Abstract: A vehicle heating system, and method, for heating a passenger compartment. The heating system has a heat control switch operable to activate the heating system, a fat producing airflow, a ventilation system directing the airflow throughout the passenger compartment and a heater core having a temperature sensor. The heater core is disposed behind the fan, such that air passes through, and is heated by the heater core prior to entering the fan. A supplemental heating element is disposed in an airflow path of the heating system. Air flow produced by the fan passes through the supplemental heating element before passing through the ventilation system to heat the passenger compartment. The heating system has a control unit, which controls current flow to the supplemental heating element based on the inputs received from the vehicle's ignitions switch, the temperature sensor, and the heat control switch.