ChattingLil
Well-known member
Forgive typing. Am doing from phone aboard. Am trinh to fix eberspacher and haven't a clue wot am doing. Manual says "check glow plug" but check itfor what? Any immediate advice? Thanks.
eberspacher glow plug
- Thread starter ChattingLil
- Start date
sailorman
Well-known member
check ir for
carbon deposits that will short circuit the element
are the element wires deformed & touching
why not just replace the plug
Hoolie
Well-known member
You should also check for electrical conductivity between the connectors on the end. Should be a few ohms on a multimeter.
V1701
Well-known member
And to get it off you'll need a slotted socket which you can DIY, borrow or buy. The thing is if you want/need a new glowplug it comes as a "kit" which includes the glowplug and the ""special tool" to remove the old one, stupid cost (I think it was in the region of £120 odd) for a tiny glowplug and slotted socket. Worth replacing the gauze at the same time. Good luck with it. There are some very knowledgeable about Eberspacher forumites who will give very good advice...
david_bagshaw
Well-known member
as others say and if possible connect it up to a 12v battery to see it actually gets hot. there are various types, some with coiled wires, that get coil bound & short themselves out. wire is coiled round what looks like the centre of a spark plug. eye wateringly expensive to replace.
sailorman
Well-known member
ChattingLil
Well-known member
Gaaah. Thanks for the info but think its all well beyond me.
Sandyman
Well-known member
ChattingLil
Well-known member
thanks again. Am at home now. I took all the tools, emptied out the cockpit locker, sat in the bottom in an extremely uncomfortable position on the spare anchor and stared at the eber for a bit. 
I looked at the glow plug for a bit a too. Unfortunately I just don't get it. I also looked at the weblink but didn't really understand that either! I think I am going to have to see professional help.
I looked at the glow plug for a bit a too. Unfortunately I just don't get it. I also looked at the weblink but didn't really understand that either! I think I am going to have to see professional help.
Martin_J
Well-known member
ChattingLil
You did not say which model of Eberspacher you have... nor did you mention the exact sypmtoms.
Regarding the glow plug.. Some models have a glow plug where the power wire is bolted to the top end - so the wire could be removed and then the plug undone with a normal deep socket. Some have a glow plug/pin with the power wire permanently affixed. In this case a 12mm slotted socket is needed...
BUT - why do you need to check the glow plug? The usual check is resistance (using a multimeter) but this is checked anyhow by the Eberspacher controller whenever it is first switched on. If the glow plug resistance is out of spec then the controller will not even power the glow plug up.. nor will it start the fan.
If you could let us know what exactly does happen (fan speed.. clicking of fuel pump... times from switch on to fan stopping etc.. ) then we might be able to help to find the fault without guessing.
Many thanks Martin.
You did not say which model of Eberspacher you have... nor did you mention the exact sypmtoms.
Regarding the glow plug.. Some models have a glow plug where the power wire is bolted to the top end - so the wire could be removed and then the plug undone with a normal deep socket. Some have a glow plug/pin with the power wire permanently affixed. In this case a 12mm slotted socket is needed...
BUT - why do you need to check the glow plug? The usual check is resistance (using a multimeter) but this is checked anyhow by the Eberspacher controller whenever it is first switched on. If the glow plug resistance is out of spec then the controller will not even power the glow plug up.. nor will it start the fan.
If you could let us know what exactly does happen (fan speed.. clicking of fuel pump... times from switch on to fan stopping etc.. ) then we might be able to help to find the fault without guessing.
Many thanks Martin.
V1701
Well-known member
the Mikuni ones are about £20
I wouldn't have another warm air heater, not for FT living aboard anyway...
vyv_cox
Well-known member
Skipper Stu had an article in PBO last month on refurbishing a small Eberspacher. Shows exactly how to strip it.
ChattingLil
Well-known member
Thanks for the offer to help troubleshoot...
It's an DL3 (1989 purchase).
It hasn't worked for a couple of years, but last year my friend took it apart and cleaned it out, the gauze was really gunged up and my knowledgeable neighbour suggested we clean it up for now, but really should get new gauze. Anyway, it worked again for a short while and then stopped.
It comes on, the fan starts, but it doesn't heat up and after about 3 minutes it turns itself off.
According to the troubleshooting section in the manual I should check the glow plug and if that doesn't sort it, get it looked at by the workshop.
I really think it's beyond my competence to remove it and replace the gauze, so I'm hoping it is the glowplug. But even that fazed me today.
I haven't seen PBO yet, but will try to get a copy this week and check out Stuart's article.
jimi
Well-known member
What are the eber symptoms?
ChattingLil
Well-known member
see post number 13!
Hoolie
Well-known member
I think the post by Skipper Stu referred to above is about a DL3. I've just serviced our DL3Cc and it's COMPLETELY different
But, it's working just fine. It's not rocket science
But, it's working just fine. It's not rocket science
jimi
Well-known member
Crossed in the ether ;-)
When you say the gauze, do you mean the little gauze filter in the fuel line?
When you say the gauze, do you mean the little gauze filter in the fuel line?
jellyellie
New member
Hey! If I can take apart an Eberspacher, so can you!!! And mine's a D3L from the 80s.
Do you get any smoke when it's trying to start? If so, what colour?
Do you get any smoke when it's trying to start? If so, what colour?
MrCramp
Active member
I had a second hand Eberspacher on my boat from 2000 till I sold her in 2007. I think it was a DL2. She was a bit tempremental but I sussed her out.
She would only start when my engine was running and putting 14 volts into the batteries. Sometimes after a long period of inactivity she would only start on the second attempt, but she never ever let me down. She would then run all night on the lower heat setting which was OK to keep my boat warm as we lay on my mooring in the middle of the river Deben.
I know you are going to think the two 100aph domenstic batteries must have been failing but they weren't. Either one would start my 18hp Yanmar engine and they would run the Eber all night.
Try starting the Eber with your engine running and if she starts OK I would not do any more work on her.
If this doesn't work go back to plan A.
She would only start when my engine was running and putting 14 volts into the batteries. Sometimes after a long period of inactivity she would only start on the second attempt, but she never ever let me down. She would then run all night on the lower heat setting which was OK to keep my boat warm as we lay on my mooring in the middle of the river Deben.
I know you are going to think the two 100aph domenstic batteries must have been failing but they weren't. Either one would start my 18hp Yanmar engine and they would run the Eber all night.
Try starting the Eber with your engine running and if she starts OK I would not do any more work on her.
If this doesn't work go back to plan A.
