Sprinter CDi heater Booster.

[Cnics]

Heater Booster.

I read it is supposed to come on below 5 degrees, the light comes on but nobody is home. it used to work but now doesn't seem to. A friend of mine has a 311 the same and his appears to kick in more or less straight away (you can hear it) but nothing at all on mine. Any clues?

 

[mister_cee333]

The heater booster is a diesel fed and electrically controlled coolant heater. It's a black box with 2 coolant hoses, a small diesel pipe, and an electrical connection going to it. It lives behind the pasenger side headilght. Be careful if you decide to disturb it because it also has a fragile exhaust coming out of underneath it. Looking under the wheel arch you should see the exhaust.

To test it...make sure it has power when the switch is lit up, and make sure it has a diesel feed. Other than that it's a case of stripping it down and figuring out why it doesn't fire up.

If you remove it the 2 coolant hoses can be connected straight thru to each other but you'll need some connecting pipe. From memory 22mm copper pipe is about the right size.

I've done away with mine cos a)it didn't work and b)it started leaking. Does it make a drastic difference to warm up time?

 

[Cnics]

It used to make a significant difference and i could hear the thing running, but of course, over the summer (read : few days where the temperature reached double figures and people went on holiday) it's not been used. It now doesn't appear to do anything at all. Once the engine is warm it either switches off itself, (light remains lit) or i usually end up switching it off manually as once the engine is warm it is not needed its just the initial start up when i set off home from a gig at 2am and its -406 outside. I'll have a look and see if i can get to the bottom of it.

rob

 

[Cnics]

Right, i've given the van an oil change today and whilst i was there (first chance i've had) i've had a bit of a look around this ere heater booster lark.
With the engine running and the heater booster switched on i can feel the water going through the pipes, but looking at the thin diesel pipe there doesn't appear to be any fuel going through. Is there some form of valve on or near the tank, or a sensor, or could there be a blockage, also, where does the power go in? i've had a QUICK look and i'm sure a longer look will give me the answer but if anyone knows off hand that will make thins easier.
Finally, does the electrical input turn a pump that draws the fuel from the tank or is it pumped through from the tank via another pump somewhere else? I'm really starting to miss it now, between shows i pretty much live in the van when out on the road and whilst it's fine when i'm cruising on the motorway, as soon as i stop, or move onto smaller roads at lower speeds, the temp is dropping right down to under 60 and sometimes only just creeping above the 40degree resting point if it's stood at night. it's not so bad if i can park outside a venue and get a 240v supply from somewhere but often this isn't possible.


Rob

 

[mister_cee333]

i wish i could figure out the multi quote thing, sorry i can't.

you will probably not see diesel flow thru the small pipe, you'll need to remove it to find out. i've no idea how the fuel is pumped/sucked in.

the power, from memory, is a fair sized connector, easily unplugged for testing.

it sounds like the van is running cold. is the thermostat ok? mine takes a good 20-30 mins to reach about 85 degrees on the guage (on a cold morning), but then it stays there no matter what kind of roads i'm on.

 

[Cnics]

I'll take it apart if i get chance in the morning and have a better look.

Once the van gets up to 80 it is a little better, but if its stood idling for too long with the fan blowing at a high speed it soon starts to drop again.
From home to my unit where i spend alot of the time prepping gear involves a quick thrash down the A60 so from a cold start by the time i've done 3 or 4 miles it's starting to move and get warm, but if i'm just going around locally and not getting out onto open roads, the van will stick at 40degrees or maybe just above all day. I'll look into this heater booster as it's not doing anything (can't hear it running like i used to be able to do) and i'll also check the stat.

Rob