Replacing the radiator of the Volkswagen Polo sedan

Replacement of the heater radiator Volkswagen Polo sedan

The cabin heater on the Volkswagen Polo sedan performs its task well and does not cause problems to the driver. However, after 150-200 thousand kilometers the heater radiator can get clogged or leak because of corrosion. As a rule, it occurs in those cars, where the coolant is not changed in time. A clogged radiator does not give off heat well and to maintain a comfortable temperature in the cabin you need to turn on a higher fan speed than it was before.

In this article, we will break down the process of replacing the heater radiator Volkswagen Polo sedan, list the list of tools for the work, as well as tell you about the choice of parts.

Diagnosis

As a rule, with a clogged heater radiator, the pipes coming out of the engine shield are hot, that is, the liquid passes through the radiator, but the heat is not released into the cabin.

Part selection

The original radiator is 6R0 819 031. Of quality substitutes, pay attention to the radiators from manufacturers Mahle/Behr, Nissens.

Tools and materials for the job:

• Phillips screwdriver;
• Plastic spatulas for removing interior parts;
• Torx wrench set;
• Thirteen-point socket;
• A screwdriver with a ratchet;
• Extension;
• Ten-pocket wrench;
• Slotted screwdriver;
• Pliers for crimping the pipes;
• Rags.

Step by step instruction

1. Pull up and remove the plug behind the parking brake lever from the latches. Next, unscrew one self-tapping screw fixing the center console. Screw for a Phillips screwdriver. Pay attention, if you can not pull up the plug, then pick it up from the side with a plastic spatula.

2. 2. Use the spatula to pry under and remove (screw up) the transmission handle trim. Next unscrew the two Torx screws.

Open the right front door and pry off the plastic trim near the glove box. The trim is on the latches.

Unscrew the seven self-tapping screws securing the glove box and remove it. There are five self-tapping screws marked in the photo below, but two more need to be unscrewed at the bottom edges. Torx screws.

5. 5. Lift up and remove the mag and heater switch box frames. Next, unscrew the four screws securing the stereo and two more screws securing the heater control box. The screw is a Torx screw.

6. Slide the boombox out toward you, unplug the power connector and remove it. Behind the cassette remove the two self-tapping screws, they are marked in the photo below.

7. 7. Open the two bottom latches on the plastic cover, and lift up the plastic tabs. The photo below shows the location of the latches and hooks.

8. 8. Grasp with your hand as shown in the photo below and pull the plastic cover toward you. It will come out of the latches on the right, left side and you will be able to remove it.

9. 9. Remove the four self-tapping screws from the center console mount. The location of the screws is shown in the photo below and they are Torx wrench.

10. 10. Loosen the two nuts in the recess of the handbrake tensioning mechanism and lift it up as much as possible. Next, guide the transmission handle trim through the center console, lift it up, then disconnect the cigarette lighter connector and remove it. The handbrake tension nuts are a thirteen wrench.

11. Remove the transition piece to the rear air ducts. The socket is rubber and removes without any problems.

12. Under the heater housing, unscrew the three nuts fixing the airbag unit and remove it to the side. The nuts are a ten point wrench.

13. 13. Move aside the noise insulation and then use a slotted screwdriver to open the four latches of the heater housing. After opening the latches, the lower part of the housing will go down and can be removed.

14. 14. Under the hood, remove the air filter housing and unscrew the mounting bolt for the radiator connections. The Torx bolt. In order that the coolant does not come out of the pipes (under the hood) you need to squeeze them with pliers.

15. Remove the heater radiator and install a new one in reverse order. Note that the outlet and inlet on the radiator are at an angle, so you need to orient it correctly when installing.

As a side note. When installing, wrap the new heater radiator with foam rubber around the contour. As a rule, with a quality radiator comes self-adhesive foam rubber in the kit.

Clearly the process of replacing the heater radiator Volkswagen Polo sedan in this video:

To summarize .

As can be seen from the above, the process of replacing the radiator is not complicated and under the power of the driver with no experience in car maintenance. Difficulties may arise only with the removal of the radiator itself, as there is little space.

If you are not confident in your abilities, at the service station the price for replacing the heater radiator Volkswagen Polo sedan from 1500 to 2000 rubles.

Removing and cleaning the radiator Volkswagen Polo

It often happens when the weather is warm, the car begins to overheat. The cooling system fan runs without stopping. The true cause of engine overheating is not always immediately understandable.

Most often, car owners begin to change the thermostat and the pump. And when everything has been changed, the car still overheats, then they only begin to inspect the radiators. The cooling radiator and air conditioner radiator in most cars are installed very close to each other. There is often poplar fuzz and a lot of debris between them, which does not allow the air flow to cool the radiator of the cooling system to its fullest extent.

Sometimes the only way to see if there is clogging between the radiators is to use a small mirror and a flashlight. This photo report will show you how to remove the main cooling system radiator on your 2013 VW Polo 1.6 and how to clean it from debris.

Removing the radiator will drain the coolant, and after reassembly we recommend pouring new antifreeze. The full volume of the cooling system of the VW Polo 1.6 car is 5.6 liters . Recommended antifreeze grade is G12, G12+, G13.

Necessary tools for work

• Visiting pit or elevator;
• Wrench 13mm for removing the engine protection;
• Screwdrivers “+” and “-“;
• Pliers;
• Torx bit T20, T30;
• Coolant bottle;
• Compressor and purge gun.

How to Clean Radiators Polo 1.6

• Remove the engine guard.
• Drain coolant from radiator.
• Disconnect the wires from the cooling fan and pull out the diffuser with the fan.
• Disconnect all pipes from the radiator.
• Remove the headlamps.
• Remove the bumper.
• Unscrew radiator pads.
• Remove radiator mounting bolts and disconnect radiators.
• Remove the main radiator.
• Blow out the removed radiator and air conditioner radiator with air from the compressor.
• After cleaning the radiators reassemble everything.
• Pour in the new coolant.

Next in our photo report are more detailed instructions.

We proceed to remove the main radiator of the cooling system, to eliminate contamination between the radiators.

There is enough space between the engine and the radiator to do the job without any problems.

The first thing we will do is remove the engine guard. Let’s go under the car and with a 13mm wrench unscrew the five bolts fixing the protection. And using a T20 torx bit we unscrew the four screws that fix the underride guard to the side skirts.

After removing the shield proceed to drain the coolant. Since there is no drain valve on this radiator, you have to drain through the lower radiator pipe.

Use pliers to squeeze the euto clamp and pull it aside.

Unscrew the cap of the expansion tank so that no vacuum is formed in the cooling system and the liquid is drained without any problems.

Pull off the lower radiator fitting and drain the coolant, placing a container for antifreeze.

And, next to that, disconnect the electrical connector of the cooling system fan.

Having disassembled everything that was available at the bottom, proceed to the disassembly at the top. Remove the clamp and disconnect the air intake pipe.

On the other side of this pipe there are four pawls. Press on them and pull out the air intake spigot.

After removing the air intake, you will have access to the upper radiator connectors. Let’s take them off, having moved aside euro clamps.

To pull out the fan, you must first remove the bracket fixing the air intake pipe. Unscrew the two screws on the sides of the bracket using a torx T20 bit.

Now we will pull out the cooling fan with the diffuser. It is not screwed down, it just stands in four slots on the sides.

From the lower slots the diffuser can be pulled out without any problems, but from the upper slots it is fixed with a latch, which you need to press with a screwdriver.

We pull out the fan and remove it to the side.

Now it is necessary to disconnect the air conditioner radiator from the main radiator. To do this you need to remove the bumper.

With a torx T20 bit unscrew the two screws fixing the radiator grille.

Unscrew the upper screws fixing the headlights with a torx T30 bit.

And pull the headlights out by pulling on themselves. They are not screwed down, and only set in their slots and fixed by spring latches.

Pulling the headlight out of its seat, disconnect the four electrical connectors and remove the headlight.

Continue to remove the bumper. Bit torx T20 unscrew the three screws, on each side of the wheels, securing the winglet to the bumper.

And the same bit unscrew the screw that secures the bumper to the front fender.

Now unhook the edges of the bumper from its latches by pulling it with a little effort toward you.

Under the headlights, the bumper is also mounted on the latches. Pull the bumper toward you, and a screwdriver under the locks.

Also grille just pulled out by pulling on itself with a little effort.

We take off and remove the bumper aside.

Next, we need to unscrew the radiator mount pads. Unscrew one screw on each side of the radiator, using a torx T30 bit.

After unscrewing the radiator pads, move the radiators closer to the engine and unscrew the bolts that hold the air conditioner radiator to the main radiator. Use a torx T30.

And on the other side are two more radiator mounting bolts.

Also, at the end, the air conditioner tubes are bolted to the main radiator. Unscrew them using the torx T30.

Now we can take out the main radiator, and the air conditioner radiator stays in place.

In the photo you can see how much dirt is stuck to the radiator and does not let the air flow to cool the antifreeze.

The air conditioner radiator doesn’t have any mold on it, but it will be cleaned as well.

We take the removed radiator outdoors and blow out all the dirt with air from the compressor.

The purge gun must not be held too close so as not to damage the radiator honeycomb.

Contamination of the radiator can be seen by looking through the radiator into the light. Blow out the radiator until it is completely clean of dirt.

Now blow out the air conditioner radiator. It is advisable to roll the car outdoors, as there will be a lot of dust.

After blowing and cleaning all the radiators we begin the reassembly. Install the main radiator in place.

Connect the radiators with each other, screw the mount pads.

Install and screw in bumper and headlights.

Connect all connectors, install cooling fan in place. Install the air intake pipe.