Product Description
The STARK Heater matrix (SKHE-0880016) is an original-equipment-quality passenger compartment heat exchanger manufactured by STARK. Positioned deep inside the vehicle's dashboard within the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) housing blower unit, its primary function is to warm the cabin air. It accomplishes this by circulating hot engine coolant through a network of finely finned internal tubes. As the cabin blower fan forces fresh air across these high-surface-area aluminum cooling fins, heat is transferred into the air stream to warm the interior and defrost the windshield. Engineered with premium materials, this unit ensures rapid thermal exchange and maximum resistance against internal scale buildup and pressure spikes.
Product Specifications
- Manufacturer: STARK
- Item Number: SKHE-0880016
- Product Condition: New
- Core Material: High-grade Lightweight Aluminum (Optimized for rapid thermal conductivity)
- Tank Material: Durable, heat-stabilized structural polymer composite
- Core Dimensions [mm]: 234 x 156 x 42 (Standard VAG interior dimensions)
- Inlet/Outlet Pipe Diameter [mm]: 20
- Vehicle Equipment: Engineered for both vehicles with or without factory-installed air conditioning
Vehicle Compatibility
This aluminum heater core matrix is a precision-dimensioned layout matching the standard dashboard climate control networks of classic second and third-generation Volkswagen Group (VAG) passenger cars:
| Car Model | Compatible Engines / Variants | Engine Displacement Range | Year of Manufacture |
|---|---|---|---|
| VW Golf II (19E, 1G1) / Jetta II (19E) | 1.3 / 1.6 / 1.8 / 1.8 GTI / 1.6 D / 1.6 TD | 1272 - 1781 cc | 1983 - 1992 |
| VW Golf III (1H1) / Vento (1H2) / Variant / Convertible | 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.8 / 2.0 / 2.8 VR6 / 1.9 D / 1.9 TDI | 1391 - 2792 cc | 1991 - 1998 |
| VW Passat B3 & B4 (3A2, 35I) / Saloon / Variant | 1.6 / 1.8 / 2.0 / 2.8 VR6 / 1.6 TD / 1.9 TDI | 1595 - 2792 cc | 1988 - 1997 |
| SEAT Toledo I (1L) / Ibiza II (6K1) / Cordoba (6K2) | 1.3 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.8 / 2.0 / 1.9 TDI | 1272 - 1984 cc | 1991 - 1999 |
⚠️ VAG Historical Recall & Safety Note: Early factory heater matrices installed by VW in Golf II and Passat B3 models were prone to sudden pressure failure, leading to a massive safety recall where inline plastic pressure-reducing valves were retrofitted into the heater feed hoses. When installing this modern, reinforced STARK replacement unit, ensure your cooling circuit pressure cap is fully operational (releasing at 1.4 bar) and that old bypass valves are inspected or removed as per current restoration best practices to guarantee steady cabin heating performance. Replacing a heater core requires extensive disassembly of the dashboard assembly.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Reference Numbers
This premium replacement cabin heater core satisfies or directly cross-references with the following factory original equipment component codes:
- VAG (VW / AUDI / SEAT / SKODA): 191 819 031, 191819031, 1H1 819 031, 1H1819031, 1H1 819 031A, 1H1819031A