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2004 VW Passat wagon - defrost

18 years ago

Why is it that the defroster in my car clears the passenger side of the windshield long before the driver's side? This has been on-going since I bought the car and it's a nuisance.

Comments (13)

ericwi
18 years ago
It could be a design defect, or it could be an assembly problem. Maybe someone else with the same make and model car will see this thread and respond.

In our VW Fox, the entire dashboard/instrument/control panel assembly is part of a single module, and is very difficult to work on while installed in the car. It would have to be removed to thoroughly inspect the defrost ducting.
earthworm
18 years ago
The Passat is still under warranty, I would think.
A good system would be set up at the factory to shoot 60% of the air to the drivers side...(IMO)
To have the best defroster effectiveness, the dash vents MAY have to be closed.
This should be in the owner's manual...
BTW, I once owned a '93 Passat VR6 - German workmanship and design quality are now a myth...
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njtea
Original Author
18 years ago
Finally decided to call the dealer - although that's another big hassel. I do close the dash vents per manual instructions and it doesn't help.
ericwi
18 years ago
Good luck with the defrost problem. The big problem here is access to the ductwork and control valves. Most likely, a small duct is not correctly fastened to a port, and the warm air is not getting to your windshield. Another possibility is that a flexible duct line has been kinked, or blocked off with foreign material.
earthworm
18 years ago
Eric is probably correct, but with a one year old car, this is a warranty issue, I would think.
Sadly, the VW dealers are among the best at "un-selling" an automobile due to poor dealer service...
Check out the VW Vortex..
jasonmi7
18 years ago
Wrong, Earth. VW dealers are actually very highly rated by JD Powers.

On the Jetta; the blower is on the right; so the heat first gets to the passenger sides before the driver's side unless you adjust the little outflow vents. When you balance them, everything works fine. Perhaps it's the same thing on a Passat.
Richard33
18 years ago
This is a defect in design. I have same problem, went to dealer and tested three other cars (2001, 2002, 2004). THey all exhibit the exact same problem. Not enough air is reserved for use on driver side, source is on passenger side. Dealer advised to write to VW of America. Hah!
jasonmi7
18 years ago
Yeah; defect. Tell you what. Email me and I'll take that 'lemon' off your hands. 90% of the cars I've owned have been designed the same way, Japanese, German, American. I'll suffer for you.
john_g
18 years ago
Sounds like it's perfectly designed, for RH drive that is...
valtog
18 years ago
I hate to disagree with you Jason, but we've had 2 rabbit diesels, a fox, a golf, 4 Audis and I'm on my 2nd Passat (the first was a B4, this one a B5.5) I've only had this problem on the Passats. On the upside...it's been my only complaint!
valtog
18 years ago
In the realm of vw dealerships, there are the good, the bad and the ugly. This link might help....

Here is a link that might be useful: dealership ratings
gary__
18 years ago
The defroster is fine. They just put the steering wheel and other controls on the wrong side. Controls are supposed to be on the right in German cars aren't they?
jasonmi7
18 years ago
Gary; I think that's England/Ireland/Scotland you're thinking of.

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