Eberspacher D3 cutting out

[ChattingLil]

any ideas please?

Turns on as usual.
Fuel coming through as usual.
Runs as usual.
after about 10 mins the fan starts making an unusual noise, then it the unit shuts down.

No problems with power, fuel, air intake or exhaust.

could the fan have burnt out somehow and if so, how come it will restart before conking out again?

thanks for any ideas...

 

[Spi D]

No error codes returned? I believe 012 would be it.

Sounds like fan losing speed, thereby not transporting enough heat from the burner which then overheat and trigger the sensor for safety.

Once cooled a bit it might auto reset the circuit and be willing to start again.

 

[ChattingLil]

No error codes returned? I believe 012 would be it.

our unit is quite old. no display for error codes unfortunately.

 

[Sandyman]

When did you last service it ? Sounds to me like it needs a de-coke.

 

[ChattingLil]

When did you last service it ? Sounds to me like it needs a de-coke.

ah, good point. it's been 2 years and as liveaboards it gets a lot of use. thanks.

 

[Sandyman]

ah, good point. it's been 2 years and as liveaboards it gets a lot of use. thanks.

As a fellow liveaboard I fully understand From your description it sounds like it is shutting down on overheat. Fuel is cut off & the fan enters a cool down period before going to lock out. Overheating is most likely due to carbon build up.

 

[ChattingLil]

thanks again. Can you recommend a good source of the service kits please? I can't think what we did before - might have inherited stuff with the boat but I think we also had help from a neighbour who might have got the kit already. Butler Technik rings a bell.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Struggling to get my head around how being coked up causes the fan to make "an unusual" noise.

Unusual in what way Lil ?

 

[Sandyman]

List of there dealers here if it helps. https://www.eberspacher.com/dealers/dealer-listings/heating-dealers.html Only ever used the one in Portsmouth myself.
When it comes to buying spare parts which cost an arm & a leg I buy two or three on ebay that are marked ''Spares or Repair'' for just a few pounds.

 

[Spi D]

Careful about it. Do compare total cost of remedy against a replacement- including intangible benefits

 

[PaulRainbow]

Lil, might be worth a PM to David2452 http://www.ybw.com/forums/member.php?172-David2452

Knowledgeable forumite and reasonably local too.

 

[pcatterall]

I suggest that you forget decokes for the moment and think about the fan. If it is making a strange/unusual noise then that is where you should focus first.
If the fan speed is being interfered with then the ECU will detect 'fan speed out of spec' and stop the heater.
Access the fan and feel if there is movement in the bearing, ensure that the fan is not coming into contact with housing or that deposits on the fan are doing this.
The overheating suggestion does not seem right as with repeated stoppages due to overheating your heater would probably 'lock out'.
What model is the D3 ? D3 D3L D3LC D3LCcompact or which ?
Good luck

 

[ChattingLil]

Lil, might be worth a PM to David2452 http://www.ybw.com/forums/member.php?172-David2452

Knowledgeable forumite and reasonably local too.

thanks - we know David and he's our marina often will probably catch him tomorrow.

 

[ChattingLil]

I suggest that you forget decokes for the moment and think about the fan. If it is making a strange/unusual noise then that is where you should focus first.
If the fan speed is being interfered with then the ECU will detect 'fan speed out of spec' and stop the heater.
Access the fan and feel if there is movement in the bearing, ensure that the fan is not coming into contact with housing or that deposits on the fan are doing this.
The overheating suggestion does not seem right as with repeated stoppages due to overheating your heater would probably 'lock out'.
What model is the D3 ? D3 D3L D3LC D3LCcompact or which ?
Good luck

thanks - will have the ships Chief Engineer look at it later. It's a D3L

 

[PaulRainbow]

thanks - will have the ships Chief Engineer look at it later. It's a D3L

Same as mine, probably needs a new flint lol

I have all of the original manuals with mine, if you need any i could scan them.

 

[Pasarell]

Slightly off the wall but on my old boat my previously faultless ancient D3L started playing up in the way you describe. After various investigations it turned out that I had allowed the tank to run lower than normal and the pick up pipe was only just in the surface of the diesel so after a few minutes running it cut out. I had spoken to the Eber people at SIBS shortly before this happened and they told me that when it died there was no way back so rather concerned. In the event a simple top up of the fuel tank meant it continued being faultless.

 

[ChattingLil]

In the event a simple top up of the fuel tank meant it continued being faultless.

my little heart jumped with joy as I leaped to check the level in the day tank - which feeds the eber -alas, no. Ship's Chief Engineer had refilled it a week ago, so brim full. Service kit on order and we'll ask David for a close up opinion if we catch him. thanks for all the suggestions.