Member Since: 03 Mar 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 210
The car went into the dealers yesterday for them to look at the FBH.
They said that they couldn't get it to work so it would need to go back in - perhaps for up to 5 days so they could install a new unit and test it.
Anyhow, started the car up this morning and it looked like I was making smoke to try to escape from the German fleet.
Seriously, I got quite worried - especially when I saw smoke coming from under the bonnet. Flipped it open to find smoke coming out from the FBH silencer box.
Got some pics but cannot seem to post them onto my gallery (too big I think).
I guess it's smoking as it hasn't run for a while - even so, it really was quite spectacular.
Not hopeful that it'll keep working though..........
chopdogs14 Disco 4 HSE
20th Jan 2011 11:52 am
Rabbit Leader
Member Since: 15 Apr 2008
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 196
FBH cont.
I can tell you with mine, LR were keen for them to test every part of it, before they would commit to replacing it - and this was UNDER WARRENTY!
They first changed the fuel pump to it, then the ignition system (in the FBH, not the car) then were asked to measure the amounts of fuel passing to the system over a set period!
(my problem was that it would fire up, but stop after a couple of minutes)
Chopdogs, I hope they don't muck you about as much as they did me!
... and after 5 trips to the dealers, checking everything, and finally agreeing to replace it, LR told them they didn't have one in stock anyway!!
... but finally the new unit does seem to be working now
Good luck Paramedic, Father, Dog lover and Husband ... in no particular order!
20th Jan 2011 1:14 pm
Steve H
Member Since: 14 Apr 2008
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 98
Re: FBH cont.
Rabbit Leader wrote:
I can tell you with mine, LR were keen for them to test every part of it, before they would commit to replacing it - and this was UNDER WARRENTY!
They first changed the fuel pump to it, then the ignition system (in the FBH, not the car) then were asked to measure the amounts of fuel passing to the system over a set period!
(my problem was that it would fire up, but stop after a couple of minutes)
Chopdogs, I hope they don't muck you about as much as they did me!
... and after 5 trips to the dealers, checking everything, and finally agreeing to replace it, LR told them they didn't have one in stock anyway!!
... but finally the new unit does seem to be working now
This trying to fire up but failing to achieve a full start is a common problem there's another thread I started a couple of weeks ago discussing it.
Good luck
D4 SDV6 XS Orkney Grey
20th Jan 2011 10:13 pm
Tafty
Member Since: 17 Sep 2007
Location: Worcester
Posts: 5
During the cold spell at Christmas I had FBH, heated drivers seat and both EGR valves pack up on me within days of each other, which all meant for a chilli experience.
However whilst Land rover said they needed to replace the FBH I'm guessing it had some sort of repair kit fitted as the only shiny new thing under the bonnet is the exhaust side of it I think. I also grabbed the car back before they could test the FBH, because the temperature wasn't low enough they say they couldnt check it. However whilst the car seems to be warming up quicker than it did, it still doesn't seem to be as effective as the old D3 this one has just replaced. It certainly doesn't seem to be smoking to the extent of the old one? Do they smoke every time they fire?vanstoday.com
21st Jan 2011 8:24 am
mallo
Member Since: 10 Feb 2009
Location: Jersey
Posts: 351
Tafty and all
The smoke is generally from un-burnt fuel in the burner or due to an incomplete burn, I have two of these heaters in different applications, one in my Discovery 3 and one on my boat, they are pretty well exactly the same.
They smoke during start-up as during this process the heater has to light, establish and run the flame, also during this process the air to fuel ratio isn’t quite correct to get a clean burn and hence the smoke, also if some excess fuel has made it into the chamber (if the heater hasn’t run for a while) this will also burn off as smoke.
I think my heater on the boat as suffers with moisture in the burner and exhaust, I have made up a stainless steel exhaust and silencer as well as using the silencer that comes with heater, and when this heater is running for the first time if it hasn’t run for a while it seem to smoke for longer (or steam) until the exhaust/flue is hot and the wool packing in the silencer is dry, I also notice condensation running down the side of the boat.
A very good friend told me to have an arrangement to run the heater on Paraffin if possible from time to time to burn off the carbon from the inside, (although this was for a previous heater) I haven done this to this heater as I haven had any problems with it and so you do this at your own risk and I accept no responsibility for your heater or car.
I have a contact that can supply the parts for the heater just PM for details.
Reading some of the problems people have been having I wonder if its something to do with the heater running at a reduced heat, I know these heaters like to be worked hard as it burns all the carbon off and I was just wondering if during the lower burn cycles the unit isn’t cutting off properly and is just slowly ticking over and filling its self up with carbon. When I run the one on the boat I try and put as much load on it as I can and as it cuts back I then switch the unit off. I have left the unit on over night a few times when its been really cold and it seems fine, it does seem to shut down and re-start when I do this.
I hope this helps.
Good luck.
21st Jan 2011 10:22 am
mattgreen
Member Since: 15 Sep 2009
Location: Worksop
Posts: 211
I too have had a similar 5 trips to the dealer - only my local dealer seem massively reluctant to take ownership of finding the problem - I too have the extended warranty. very poor really.
Anecdotal evidence on other FBH threads on this forum indicate that one source of the "starting but failing to keep going" problem is the FBH gunked up. I suspect partial or short burns and long periods of not operating (i.e. summer) will allow the lighter fractions in any diesel left in the FBH to evaporate and leave the thick sludgy stuff.
Mine is working a bit better after being forced to start (using the Webasto software at a Webasto specialist) a number of times. Time will tell if it's helped though immediate evidence was that it did.
The error was "No start" - which the specialist said is only really caused by lack of fuel or gunk stopping ignition from progressing.
mallo - I guess the paraffin is similar to putting some Redex in the diesel tank?
21st Jan 2011 12:29 pm
Steve H
Member Since: 14 Apr 2008
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 98
mallo wrote:
Tafty and all
The smoke is generally from un-burnt fuel in the burner or due to an incomplete burn, I have two of these heaters in different applications, one in my Discovery 3 and one on my boat, they are pretty well exactly the same.
They smoke during start-up as during this process the heater has to light, establish and run the flame, also during this process the air to fuel ratio isn’t quite correct to get a clean burn and hence the smoke, also if some excess fuel has made it into the chamber (if the heater hasn’t run for a while) this will also burn off as smoke.
I think my heater on the boat as suffers with moisture in the burner and exhaust, I have made up a stainless steel exhaust and silencer as well as using the silencer that comes with heater, and when this heater is running for the first time if it hasn’t run for a while it seem to smoke for longer (or steam) until the exhaust/flue is hot and the wool packing in the silencer is dry, I also notice condensation running down the side of the boat.
A very good friend told me to have an arrangement to run the heater on Paraffin if possible from time to time to burn off the carbon from the inside, (although this was for a previous heater) I haven done this to this heater as I haven had any problems with it and so you do this at your own risk and I accept no responsibility for your heater or car.
I have a contact that can supply the parts for the heater just PM for details.
Reading some of the problems people have been having I wonder if its something to do with the heater running at a reduced heat, I know these heaters like to be worked hard as it burns all the carbon off and I was just wondering if during the lower burn cycles the unit isn’t cutting off properly and is just slowly ticking over and filling its self up with carbon. When I run the one on the boat I try and put as much load on it as I can and as it cuts back I then switch the unit off. I have left the unit on over night a few times when its been really cold and it seems fine, it does seem to shut down and re-start when I do this.
I hope this helps.
Good luck.
The view about the reduced heat output is interesting as even the Webasto operating regime includes the half load burn once the coolant temperature is high enough. I know mine reduces to half load at about 85 degrees when I run it on the Webasto diagnostics via their W Bus. I aim to give the unit on my car a good long burn this weekend if I can to try to clear any carbon build up.D4 SDV6 XS Orkney Grey
21st Jan 2011 1:15 pm
yack
Member Since: 02 Feb 2009
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 3
I was having problems with said fbh, not firing up. Phoned up garage where I have it serviced (independant). Pop in any time they said. Called in that afternoon. Mechanic stops what he is doing. Comes out into cold car park, plugs in laptop (really impressed with this) clears a number of errors. Try that he said. No- no payment, hope it works. Has worked ever since ie last month or so.
22nd Jan 2011 3:53 pm
mikep
Member Since: 20 Jun 2008
Location: royton
Posts: 32
FBH seems to be working this winter (so far), but I suspect only on the half heat setting due to the time (20mins) it takes to reach optimum engine temp. Anyone know how the heater is regulated, is it by the control of the quantity of fuel/air supplied to to a single burner, or, is there two burners on initially and one shuts down when 85 deg C is reached? (I believe output should be 5kW full at start up and reduce to 2.5kW after about 3 miles, about 10mins of town driving).Know your limitations, come closer to perfection.
Other wheels, Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird.
Other pleasures, SWMBO,......honest dear!
29th Jan 2011 1:11 am
Rabbit Leader
Member Since: 15 Apr 2008
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 196
yack wrote:
Phoned up garage where I have it serviced (independant)
Sounds like a very good service from that garage ... which one was it? Paramedic, Father, Dog lover and Husband ... in no particular order!
30th Jan 2011 8:54 am
Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2743
Mine has been firing up with no issues at all, but could have done without it today.
Had the D3 in my garage for an oil change earlier, started it up afterwards to check for leaks and circulate the oil before checking the level again, and before I knew it the garage was full of exhaust fumes from the heater.
Normally I leave the rear of the car sticking out the door, or if it's right in I have some lengths of flexi conduit I put over the tailpipes to direct the normal exhaust outside.
I've not had the D3 running for long in the garage in the cold before, so might have to get a long length of hose to attach to the heater exhaust for next time.
Nasher.Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
Does this kit have everything needed to connect it to the FBH? Pic on ebay has two loose wires and no sign of the FBH connector?
Thanks
Yes. The yellow wire attaches to the FBH bus wire. Easy if you have installed the timer.
You can see where my blue wire from the timer connects the red wire.
Installed the software and USB drivers from the CD and I got straight into the FBH!
Didn't get it to work with win7 64bit though, had to use my other laptop with XP.
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so they could install a new unit and test it.
