Auxiliary diesel heating not working.

Vanos · Nov 23, 2020

Any advice what I can check, went to use the diesel heater to warm up the van this weekend and although everything seemed normal the control panel was set for 10 minutes heat setting was in the middle and we had 3/4 full tank nothing much happened.
I have a t5 2012 cali.

WelshGas · Nov 23, 2020

Vanos said:
Any advice what I can check, went to use the diesel heater to warm up the van this weekend and although everything seemed normal the control panel was set for 10 minutes heat setting was in the middle and we had 3/4 full tank nothing much happened.
I have a t5 2012 cali.

What voltage is seen on the Control Panel?
Without using the timer, set to highest level, does it start?
If not, repeat with lights on over the kitchen. Do the lights flicker?
.
Now plug the vehicle into the Mains.
Voltage seen on Control Panel?
Does the heater start while plugged into the Mains?

Alan Andrews · Nov 23, 2020

Are you trying to activate via a remote or the control panel?

Whichever, try the other method.

When you say nothing much happened, does this mean that something did occur?

Vanos · Nov 23, 2020

We have a beach model with no kitchen and we don't have at the moment electric hook up. In the past when using the heater we would simply press the control panel or use the key, we kept the same setting as it works for us. The control panel does not show voltage. I would normally hear the fan noise and then a few seconds later feel the heat.
I hope it will just be a fuse gone somewhere.

WelshGas · Nov 23, 2020

Vanos said:
We have a beach model with no kitchen and we don't have at the moment electric hook up. In the past when using the heater we would simply press the control panel or use the key, we kept the same setting as it works for us. The control panel does not show voltage. I would normally hear the fan noise and then a few seconds later feel the heat.
I hope it will just be a fuse gone somewhere.

Is it the original leisure battery? If so, it is now 8 yrs old, and if you haven't been able to charge it up on Mains hook up then it is probably past its best and the colder weather would only make matters worse. If you measure the voltage it is probably 11.5v or less and the Parking Heater will not start at that level.
Get a cheap 12v plug in voltmeter that will plug into one of the 12v sockets in the camping area to measure the voltage.

flying banana · Nov 23, 2020

try it with the engine running , they are voltage sensitive as said above. make sure no timers are set ( i seem to vaguely remember the beach control panel ). set it to level 10 or full heat. also do check your leisure voltage

Vanos · Nov 23, 2020

WelshGas said:
Is it the original leisure battery? If so, it is now 8 yrs old, and if you haven't been able to charge it up on Mains hook up then it is probably past its best and the colder weather would only make matters worse. If you measure the voltage it is probably 11.5v or less and the Parking Heater will not start at that level.
Get a cheap 12v plug in voltmeter that will plug into one of the 12v sockets in the camping area to measure the voltage.

Does the leisure battery not charge itself when the van is running.

WelshGas · Nov 23, 2020

Vanos said:
Does the leisure battery not charge itself when the van is running.

Yes, but not fully and not in the same way a mains charger will to prolong life. Even VW suggest Leisure Batteries are charged for a minimum 12 hrs every month to prolong life. Your battery will run lights and 12v sockets but be unable to cope with the high power requirements of starting the Parking Heater if not in good condition and if 8 yrs old and just charged by driving its probably due for retirement.

Vanos · Nov 23, 2020

Thanks for the reply, just tried it with the engine running it made a ticking sound from above the fuel tank, it also sounded like it was trying to ignite. air felt like it was coming out of the vents, but then this stopped or I just imagined it was.

flying banana · Nov 23, 2020

you need to get charger on that leisure battery. also if the heater hasn't run for a while it may take some firing as fuel ay have run back down the pipe to the tank. the ticking noise is a good sign. that's the dosing pump which means the heater is calling for fuel. try it again

Vanos · Nov 23, 2020

Looking now to get a tester, and where and how much for a new battery, it does seem to be the battery, I'll update the thread when I get a tester..

flying banana · Nov 23, 2020

the heater needs a good voltage to light up the glow pin. any smoke with the fan running ?

Vanos · Nov 23, 2020

No sign of smoke coming from the heater exhaust that I can see.

flying banana · Nov 23, 2020

sounds like the fuel isn't there yet or the glow pins not lit.

WelshGas · Nov 23, 2020

Vanos said:
Looking now to get a tester, and where and how much for a new battery, it does seem to be the battery, I'll update the thread when I get a tester..

This is the direct replacement. As long as the dimensions are the same other makes will fit.

LA80 Varta Professional Dual Purpose AGM Leisure Battery 840 080 080

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