VW Passat HELP

I recently had an Audi A4 with heater issues so read up on it, it's same car as yours underneath.
Don't use water, it must have correct VW coolant which is red/pink.
Did you recently have to top up the coolant? You said you did four months ago, but have you since and have you used heater since?
I'm wondering if this is first time you've set it for heat, and if you simply filled it with engine off you might very well have air trapped in there. They need to be filled correctly and bleed out.
Just maybe your problem is simpler than a blown heater core.
I strongly suggest you take it to a VW/Audi specialist who knows these cars. They can diagnose correctly.

we dont know the smell glycole is a sweeet smell . aircon smells different has its own smell also when bacteria grows on the aircon condenser.

I think you are dreaming at that price too. I just purchased an immaculate V5 Passat here in chch a few weeks ago for $3500. I highly doubt someone will purchase it with the check engine light on too. I would $1 reserve it, list the faults and hope you get 2k for it.

Definitely take it somewhere that knows that cars, but I'm pretty sure the damage is done and there is going to be a sizable labour bill for getting it sorted

Here's what I would do/have done. Start the car and pull the coolant reservoir return tube off, let coolant flow to waste until the reservoir is almost empty, pour in a bottle of bars leaks and watch it drain into the engine, stop the engine, re-attach the return line, and top up the reservoir with (distilled) water, drive the car for 30 minutes with heater on full, you need to get thermostat to open otherwise it could seal up, in my experience that will seal the leak permanently. The instructions on the bottle are much simpler but leave residue in the reservoir.

I don't think you'd want to mix Bars Leaks (or anything else for that matter) with the factory VW coolant (assuming that is still in there)

Perhaps better to fix it properly in the first place IMO, rather than use those questionable quick fixes. Especially as it's for sale. Think of the buyer who's gonna end up shelling out a fair chunk of his hard earned for something that he'll likely have to end up paying to repair correctly sooner rather than later. In an old car nearly at the end of it's life maybe, to get another few months out of it. but perhaps not in this case.

Very untimely and I don't think you have a snowballs show in hell of getting the price you are asking? With the faults mentioned I still wouldn't class it as being in "great condition" that would be tantamount to false advertising I'm afraid.
You may think different but I goes by my instincts and they are telling me . steer clear!

Don't panic! contact Qualitat Motors and get a quote. If it was my car I'd get a 2nd hand replacement (wrecking yard) and do it myself. It actually may pay to talk to a Wrecker (AA Wreckers, Kevin) and he'll be able to let you know what is involved for removing and replacing a heater core.

What coolant did you put in it?
Green stuff or pink stuff?
Putting green coolant in a VW causes all sorts of issues.

Really? I wasn't aware of this.
Does the vehicle run too cool?
Can you tell me more what happens.
Thanks

VW run their own special G13 blend of coolant, for several reasons. The key problem I see over and over again is people (even supposed mechanics) thinking they know better than the manufacturer and putting green coolant in the system. When the green coolant mixes with the remains of the VW coolant it turns to jelly. Typically this occurs in the transmission heat exchanger and the transmission will tend to overheat and fail. This is one of the key reasons why the older 4/5 speed automatic transmissions in MK3/4 Golfs and others of the era fail prematurely. Often the owner or mechanic doesn't put 2 and 2 together and realise what the actual cause has been, or it's kept from the owner to hide the mistake.

There are other reasons VW use it as well, like it's long life (up to 5 years), it contains a lubricant for the waterpump and does a particularly good job of protecting the many aluminium radiators in the cars (it's not unusual for a VW to have multiple radiators just for the engine).

Obviously corrosion and premature failure of these systems can be very expensive (as is most likely the case here, and as it is with any similarly sophisticated modern vehicle). The proper coolant isn't really even any dearer than any other of equivalent quality.

Sorry to sound so negative, I am not knocking you for asking, I just get frustrated at mechanics who should know better. I even politely pointed this out to a "Mechanic of 30 years" the other day who was selling a Golf I was looking at for someone. Instead of saying thanks or "I will look in to it" he just went on an angry tirade of multiple emails (which I didn't respond to) telling me all about his many years of experience and then went on to change his advertisment to tell everyone how it had the correct coolant in it (when clearly it didn't).

It's a sad reflection of the state of our motor industry in this country. Good on you for asking though, that's how you learn and avoid expensive mistakes!

Bellababy.--Its a fairly common issue with that make/model/year.
Look it up and you'll see what I mean.
I strongly suspect its actually $300 worth of parts and 10 hours labour which equates to roughly a $1200 repair.
This is based on personal experience selling a few of both the Audi and VW variations of the same vehicle.

I suspect you are thinking of the previous model Passat (The B5), unless it's a VERY late reg, an 06 should be a B6. It's not common to have this problem with a B6.

I understand that having had two late model VW Golfs that both had endless electrical problems I will never again buy a VW. Son in law had a one year old Golf and also had no end of problems.

It's a B5.5