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Location: Bideford - a good place to test juddering Fiats and electric bikes.
Status: Offline
The diesel fuel unit in our van works very well for most of the time but occasional there is a problem on start -up:
The fan starts and purges for about 2 minutes but when the fuel pump and glow plug start, the fuel fails to ignite and the unit belches white smoke for about 90 seconds until the fan speeds up again, combustion starts and the unit then operates normally.
The unit has been to a service agent twice and each time performed perfectly when tested! However despite much investigation no faults have been found but the problem still occasionally reappears.
There does not seems to be pattern to the problem - the unit can be stopped for a number of weeks or only hours and the problem may or may not reappear.
Although the experts say otherwise, the way the problem manifests itself suggest to me that the unit is occasionally over-fueled on start -up with insufficient air to support combustion.
Anyone have other ideas?
______________________________________________________________ Never let anything mechanical know you are in a hurry
I waited to see if you might get an answer from someone who knew something about your heater.
I have a problem with an Hydronic heater and cannot seem to find out what the problem is with it. I have no access to spare parts. If I did I would try a process of elimination replacing the glow plug first. You are in a similar position as diagnostics are not picking up your fault because your heater always fires up when it's on test.
The other option is to put up with it as it is till it gets worse which it surely will. At that point the diagnostic equipment should find the fault.
Frustrating I know.
We once had a hot air heater which was managing to deliver exhaust gasses into the van. The technical blokes said that was impossible, which it should be. A service was not needed but I had it done anyway replacing all the gaskets and the problem was cured, Alan.
Location: Bideford - a good place to test juddering Fiats and electric bikes.
Status: Offline
erneboy wrote:
.... till it gets worse which it surely will. At that point the diagnostic equipment should find the fault...., Alan.
That's what I thought Alan but it's been over 2 years now and just when you think it's gone away, back it comes. Then an appointment is booked ......... and it's gone again!!
______________________________________________________________ Never let anything mechanical know you are in a hurry
Well then, even if it's annoying at least it's dependable.
I guess you are left with trial and error.
As a matter of interest do you have to pay each time it goes back to the dealer or do they accept that there is fault which they have not been able to find?
I have two gas run ebs fitted to one of our support/escort vehicles, one in the cab and the other in the habitation area. Both are fantastic and we can’t live without them during the winter months when in the High Atlas etc.......But they do at times drive me nuts!
Mostly it is not the fault of the units. We have worked out that gas pressure is affected by the cold, gas getting low and at times, for whatever reason, Spanish/Moroccan gas. Also batteries need to be up to volts when firing-up.
By far the biggest problem has/is dust getting up the exhaust and air intake pipes partially blocking and getting into the unit itself and I think covering some of the sensors, easily sorted by a blast with an air-line.
In another vehicle we have a diesel fueled unit that does at times have a fuel quality and volts issue and always has the same dust intrusion problem.
Location: Bideford - a good place to test juddering Fiats and electric bikes.
Status: Offline
Detourer wrote:
...By far the biggest problem has/is dust getting up the exhaust and air intake pipes partially blocking and getting into the unit itself and I think covering some of the sensors, easily sorted by a blast with an air-line...Ray
Thanks. Ray Methinks a good blast with an airline up it's backside could bring it to its senses if not it's sensors!!
Best regards,
Tim
______________________________________________________________ Never let anything mechanical know you are in a hurry
...By far the biggest problem has/is dust getting up the exhaust and air intake pipes partially blocking and getting into the unit itself and I think covering some of the sensors, easily sorted by a blast with an air-line...Ray
Thanks. Ray Methinks a good blast with an airline up it's backside could bring it to its senses if not it's sensors!!
Best regards,
Tim
Probably not such a good idea that one! Most air heaters has a fine "super-mesh" type wick, so sticking an air line in there may not be the best, as once damaged the wick will need replacing. These wick's can be up to £135.00 to £175.00 to replace!!
Glow-pins are the most common, as is carbon build up around the wick and glow pin, providing that you are OK with Battery Volts and fuel delivery.
If you have heavy carbon build-up around the wick, this can be overcome by an overnight soak in White Spirits and dry off for another 24 hrs.
Carbon Build-up is norm a problem with Over-fuel, which a service engineer can check with a diagnostic and emissions test. If they haven't checked this as a matter of course, then you have to ask "Why not?".
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