Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Warrington
Posts: 41
Fuel Burn Heater
Hi all
after a bit of advice regarding fuel burn heaters.
Had my 2006 disco 3 for 14 years now and thinking of fitting a FBH controller to aid cold starting and for a bit of heat on camping trips to scotland.
Seems the Britpart controllers a circa £300 and relatively easy to fit. However given the FBH has never been operated in 17 years has anyone had any experience of whether the FBH is likely to work once the controller is fitted, or am I standing on the edge of a potential money pit to get the system up and running?
Hi Graham
When you say your FBH has not been operated for 17yrs do mean that it’s been unplugged and never been turned on or that it has only been turned on by the car and not manually by you.
1st Dec 2023 1:23 pm
Grahjam
Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Warrington
Posts: 41
From what I read on the forum, I took it that FBH were installed but not wired up. As far as I know theres no manual switches in the car to turn it on, so had assumed that its never been operated since the car was built.
1st Dec 2023 3:28 pm
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 5036
Re: Fuel Burn Heater
Grahjam wrote:
However given the FBH has never been operated in 17 years has anyone had any experience of whether the FBH is likely to work once the controller is fitted, or am I standing on the edge of a potential money pit to get the system up and running?
Any comments welcome
If during your very long ownership you have ever started the car at a temperature of 4°C or below the heater will have started up automatically. Many owners don't notice it, and some don't even know it's fitted, whilst others think the car is going up in flames.
If you have a decent diagnostic tool eg GAP, you can start it up (test run) and see if it's functioning correctly.
If there's an internal fault it's usually the burner (glow plug assy) that has expired. However, the heater is serviceable with a new burner for around £190 to £230 (inc vat) depending on where you buy it. Part number LR010329.
Other components are also available such as temp sensors etc at much less cost. If you look in the forums Wiki section there is a great deal written on the Webasto Thermo Top IV heater and the timer options available. There is also much written and explained by members and their home constructed remote, which is (key fob manual start) operated and is a very cheap cost effective option.
I think there's even a "How To" written which guides you through the disassembly process for servicing it if you do a search. yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
1st Dec 2023 3:51 pm
Advanced Factors Site Sponsor
Member Since: 27 Nov 2012
Location: Southampton
Posts: 2649
Parts if required
Here is a handy link to some of the parts we offer for the fuel burning heater should you need any.
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8223
Grahjam wrote:
From what I read on the forum, I took it that FBH were installed but not wired up. As far as I know theres no manual switches in the car to turn it on, so had assumed that its never been operated since the car was built.
Start the engine tomorrow morning while the temperature is below 4 degrees lift the bonnet and carefully put your hand on the FBH exhaust silencer(front right near side) if it's warm the heater is running, beware it can get hit enough to burn you!
There are several factors that will stop it from firing up, low fuel or low battery charge are two.
Some FBH run virtually silent and fume free others start with a cloud of smoke and can be noisy.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
1st Dec 2023 6:00 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 971
I'll do some searching later, but briefly in the meantime can the FBH be used as a space heater for the car whilst parked up overnight? I.e. run for say 6-8hrs like the campervan Webasto models?2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 5036
Chances are your car might not still have that capability as it was removed from MY 2005. But, in theory it or similar can be reinstated. https://www.disco3.co.uk/wiki/Fuel_Burning_Heateryµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
1st Dec 2023 6:37 pm
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2225
Hi,
DIY - No
Grahjam, you can also use some free software and a lead to use Webasto diagnostics
this pic is from our 2006 RRS a few years ago and as peeps have said ^ a lot don't know its there or working, so the counter may surprise
its logged the Operating time as 4267 hours and 06 minutes so they do work quite a lot
Member Since: 02 May 2018
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 469
Given your questions, have you found a heater under the bonnet? Do you know what it looks like?
Click image to enlarge
This is a D4 one.
As said, start the car in the low temp that we are having now and the Fuel Burning Heater should fire up and sound like a jet engine.
It is automatic, and requires no driver input.
An option to start the FBH from the car maybe available to you on the dash. This was an option. It may not be activated though.
An alternative is the remote operation to pre heat the car. There are various options here.
See if your car has the FBH underbonnet first, and post back.2011 MY D4 HSE
Previously 2001 D2 TD5, 1996 D1 300Tdi, 1985 90 2.2 petrol.
Bikes! KTM, BMW, British, Classics and others.
1st Dec 2023 9:05 pm
Grahjam
Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Warrington
Posts: 41
Hi all
thanks for the replies and advice.
Ys there is a FBH fitted and started the car earlier, temp on clock 1 degree c, left running for 5 minutes or so, but no noticeable heat output from the body of the FBH of exhaust pipework, so I guess not running. Unfortunately don't have a code reader
3rd Dec 2023 1:11 pm
TR8Mat
Member Since: 23 Dec 2020
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 56
I think you also need demand on the internal heating too so put climate control on auto and crank up the temp dial. I thought mine had failed but the climate control was off.
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