Oh God climacontrol problem again please help

[DavidEW]

My car is having heating problems still and I want you VW genius' help to fix it rather than get screwed by my dealer or local mechanic. For the past 4 months it doesn't blow heat - only once in a great while. And then not for long. Yes, I've searched the posts and also posted earlier but didn't get any real help so I'm trying again. I just got it back from the local mechanic and those guys are total clowns. I asked them specifically if it was the servo motors and they said it was the A/C controller. I said you mean climatronic and they said "sure yeah". Said they could get a new "A/C Controller" for around $700 or a used one for $400 so I took the car home. I know I can get one for much less. The T-stat is fine and the heater core is flowing hot fluid. After the car has been running for awhile sometimes if I switch the Climatronic a bunch of times (recirc/full hot/defrost/fresh air etc) it does blow some hot air but doesn't seem to last really.
I don't trust them. They kept saying"A/C controller" - is there such a thing? Also the codes I got on my cheap OBD device said servo flaps. I guess what I don't want to do is go through the trouble of buying a new unit, putting it in and then finding out it's not that. Also would hate to pay to have the dash ripped off for servos if that's not the problem.
Main question is: if I take my car down to pep boys and have someone use a VAG-COM can they specifically check the Climatronic unit to see if it's faulty?

Thanks-

VW 2002.5 B5.5 Passat GLX V6 Triptronic

[vbora01]

Start here:

Climatronic Diagnostic Codes

Climatronic system has it's own diagnostics. Any problems will come up in the "DIAG" mode. Once here, you navigate a bit and can list off any codes that are being reported by the system itself.

[BHall]

Here's a few things I did.. its not the most methodical (should have done one and then checked) but something worked cus my air is back to normal:
- there was a bunch of dust all caked up on what must be a sensor inside of the little grill on the Climatronic - paperclip
- I think its four screws and some shimmying that will get the module out, I unplugged it for a few minutes
- my hoses on the firewall were also hot both to and from the core, so I loosened the hose clip and pulled the hose back just for a second to let out any air in the system
- fill up the reservoir, I think mine lets out a very tiny amount
- and last resort - coolant temp sensor back behind the engine, Autozone was like $20, I had to break it out and pry the broken horseshoe pin out, $.75 from VW