month ago, had better heat, but still not that blazing hot heat I had.

Still fighting this issue, heat is slowly loosing power again. I hear air bubbles in the heater core, so I will bleed the system and flush the heater core again.

 

everyone is aware of this issue its in the stickes

heatercore swap
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/int54.shtml

fixed clogged carbin filter
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/misc36.shtml

 

I always enjoy trotting out this picture...

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/100_1509.jpg

Heat worked like a champ after that project!

 

thats one head of a project to take on!

 

Damn, why'd you (or whoever's picture this originally was if it's not yours) pull the whole dash physically out of the car? I did mine by just moving the dash forward enough in the cabin to access the core; made the reassembly that much easier lol

Anyhow, to the OP, I can't offer much insight on your listed issues other than maybe your thermostat isn't opening all the way? When was it last replaced?

To the general topic of the thread though, here's the link to my personal attempt at replacing the heater core https://www.audiforums.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=160018 it has pics of how I got to it and things that you'll need to be wary of when attempting it yourself.

As the OP stated, the dealer asks a pretty penny for the job, so if you can do it yourself, all you need is a couple screwdrivers, a variety of sockets from 8mm to 17mm and possibly a few extensions, a good 6-8 hours, a $50.00 heater core, and someone with knowledge/machinery to drain and recharge a/c refrigerant.

 

i literally have none of those lol

 

I had the same problem and asked a mechanic to flush it, he said it was clogged solid. This was after dumping a ton of money into it after buying it broken.

Here’s how I Unclogged it.

1) Used a small 20 gal bucket electric pump and hooked it up directly to the input and output lines of the heater core directly under the windshield. I had low flow and there was a lot of S**T coming out. Most of it came out and I had some heat at high RPM.
Eventually it clogged up again from all the stuff in my radiator lines.

2) Next I hooked my garden hose up to the heater core and blasted all the crap out of it in each direction. I did this to the radiator line as well. My heat works pretty well now. Remember to bleed the system. There’s a small hole on the left side line running to the heater core that you can use to bleed the system. It took me a few attempts at bleeding the system to get all the air out but I eventually got it.

Hope this helps, it took me a few tries.

 

Sorry, My computer likes to double post